Using RCS with Google Messages on GrapheneOS

mousetrapreplica

jumpdeer I've been using the workaround of installing the older version APK and then updating. When RCS stops working I uninstall Messages, reboot, installed the older APK again, make it the default SMS app, open Messages, RCS says connected but only SMS sends. I then reboot, update Messages via Play Store, check to see if I'm chatting in RCS and if nor reboot again and wait a minute or two before chats switch to RCS.

Twlight-Princess

mousetrapreplica Although Not Ideal, Since the last time this happened to me. I have not updated the app and just been using the older version. I did this Monday and so far its still connected and sending RCS messages and receiving.
I guess for now I'm just going to stick with this old version.

cb474

mousetrapreplica I've been using the workaround of installing the older version APK and then updating. When RCS stops working I uninstall Messages, reboot, installed the older APK again, make it the default SMS app, open Messages, RCS says connected but only SMS sends. I then reboot, update Messages via Play Store, check to see if I'm chatting in RCS and if nor reboot again and wait a minute or two before chats switch to RCS.

I've been doing this. But it's a pretty big hassle. RCS seems to fail for me about every 36 hours. The last time it took many reboots before I got it fully working. I had errors like your device is not supported (which I had not had before) and would have to wipe data and reinstall the old Messages again. Also weirdly, the three dot menu in App Info to allow restricted permissions for the old Messsages, so that it can be set as the default sms app, does not appear at first. Eventually it will show up, but I don't know what triggers that. All in all, the last time I did this (yesterday), it took an hour of fiddling around, even though I had done it twice before much more easily. So it's a pretty big hassle as a work around. Maybe if it was once a week, it wouldn't be so bad. I'm really thinking of going back to stock OS (which I never thought I'd do), because this is so nonfunctional.

Twlight-Princess Although Not Ideal, Since the last time this happened to me. I have not updated the app and just been using the older version. I did this Monday and so far its still connected and sending RCS messages and receiving.
I guess for now I'm just going to stick with this old version.

I was going to do this, but I could not get the old version of Messages to show Etouffee as true, in the debug menu. It will connect to RCS immediately, once installed. But until Etouffee shows as true, you can't actually send and receive RCS messages (so RCS group chats remain broken). I rebooted four or five times and waited a while, but nothing helped. Then I updated to the Play Store version of messages, rebooted, and Etouffee showed as true.

What carrier are you on? How did you get the old Messages to fully work?

mazenetic

GrapheneOS It feels likely that this escalating privileges approach by Google will continue to other carriers in future updates. If GOS provided a toggle, like you mention, perhaps many of us closely following this thread would accept this concession to Google. GOS is the ONLY trusted mobile phone OS full stop. With the appropriate disclaimers with the toggle, your informed users would understand the risk and can determine if the risk is worth ubiquitous cross platform E2E encrypted messages that are protected from carriers that may retain our unencrypted SMS for an indefinite period of time in the US and some other jurisdictions.

I honestly don't know if I will accept the risk with a highly privileged Google Messages in order to use RCS - it's a close call - but what I do know is that the GOS team's efforts with this and their overall mission is highly appreciated.

https://grapheneos.org/donate

5rlyn

mazenetic exactly. My view of GOS is it provides us choice whereas Google does not. Graphene allows us to make the decision for ourselves if the privacy risks of Play Services, Android Auto, and potentially RCS are worth it to the user.

Vuraze

GrapheneOS
What privileged permissions would Google Messages need in order to properly activate RCS on those carriers? How invasive would these permissions be? I would be willing to use RCS if they aren't too invasive for my liking.

cb474

Vuraze What privileged permissions would Google Messages need in order to properly activate RCS on those carriers? How invasive would these permissions be? I would be willing to use RCS if they aren't too invasive for my liking.

This github issue discusses the required permissions:

https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/6331

I'm interested as well, how invasive it would be to allow these permissions. I imagine it certainly can't be more invasive than going back to stock OS, if that's the only option on certain carriers to get RCS working.

samsepi0l

Personnally, for Messages app, I gave it Call logs, contacts, network, notifications, phone ans SMS.
For Google Play Services, I gave it Location, Network, Phone and SMS.

