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  • Using RCS with Google Messages on GrapheneOS

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.

              Is it possible to use RCS on a work profile or is this only working on owner profiles? Also does anyone use Google phone and does it improve call quality over the standard graphene phone app?

              20 days later

              I'm stuck at "setting up" and verifying the phone number in the RCS settings.

              1) Is there a source of truth for instructions to get RCS working? The instructions seem to be all over the place in this thread. I don't know what the latest is.

              2) is it possible to set up RCS on a user profile or only the owner profile (or both)?

              3) Are the any known problems getting RCS working on Verizon (in the US)? I saw some point fingers at Verizon in another thread but it wasn't confirmed.

                This is an incredibly long thread. I feel if someone
                really needs RCS, it might be better just to move back to stock.

                  I just got it working after my previous post. To get RCS working I followed steps in this thread. The last thing I tried that made it work was enabling the "read_device_identifiers" permissions for Google Messages app via adb. Right after, I disabled usb debugging. I'm on Verizon.

                  I couldn't get it working on a different user profile though. Anyone get it working on a different profile that's not owner?

                    glare8217 I believe it's an OS limitation that messaging can only be accessed from the Owner profile, but I don't use multiple profiles so I can't confirm this personally.

                    And yeah, READ_DEVICE_IDENTIFIERS is what made it connect immediately for me.

                        hemlockiv I can text (sms / mms) fine from both a user profile and the owner profile. It's just enabling RCS on a user profile. I wonder if it'd be different with an eSIM vs a physical one.

                          7 days later

                          Cold_Beer This is an incredibly long thread. I feel if someone
                          really needs RCS, it might be better just to move back to stock.

                          No need for that.

                          glare8217 1) Is there a source of truth for instructions to get RCS working? The instructions seem to be all over the place in this thread. I don't know what the latest is.

                          Yes see @chenxiaolong's post https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/1353-using-rcs-with-google-messages-on-grapheneos/352

                          No doubt you needed:

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

                          I haven't tried on anything but the owner profile.

                                Maybe a bit off topic question but, for all the hassle to set this up, what is there to gain?
                                According to Google to get E2E encryption you need:

                                • both parties using Google Messages app
                                • both parties having RCS enabled
                                • both parties having access to network via mobie data or Wi-Fi

                                At that point isn't it more reliable to just use another communicator alltogether? I know few people use Signal but pretty much everyone uses WhatsApp from where I come from.

                                  Byku Yes, Whatsapp is pretty much the default here, even with iphone users. Compared to RCS, I’m curious as to which would be considered the most “private”.

                                    Byku

                                    Once iPhone adopts, RCS in IOS 18 , and encryption is standardized It should be a suitable replacement to have on every device. The biggest draw is that the user doesn't have to install a new piece of software. It can be integrated right into the operating system, And have support by the telecom carriers.

                                        OfflinePuffin Yes that does sound good. Although I think one of the reasons people use Whatsapp over imessage is because it can handle bigger file sizes with photos and videos. Or so I’ve been told. I just use it mostly to message.

                                            Also one advantage RCS has over WhatsApp is it's not centralized. A company with the right partnership can run their own RCS stack and server but it's a large undertaking. I think once apple adds support we will see a shift

                                              OfflinePuffin One thing I really liked about RCS, is that just like imessage, it’s global. About 3 years ago, before my Samsung A40 crapped out, my carrier supported it and I was able to message friends in the U.S. when I was in Europe. With read receipts and typing indicators.

                                                Have long been considering GrapheneOS and with the Pixel 9 on sale at Mint Mobile, thinking about jumping in. Living in an iPhone household and having many contacts with iOS, RCS support in iOS 18 looks promising for Android users. Commenting to say I how much I appreciate everyone's contributions to this specific topic and will follow thread for updates. Cheers.

                                                Byku I'm in the US and barely anyone here actively uses WhatsApp, Signal, or really any third-party messenger. Everyone sticks to the default messenger and since iPhones are the most common, that means iMessage.

                                                Even if they do have an active account or app installed from a third-party messenger, they don't use it and it's become a meme to be irritated whenever someone tries to message you on anything other than iMessage. The "Green bubble" dread is also an issue, not just among teens but among full grown adults that still act like children. Here's a pretty comprehensive video from a popular youtube tech reviewer on how messaging in the US got so weird if you're curious.

                                                both parties using Google Messages app

                                                Google managed to set Google Messages as the default messaging client on Android and even got Samsung to switch to using Google Messages instead of Samsung Messages. So, nowadays, if someone has an up to date android device, they almost definitely have Google Messages installed and are likely using it as their default messaging app already.

                                                both parties having RCS enabled

                                                Google made RCS turn on by default last year. Despite the difficulties of getting it to work on GrapheneOS, it's a frictionless process on stock.

                                                both parties having access to network via mobie data or Wi-Fi

                                                At least in the USA, that's a very low bar and it's basically unheard that someone forfeits a mobile plan, especially since most people here buy their phones through their mobile phone carrier under contract. Free wifi is also available almost everywhere. Data coverage maps have also improved a lot for the 3 major US wireless networks. People these days even have wifi on planes and utilize satellite internet services when in the outskirts or out at sea. So, this is pretty much a non-issue 99.99% of the time. Further, other messaging apps also require data or wifi so not sure why this is relevant...

                                                While iMessage is still king in the US, Google Messages is still the second best alternative since I at least get E2EE with the few android users I know. But, now that Apple is rolling out RCS support with some hearsay that Apple will implement encryption in the future, that's even more reason to keep using Google Messages. Even without encryption between iPhone users, it's still enough to make some things break less such as sending videos and larger files, which makes dealing with tech illiterate apple users slightly less frustrating.

                                                Obviously, these aren't the best messaging platforms for privacy. But that doesn't really matter when no one uses the alternatives. This is also a different use case. If I'm exchanging information with someone who is also knowledgeable about privacy, I may get them to temporarily install Signal, SimpleX, etc. But that's very infrequent. Most of the time, it's just day to day messaging with mostly tech illiterate/apathetic people who would rather tell me to drop $1,200 on a new iPhone then for them to install a third-party messenger...

                                                    Today when opening Google Messages, I randomly got a message saying that RCS was now ready for my Pixel 8 Pro on Tello. I haven't done any of the workarounds in this thread so this surprised me.

                                                    Did anyone else suddenly get RCS?

                                                      I got Google Messages with RCS to work but during the process I did receive a Messenger Verification Code which I didn't need to use. Is this normal?

                                                        Luigi64 Someone might have typed in the wrong number when setting about social media account

                                                          jo_hn

                                                          It could be something about your carrier, also Google has done a few more updates to messages BTW when A lot of people were having problems, and now...

                                                            Just tested by downloading Google Messages, RCS was automatically enabled within 5 mins for me. I have done nothing additional to get it to work.

                                                            83639273 Dude, I've been struggling for months, trying everything, and this is the ONLY thing that worked. Thank you!! Texting some of my iPhone buddies with RCS chats feels surreal, never would have imagined it just a couple years ago.

                                                            FYI for anyone reading this: If its not working, download the Google app and give it the same permissions, including device identifiers. Initially OP's method didn't work, but this fixed it for me.

                                                            Really sucks Google has made RCS "theirs", but if that's what it takes to get it adopted, oh well... We all know phone carriers don't give enough of a shit to create proper RCS infrastructure