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  • Using RCS with Google Messages on GrapheneOS

areaman this is from the GrapheneOS documentation
LTE-only mode to reduce cellular radio attack surface by disabling enormous amounts of both legacy code (2G, 3G) and bleeding edge code (5G).

By the way, just in case you didn't know this - 4G and LTE are the same thing :)

      roamer4223 can't edit anymore so will just reply to myself. I realise there are some technical and very specific differences between LTE and 4G and it's a bit weird if I remember correctly. But I believe the 4G/LTE only mode in GrapheneOS includes 4G and 4G+ and LTE+ and LTE-A and I also think one carrier uses the term 5GE or something. If I got something wrong though, I apologise

        No RCS here - stuck on 'verifying' and 'trying to set up' for weeks. I am using an MVNO that is Verizon towers.

        RCS instantly activated and worked well when I switched to an MVNO on the T-Mobile network.

        Today I switched back to the VZW service with a new eSIM, and it's not working again. Customer support can't figure it out.

        I suspect this is an issue with Graphene being unable to verify something that the Verizon network specifically is asking for.

        Things I have tried: turning RCS off and on, on mobile and on wifi, avoiding VPNs, reinstalling Carrier Services and Google Messages, delisting my number with RCS from that Google link above, etc. I have 'phone' and 'SMS' permissions for all Google Play related apps and the Messages app.

        • dcc replied to this.

          If this issue is completely carrier dependant, with some carriers needing access to the IMEI to work at all, some needing it to work reliably, but also some not needing access to the IMEI at all, I think it would be really useful if everyone reading this thread (who uses Google messages) would also report if they have had no issues at all, and what carrier they use.

          Obviously people are already reporting when they have had issues but it might be useful for people to know if there are any carriers that are friendly to GrapheneOS (without needing to give device identifiers / IMEI) as I bet there are people who would switch simply on that basis.

          Personally I just use a data sim and don't use RCS yet, however my friend uses GOS and Google Messages and they are pretty sure they've never had issues and haven't had to give access to IMEI.

          They are on o2 (in the UK)

          When I have a chance I might grab some other SIMs and test them out with RCS support, each for a month or so, and report back for anyone reading this thread who is in the UK.

            FirstNet / AT&T - Had to enable identifiers per the AppOps process before Google Messages would allow RCS.

              roamer4223

              Good idea.

              As I said above, RCS worked instantly on a Graphene device using a T-Mobile MVNO in the US. Same device on Verizon, it's stuck on verification.

                dcc The steps are around comment 317ish.

                • dcc replied to this.
                • dcc likes this.

                    NightSky

                    I just used adb to give permissions to Messages actually to Play Services~:

                    $ adb shell appops set com.google.android.gms READ_DEVICE_IDENTIFIERS allow

                    Check if it worked:

                    $ adb shell appops get com.google.android.gms | grep READ_DEVICE_IDENTIFIER
READ_DEVICE_IDENTIFIERS: allow; rejectTime=+26m54s324ms ago

                    It didn't make RCS work though.

                    Per the message you are talking about, it looks like I need to give them to Play Services. I don't know how to do that with adb - I'll play around a bit.
                    https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/1353-using-rcs-with-google-messages-on-grapheneos/343

                    EDIT: looks like that's what I did, actually.
                    com.google.android.gms = Play Services. Right?

                      Hi All,

                      I am facing similar issues, RCS activates fine, however when I try to initiate a chat with any contact (who I know RCS works with) it just says SMS.
                      It works on stock OS just not GOS, which is a shame, did anyone ever find a way around this?

                      Thanks

                        NightSky No, they are a samsung user, and I know their RCS is working because it works on stock :)

                          epileptic055

                          Try reinstalling your client But first, deregister your number with Google messages and re-register it with them, By Enabling RCS On the re-install client.

                            15 days later

                            I haven't had any luck getting this to work with US Mobile Verizon gets stuck in verifying. I gave it permissions modified the additional permission for play services with app opps and tried installing the google app for phone number verification. I did see this article not sure if it explains what I am seeing. Right now I could switch back to Tmobile or move to at&t since US Mobile allows you to move carriers. Has anyone had better luck with at&t or Tmobile recently?
                            https://www.androidauthority.com/p-3421652/

                              I had my RCS stop on US AT&T about a week or two ago. Gave play and messages all the permissions back, cleared the cache for all the apps, cleared data for messages, added my number back in message settings advanced and rebooted. I forked around with it for a bit but it re-verified after the 2nd or 3rd reboot.

                              inquisitorStutzz

                              You could switch carriers but I would first turn off RCS in messages, deregister your number with Google for RCS them re download the messages app allow permissions and retry RCS. You seem like from your post you have everything set up , so I would try what mentioned and let it cook for a bit