Google messenger not working on phone

kd92jew

I used the built-in messenger app for a while, but haven't gotten used to not having a laptop interface (which was pretty easy with Google Messenger).

So I was going to try out Google Messenger again, but after working JUST AFTER I installed it, I now always get the message:

Trying to reach your phone
What you can do:

Turn on your phone & connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data
Close & reopen Google Messages for web
Turn your phone Wi-Fi off and on
Refresh this page or unpair Messages for web and rescan the QR code

I occasionally got this message on my old phone (Google pixel, not GrapheneOS) but now it's happening all the time, and I can't use Google messenger on my laptop at all.

Thoughts? I know I should avoid all Google apps if possible but I'm considering all my options.

Marcus

kd92jew There's another thread here about RCS and Google message with the same problem you are describing. -> It works for a few days and then stops working.

It's a problem only Google can fix in the app. It was exactly the same with official stock Samsung phones (and others) 1 year ago. It finally started working reliably on those phones after Google updated the messages app seveal times (it took a long time).

But messages and their encrypted RCS implementation is completely closed source. And I hear they are now also removing the phone and messages apps from AOSP -> so the whole thing now looks very shady imho.

kd92jew

Thanks for the reply. I tried pairing and unpairing and it's working again.

I may have to do this regularly. I've gotten so used to texting from the laptop that not having that was a little tough. If anyone knows an open source app that have the ability to pair from the computer, I'd like to know about it.

(In a previous post, somebody mentioned KDE Connect as a solution. I looked at it but the path to actually doing the thing I want to do seemed very complex.)