Using RCS with Google Messages on GrapheneOS

HVW

Gentlemen I have a quick question regarding the adb read identifier permissions.
Once connected can I turn these off and what would the command be ?

tRexDestroyer

As a follow up,
I reverted back to "Setting Up..." status just a few days ago.
Today, I looked at @DirtyDan post from July 12 and installed the version mentioned there from the Aurora Store (Version 242499063).
(I'm logged into my Google Account on the phone)
When I opened up the app, it was on "Verifying..." then instantly switched to "Connecting...". So I restarted the phone as @DirtyDan instructed and when I checked again, it was Connected.
I even updated the app to latest version through Aurora Store and RCS is still connected.

In case it helps, I have all permissions enabled for Carrier Services, Play services, Play Store, and Google Messages(I used storage scopes and it still worked).

Novastatic

TL;DR - microG Services might be messing with RCS re-connection. Disable or delete it when trying to re-register.

So, RCS broke for me a few weeks ago, and I tried this. At first, it wasn't working, but now it is and I think I might've figured out another significant step. Used @DirtyDan suggestion to download the August 2024 version.

I accidentally broke YT ReVanced a few days ago, and when I was trying to fix it I gave up and deleted microGservices. But then I realized that might be fucking with messages too. So I here's my steps that I took after turning RCS off via the settings toggle about a day ago:

Delete Google Messages, and clear data/cache for the carrier service apps (so clear carrier services, carrierconfig2, carrier communications, and play services). You might want to do this on airplane mode but idk
Cleared cache of microG services, and disabled it (was too lazy to delete)
Downloaded the August 2024 (242499063) code via Aurora store. Don't use apkmirror or similar sites, Google will see it as a security issue or smth
Gave Messages most permissions besides location BEFORE setting it as SMS app. Then set it as default.
Since you deleted and reinstalled messages, probably will need to give it read device identifiers again. Did this with Permission ManagerX, but Shizuku or adb works too
Turned off airplane mode, so WiFi and data were enabled. Make sure VPN is off, and kill-switch is disabled
Make sure you have phone verification on under your Google account, as I did have it enabled
Enter the app, pick your account, and boom, RCS activated immediately for me, with a little pop-up and everything. Went to the settings and it says connected, and can verify that the text I sent to an individual was RCS. I don't have a group to test with unfortunately
Updated to newer version via Aurora store, is still saying connected

So basically, microG Services might be fucking your connection up. I haven't enabled it yet, and I'll have to soon to be able to use ReVanced YT and YT Music, but we'll see if it dies again anytime soon.

akolenda

Novastatic I've tried doing this step by step, at the end of it when you restart your phone, I get "RCS chats aren't available for this device" so sad! Not sure what's going on

jeffcodes

akolenda
I hear you. I gave up. I uninstalled Messages, and took away all relevant permissions from Google Play Services/Store. Need to reverse the other permission via ADB later. I'm done with RCS until we have a non-google option.
The worst part, is I am missing messages now, and probably will continue to, until 30-days when I'm dropped from groups.
I guess I go back to making a big fuss to my people to download Signal... again, for the 1000th time.
...
Or I go crazy and just go back to iPhone. I did that for 18-months or so a few years back. I felt so dirty...

Novastatic

akolenda I'm not going to lie, it can be really frustrating at times, and to this day I still don't really understand what makes it work and what doesn't. I tried reading logs but I couldn't understand much on my own lol. My carrier is AT&T if that helps.

Maybe my original post might help you more? I think I failed to note that the service apps might need extra permissions like network, phone, and SMS. I also enabled Read_Device_Identifiers for not just GM, but Play Services too. Some might suggest having data available for not just LTE. You might want to do steps 1 through 7, reboot, and then check the app at step 8

n3t_admin

jeffcodes Or I go crazy and just go back to iPhone. I did that for 18-months or so a few years back. I felt so dirty...

or be more coercive. If you value security, you wouldn't use iMessage anyway. I disabled it on my iPhone simply because it has been the most common gateway into iOS for the worst exploits (zero-day; zero-click).
Going back to iPhone to THEN decrease security via iMessage even further... I don't know. Doesn't sound like the life I'd want to live.

t1c

Yeah, I'm completely stuck here. Every troubleshooting step I took only made the status go from green to yellow to red [edit: now back to yellow], just got off the phone with Google Fi and they said there was an outage in my local area (🙄) and said that they'll get back in 72 hours. What's even more ironic is that I'm an RBM (RCS For Business) customer as of yesterday. Now I'm cut off from my main friend group over RCS, and I know for a fact they'd never download Signal.

t1c

Whelp. It got worse. Now says "device does not meet security requirements."

c0rd

t1c try my method in this thread

Carter

I tried some methods suggested here and now google messages is saying that my device doesn't support RCS. Do we know if some GrapheneOS update somehow broke RCS, or did Google find a way to block RCS on grapheneOS phones?

c0rd

Carter my RCS didn't work all day today, but as soon as I booted up after the latest update (like 15 min ago), RCS worked perfectly

Unlit6179

@jeffcodes I believe is that you can kick yourself out of your groups sooner by entering your phone number followed by the verification code here: https://messages.google.com/disable-chat

jeffcodes

Unlit6179 Yeah, thanks. I did do that as well when I deleted the app as well.
That's a great call out for others.

Novastatic

Novastatic Welp, seems I borked it even more as RCS stopped working today. I tried to re-verify it and do the whole process again, but now it's stating "RCS isn't available for this device"...

Might have to wait a day or two to get it working again...

I did update my messages after RCS worked a few days ago, so that might be the reason.

pleasework12345

nowcircumscribeyahoo

This method stopped working as of a few days ago for me.

Im also on pixel 9, tmobile, and RCS WAS working fine for months until the last week or so. Now no matter what I do, I can't get RCS to work anymore. Tried following this guide several times.

Is there really no hope on the horizon for a fix to this issue?

scrollbars

pleasework12345 Ignoring GrapheneOS, Google has apparently been in the process of shifting users from their own RCS servers to carrier operated RCS servers. It's possible that this is all collateral damage that will get sorted out with time. Everyone will need to do some introspection and weigh their own functionality vs. security needs in the near term.

For myself, I'm committed to keeping GrapheneOS on my tablet because it's been performing stellar there, but I will probably be migrating back to stock on my phone for the time being.

Carter

pleasework12345 Same for me! Also pixel 9 with TMobile. It stopped working for me around last week too, around Thursday if I remember correctly. Perhaps this might be a problem on T-Mobiles end?

nineTHRTY

nineTHRTY RCS finally broke. Happened after today's stable update release. Even without updating Google Messages. Most likely unrelated to GOS, but I'm just documenting my experience.

Side note. Really think this thread could use a refresh.

Edit: Added context.

WestQuester

As a data point, my RCS status is still "Connected".
Pixel 8.
Mint Mobile.
GOS build 2025090800.
Messages version 20240806_01_RC03.

5rlyn

WestQuester same here, but on a Pixel 9 Pro. RCS is connected but instantly resending as a SMS.

« Previous Page Next Page »