I'm not sure Call logs is mandatory for Messages app.

5rlyn

Twlight-Princess is there any way of determining the most up to date version of messages that would have functional RCS?

Twlight-Princess

5rlyn I am not sure if there is a way to identify that in the apk files. I wouldnt be surprised if there was a way. I just don't know.
Otherwise my method would be start working my way backwards trying versions. I just don't have time for that.

Makesforget

P8 Verizon, build 2025100901, RCS still shows connected but isn't reliable. A lot of RCS messages are coming in, but sending sometimes hangs. Rebooting sometimes helps, sometimes not. Debug:
RCS appears to be active
Transport: Chat API w/ Tachygram
ACS url: [not connected]
PCSCF: us-verizon.rcs.telephony.goog
Sub Id: 1
SIM Slot: 1
SIM Carrier: Verizon Wireless
SIM Number: +1...
Rcs Apk: Bugle
Rcs BOE: Optimized
GmsBinding: Enabled
App StandBy Bucket: 10
Background Restricted: false
Etouffee provisioned: true

Are system logs still helpful to send in? @GrapheneOS

Judgeadam

Makesforget same My brother just told me that when I send messages to him in RCS, it takes about five minutes for the text message to come through, so there is still something going on.

Again, I'm on Verizon in the Northeast with the Pixel 9 Pro and also the latest versions of GOS and Google messages. I am also running it through a VPN with mullvad DAITA, so I don't know if that affects it.

robertmckeever2

tRexDestroyer sorry - just seeing this.

I ported in a while ago and was on a promo that requires me to use the "Dark Star" network most of the time. I have used USM for about 6-7 months and I am extremely happy. (Huge for me to say because I was in the absolute strict mindset for the last 25 years that you should use a 1st party network for your carrier.)

After talking with US Mobile, if I go beyond the usage of the other networks to simply use the phone, they said I would get a "warning email" and then eventually be charged the difference of the promo (about $40) to keep things active on and use it as I am.

For $40, that's a cheap buy into security for my features and apps to work as I want them to.

EDIT: Network switching on USM is free depending on your plan. I am on the highest unlimited plan they have, so I am able to switch freely.

ralm

robertmckeever2 So RCS-wise, AT&T's network is working out well for you?

robertmckeever2

ralm

ralm So RCS-wise, AT&T's network is working out well for you?

Incorrect - I was 100% unable to activate on "Dark Star" (AT&T) for USM. I haven't tested it since my posting but I don't feel that the result will be different since there are reports of issues still for Ma Bell.

The "Warp" (Verizon) side has no issues from my experience since I activated to that network a few days ago. I did not test the "Light Speed" (T-Mobile) side because that was previously reported not working.

Edit:

adding context:

robertmckeever2 Confirmed working on "Warp" (Verizon) using US Mobile.

Steps to get it working (simple):
Switched networks
Removed/Installed new eSIM
Rebooted phone (even though the phone works right away)
Open App info for Messages, force stop, clear storage/cache
Opened Messages, set as default SMS
Opened settings, access RCS
Immediately showed "Connected".

Edit: Should add I am using the app from the sandboxed Play Store that is updated.

Twlight-Princess

cb474 I have mint mobile. So I never even checked the debug mode for Etouffee tbh. I will say the 2nd time setting it up I did noticed it took a little longer then the first time. I did like 3 reboot and saw nothing change after the 3rd reboot. So I just left it and went on doing other stuff and when I came back to it I saw I could send RCS.

