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  • Using RCS with Google Messages on GrapheneOS

Pixel 6a, GrapheneOS, Germany, o2-SIM.

Over a period of several months I tried all steps in the various instructions in this forum and on several other webpages. Never got further than „Setting up...“. After a GrapheneOS update RCS suddenly started working. IMO the problems are not GrapheneOS related, there are several threads in official Google support forums from stock OS users who experience the same problems. Maybe a kind of dysfunctional anti spam measure from Google.

11 days later

chenxiaolong Just another confirmation post: I've tried this on and off over the past few months and this is what did it for me (Pixel 8 on MEO Portugal). I've been running this for the past week with no issues to report.

For the record, I have a Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 running LineageOS 21 and RCS worked immediately, even while failing SafetyNet / PlayIntegrity, so I have a suspicion that this is not a anti-root measure, but something else on Google's end (as some of you have pointed out already)

rcs works for me, I changed my subscription from free to bouygues and it works

    As far as I'm aware there's no way to get RCS working without the Google Play Services? Can someone confirm that I have that right ?

    For what it's worth, things I did to get it to work;

    • used default "Owner" profile
    • installed google play services, permissions Contacts, Network, Phone, SMS
    • installed carrier services, allow Unrestricted running in background
    • installed Messages, permissions Contacts, Network, Phone, SMS, storage spaces setup, set SMS app to Messages
    • chenxiaolong this step here
    • turned off any VPN, WiFi (to use mobile data)
    • open Messages, turn on RCS
    • wait around 5 minutes
    • working!

      011235 I don't have Carrier Services installed and I've been up and running a few weeks now.

        011235 it's possible I had it installed when I set it up and then removed it.

        New install of graphene and RCS works pretty much out the box. Did nothing but install Google messaging, turned on RCS, typed in my number and that's it. T-Mobile US is my carrier, no carrier services installed.

          Ducter I don't know if you'll run into the same issue I did. It initially behaved that way for me too (also T-Mobile USA), but Google would silently block access a day later. After the silent "ban", RCS would show as connected, but actually sending and receiving messages would fail. It wasn't until I granted the READ_DEVICE_IDENTIFIERS permission (https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/1353-using-rcs-with-google-messages-on-grapheneos/352) that it stayed working (a little over 2 weeks for me now).

            chenxiaolong I've tested between phones and it works but it's only been a couple days and you're correct, it could stop at any point. Maybe I'll go on and enable that just in case.

            15 days later

            chenxiaolong Thank you, this finally got it working. Been trying all the steps people suggested for months now, completed this, rebooted and instantly connected.

            6 days later

            Sad, I just refuse to have GPS installed on my main profile or have it exposed to my texts

              graphosor Agreed. I also don't like the idea of google getting access to your contacts, which I presume (?) would allow them to figure out who you are.

                Bootlace1170
                I think it's needed beacuse a part of the RCS standard talks about checking if the recipients number is also using RCS. I will have to check on this as they can get your SMS conversations and numbers with the SMS permissions.

                It might just be add contact pictures and other info locally ,

                Now if they are sending that data of device I can not say as I don't know

                9 days later

                For the people that have it working:

                1. What's that minimum amount of permissions you need to give to Google to get RCS to work, across all necessary apps?
                2. Does it need to be on the owner profile?
                3. Can you have SMS messages go to other profiles as well or would that mess it up? If you can, which SMS app should I use since Google messages won't work on a profile without play services?
                4. Do you need to be logged into a Google account?
                5. Will I have problems with Verizon (US Mobile)?

                I'm trying to see if it's worth trying to get Google Messages. RCS is far superior to SMS/MMS and offers encryption with other Android users. But if I have to hand over too much data to Google to get it to work, it may not be worth it.