Rich Communication Services (RCS) has transformed messaging, and Google Messages continues to lead the charge with exciting updates in 2025. With over a billion RCS messages sent daily in the U.S. alone, the protocol is now a cornerstone of modern texting, bridging the gap between Android and iOS. Here’s a look at the latest enhancements to Google Messages’ RCS chat features, why they matter, and how they elevate your messaging experience.
A Smarter Way to Start Chats
Google Messages recently revamped its “New Chat” page, making it easier to identify RCS-enabled contacts. When you tap the “Start Chat” button, a refreshed interface highlights contacts with RCS support using a distinct badge and dynamic color theming. This eliminates the guesswork of checking whether a contact supports RCS by starting a conversation. The update, spotted in the latest beta (version 20250527_01_RC00), is rolling out gradually, ensuring a smoother, more consistent RCS experience.
Why It Matters: This small but impactful change saves time and encourages RCS adoption by clearly showing who’s ready for enhanced messaging features like high-resolution media sharing and typing indicators.
Editing Messages for Clarity
One of the standout features introduced in 2025 is the ability to edit RCS messages within 15 minutes of sending. Available exclusively in the Google Messages app (not the web UI), this feature lets you correct typos or clarify thoughts without cluttering the chat. Simply long-press a sent message, tap “Edit,” make your changes, and hit the checkmark to update. An “Edited” label appears for transparency, visible to both sender and recipient.
Why It Matters: Message editing reduces miscommunication and keeps conversations clean, aligning Google Messages with platforms like WhatsApp and iMessage, which offer similar functionality.
Enhanced Group Chats and Cross-Platform Compatibility
With Apple’s adoption of RCS in iOS 18 (September 2024), group chats between Android and iPhone users have become seamless. You can now name group chats, add or remove participants, and exit conversations without breaking the flow, regardless of the device. Google Messages also supports emoji reactions that display correctly across platforms, making mixed-device chats more expressive.
Why It Matters: These improvements eliminate the frustrations of mixed-platform group chats, such as blurry media or limited controls, fostering a unified messaging experience.
Privacy and Security at the Core
Google continues to prioritize privacy with end-to-end encryption for all RCS conversations between Google Messages users. This ensures that only you and your recipient can access your messages and attachments. Additionally, Google is enhancing spam protection, leveraging Gmail’s spam-filtering expertise. A new “Unsubscribe” feature for RCS messages is in development, giving users more control over unwanted messages.
Why It Matters: Robust encryption and spam protection build trust, making RCS a secure alternative to traditional SMS and a competitor to encrypted apps like Signal.
AI-Powered Messaging Enhancements
Google Messages’ AI-driven features, like Magic Compose, are getting smarter. Magic Compose suggests replies and can transform your text into creative, fun responses. The app also supports seamless cross-device messaging, letting you continue chats on your phone, tablet, or Wear OS smartwatch without missing a beat.
Why It Matters: AI enhancements make texting faster and more personalized, while cross-device support ensures you’re always connected, no matter the device.
Troubleshooting and Reliability
Despite its strengths, RCS can occasionally face hiccups, such as connection issues or messages failing to send. Google has acknowledged recent bugs, like those reported in April 2025, and is rolling out fixes to improve reliability. If RCS isn’t working, try these steps:
Ensure Google Messages and Carrier Services are updated.
Check Settings > RCS Chats for “Connected” status.
Clear app cache or sideload an older version temporarily.
Verify your phone number in the app.
Why It Matters: Google’s commitment to addressing issues ensures RCS remains a dependable option for daily communication.
Looking Ahead: The Future of RCS
Google’s RCS updates are just the beginning. At Mobile World Congress 2025, Google hinted at further spam protection improvements and potential new features like standardized message replies and reactions. Apple’s planned introduction of end-to-end encrypted RCS in iOS 19 (expected September 2025) will further elevate the protocol, making it the first large-scale messaging service with interoperable encryption across providers.
How to Get Started
To use these features, ensure RCS is enabled:
Open Google Messages.
Tap your profile picture > Messages Settings > RCS Chats.
Toggle “Turn on RCS Chats” and verify your phone number.
For iPhone users, check with your carrier and update to iOS 18 or later to enable RCS.
Conclusion
Google Messages’ RCS updates in 2025 make texting smarter, more secure, and more enjoyable. From intuitive contact badges to message editing and cross-platform group chats, these enhancements bring Android and iOS users closer together. As Google continues to refine RCS, it’s clear that the future of messaging is here—and it’s richer than ever.
Sources: Information compiled from recent reports on 9to5Google, Android Police, and Google’s official blog.