My old messages that were RCS look like SMS color now in google messages but w/e it what it is. only other reason I know its working is cause my father and mother have Samsungs and it sends RCS with them. My buddy , nephew and supervisor have iphones. and they have been getting my messages as RCS and no issues. So I just left it as the version as is for now and have not touched anything. I don't have any group chats cause well I don't have that many friends anyways lol :D

mousetrapreplica

cb474 the "allow restricted permissions" three-dots button seems to show after attempting to assign SMS privileges to the app or making it the default SMS app.

mousetrapreplica

cb474 following up with my last comment, I've just stopped waiting much for RCS indicators as it seems to work the same each time for me when I:

Delete the app.
Reboot.
Reinstall the older version.
Assign SMS default /privilege / "restricted permissions".
Open the installed older version.
Check RCS is connected in settings and reboot regardless of status or availability.
RCS settings shows as connected after I've opened the app and followed all Messages prompts after opening. Chats don't indicate RCS chat yet.
Update Messages via Play Store.
Open the updated version, check RCS settings, connected, check chats, chatting in RCS.

On my last round I tried not updating the app for a while, which resulted in settings continuing to say RCS was connected but chats were not converted to RCS. It seems I have to update the app to get RCS actually working.

5rlyn

cb474 there's a comment in that Github indicating that they plan on "providing a way" for those of us with carriers that need the permissions.

I'm on Mint, and while I did need to wait a sec to be able to access the "Restricted Access" or whatever to set Messages as default SMS, I was able to connect to RCS and get my missed messages. I've disabled Auto Update for Messages and plan to hold out as long as I can on this version (or any working newer version, I just don't want to have to spend days sequentially downgrading and assessing functionality).

Probably doesn't help you if it didn't "just work" for you, but I can send, receive, and have full group access. For now.

cb474

5rlyn there's a comment in that Github indicating that they plan on "providing a way" for those of us with carriers that need the permissions.

Yes, I saw that. I took that comment to be referring to a solution which remains within the bounds of Graphene approach to things, rather than giving us the toggles for privileged permissions that @GrapheneOS said would be possible. So I'm assuming that it may take a while to devise a more elegant solution, even though I'd be happy with a quick and dirty workaround in the meantime.

ralm

robertmckeever2 Nice answers, thanks! I've been looking at US Mobile, in particular Warp plans since Verizon network seems to have a better RCS record in this thread.

Predefine8310

robertmckeever2 Exact situation here. I can't get it to work on the AT&T line through US Mobile. I did have it working on my T-Mobile line through US Mobile before the breaking changes last month, though.

Just to be clear, you were able to pay a fee to switch to the Verizon network full-time after signing up for the promo for the free line when you use Darkstar. That's how I signed up as well. I'm just wondering if what you're referring to is somehow different than paying the $10 a month or whatever it is to be on the multi-network with auto-switching.

cb474

mousetrapreplica On my last round I tried not updating the app for a while, which resulted in settings continuing to say RCS was connected but chats were not converted to RCS. It seems I have to update the app to get RCS actually working.

Yeah, it's funny that other people report they can get it fully working with the old version of the app.

cb474

mousetrapreplica On my last round I tried not updating the app for a while, which resulted in settings continuing to say RCS was connected but chats were not converted to RCS. It seems I have to update the app to get RCS actually working.

Last night, when I was going through the whole protocol of installing old Messages, I tried leaving it over night to see if Etouffee would ever go to true (which is I think the reason why chats do not convert to RCS--as long as RCS setting says it's connected, but Etouffee reports as false, RCS does not actually work). I did several reboots, but the old version of Messages never had Etrouffee go to true. Then I updated to the current version from Play Store, rebooted, and Etouffee went to true. So it does really seem that for some of us, you have to update the the current version of Messages for it to work and can't just leave it on the old version of Messages.

MrRoboto1212 I'll keep RCS disabled for now because this cycle every day to get more secure messages imo isn't worth the effort.

What happens to your group chats when you leave RCS off? I'd be happy to do that, but my group chats break, I don't get messages from people, it doesn't fall back to MMS, and if I create a new chat with SMS/MMS I'm not sure that people are getting my messages.

Honestly, this is the worst part of all of this. If group chats fell back to MMS without a problem, the way that individual chats fall back to SMS, I could live with RCS periodically breaking. But if I'm losing messages and people aren't getting my messages and people don't even realize it's happening, that's a nightmare. And trying to get other people to help me troubleshoot this by deleting group chats on their phones so we can create a new one or something is not tenable.

« Previous Page Next Page »