Using RCS with Google Messages on GrapheneOS

cig2000

On 2025100901 GOS version on AT&T SIM in USA and RCS is still not able to connect. Gave Google Play Services all the permissions and allowed phone verification and gave Messages all the permissions. Stuck on connecting.

biscuit_tosser_88

cig2000 at&t is not working for me either. At&t is on a physical sim, and I also have Google Fi on an esim (same phone) which is working and connects immediately through reboots and turning the sim off and on.

MrRoboto1212

cb474 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.

This is my case. I want RCS, however I speak to so little people that I'd rather conserve my efforts and wait for something official; if that means there ends up not being an official GOS workaround, then so be it. I guess I'll have to use SMS.

I'm not going to do a tedious 7-step cycle every 24 hours just so I have more secure texts.

tebriel

cig2000 biscuit_tosser_88 AT&T (I believe) is requiring extra permissions that aren't able to be granted from the UI to the app. The trick of installing the old APK then upgrading is the only thing that works for AT&T as far as I know, but must be done every 36 hours.

skorge

DeletedUser474 few comments above yours, try this https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/1353-using-rcs-with-google-messages-on-grapheneos/1223

biscuit_tosser_88

tebriel thanks for the info. I missed that part in this monstrosity of a thread.

nowcircumscribeyahoo

GrapheneOS I for one would opt into the privileged permissions for the time being. It still beats being on stock OS. Really appreciate the work going into this!

BuckWylde

I was trying to run the older version of Messages to see if I could skirt the every other day trick but noticed that I wasn't getting rcs group messages. I upgraded just now and got a backlog from the last couple of days.

Judgeadam

BuckWylde mine is intermittent on some people, works perfect on some people and groups, and reverts to SMS on some. Latest messages beta.

It seems no rhyme or reason. At least on Verizon.

robertmckeever2

GrapheneOS are there any updates or progression on this idea/implementation?

whimsicalsynopses

robertmckeever2 looks like a separate issue for some north American carriers (T-Mobile and MVNOs) #6331. The workaround to install an old app version, configure RCS then update. It seems to work for around 36 hours before it requires you to repeat the steps.

DeletedUser638

whimsicalsynopses Will it stay working on the old version?

whimsicalsynopses

DeletedUser638 no. You need to update in order for it to begin working as part of the steps.

5rlyn

DeletedUser638 seems to be a crap shoot. My old Messages app still has working RCS. Doesnt seem to be the case with everyone.

cb474

5rlyn seems to be a crap shoot. My old Messages app still has working RCS. Doesnt seem to be the case with everyone.

You're the only person I've seen report that it works in the old version. Is anyone else experiencing this? For me it will always connect to RCS in the old version. But I have to update to the Play Store version to get Etouffee to show "true" (i.e. to get messages to actually send as RCS and to get RCS group chats working at all).

That aside, I've been getting an error in group chats based on MMS (because they have members who don't have RCS). I send a message. it appears to send, but then I get a notification that says: "MMS failed to save." I've never seen that before. I wonder if it has to do with all the problems with RCS somehow also interferring with MMS based group chats. Is anyone else seeing that?

MrRoboto1212

cb474 Yeah, mine says connected on the old Messages, but does not actually use RCS and defaults to SMS

gfb817

DeletedUser638
cb474

I am so far able to establish and maintain (for about 10 days with no intervention) RCS functionality with
messages.android_20241120_00_RC01.phone_dynamic
com.google.android.apps.messaging versionCode 262366063

I can send as RCS, receive RCS, and send/receive RCS groups. The one thing I can't confirm - I never got an influx of "missing" RCS messages like others stated they received, while I'm aware of at least a couple of RCS groups that were going on during my RCS outage timeframe.

I downloaded this from apkmirror, and Aurora store does NOT see it as an app with available upgrades in my case.

I've not viewed any logs or debugging output, so I can't answer to the state of etouffe or other system checks that I see others referring to.

NOTE: in a previous reply, the Graphene team account recommended against keeping an old Messages app, even for the sake of keeping RCS working.

5rlyn

gfb817 same boat, although I haven't had it installed 10 days to be sure. Also haven't had it hooked up to logs to check etouffe or anything, so I'm afraid I can't yet provide insight as to why my old version might be working while others are not.

I'm aware of GOS's recommendations, unfortunately my options are "use an outdated Messages version with functional RCS" or "go back to stock Pixel." Lesser of two evils.

WestQuester

cb474 You're the only person I've seen report that it works in the old version.

Works for me. Installed October 13, version 20241120_00_RC07.phone_dynamic
RCS chats still working and does not revert to SMS. I'll note I don't have any RCS groups though.

sabhain

On T-Mobile with 7a .. haven't been able to get RCS working on the old APK .. doesn't click until I update the Messages app from the Play Store. Works for about 30 hours for me.

So now I have a nightly routine to remove and reload. It's down to about a 7 minute process time for me.

I have not updated to the latest system release to see the impact. Going to wait and see the traffic here first.

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