Apple has officially released the first public beta for iOS 18, exciting many iPhone users who are eager to experience its new features. Announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference this past June, iOS 18 promises to bring a host of updates to enhance your device’s functionality, including more ways to personalize your lock screen and updates to Messages. Among the most anticipated additions is the support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) in Messages, a feature set to elevate the texting experience between iPhone and Android users. If you’re as eager as most to test this out, here’s how you can verify that RCS messaging is working on your iPhone.
While Apple gave scant attention to RCS messaging during their WWDC presentation, this feature is expected to debut on your device with the iOS 18 update this fall. With RCS messaging, users can enjoy enhanced texting functionalities such as typing indicators and “Delivered” status messages when communicating with Android devices. This will also help maintain high-quality video and picture transmission between iPhones and Android devices. However, it’s crucial to note that since this is a public beta, the update is likely to be buggy and might pose issues such as quicker battery drain. Therefore, it’s advisable to install this beta version on a secondary device rather than your primary one.
1. Verify Your Carrier’s RCS Compatibility
Before reaping the benefits of RCS messaging, you must check if your carrier supports this feature. Most major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile already support RCS on iPhones running iOS 18, but it’s still necessary to confirm if your carrier is on the list.
1. **Open Settings.**
2. **Select General.**
3. **Choose About.**
4. **Tap Carrier.**
When you tap on “Carrier,” it will switch to “IMS Status,” which will show detailed messaging support information. If your carrier supports RCS, you will see “Voice, SMS & RCS” listed. In contrast, if your carrier does not support this feature, the list will only show “Voice & SMS.” This quick check can save you the frustration of wondering why the new feature isn’t working for you.
Given the importance of seamless communication between different operating systems, the addition of RCS messaging is expected to be a game-changer. This feature ensures better compatibility and eliminates many of the former barriers to cross-platform messaging. Knowing whether your carrier supports it is the first critical step in transitioning to this enhanced messaging experience effectively.
2. Activate or Deactivate RCS on Your iPhone
Once you’ve confirmed that your carrier supports RCS, the next step is to enable this feature on your iPhone. Activating RCS is a straightforward process involving a few simple steps within your phone’s settings.
1. **Open Settings.**
2. **Scroll down and select Apps.**
3. **Choose Messages.**
4. **Use the toggle switch next to RCS Messaging under Text Messaging.**
By following these steps, you can either activate or deactivate RCS messaging on your iPhone as you see fit. When RCS is enabled, messaging with Android users will feel more efficient and fluid, although you will still see the characteristic green bubbles indicative of cross-platform texting. If at any point you decide that you do not want to utilize RCS messaging, you can easily revert this by following the same steps and toggling the feature off.
It’s worth highlighting the significance of this new feature. While the green bubbles won’t disappear just yet, the messaging experience becomes much richer and closer to what users experience when texting within the same ecosystem. Features such as real-time typing indicators and high-quality media transmissions will go a long way toward creating a more integrated and cohesive user experience.
3. If RCS Still Isn’t Operational
Apple has unveiled the first public beta for iOS 18, sparking excitement among iPhone enthusiasts eager to explore its new features. Announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference this past June, iOS 18 is packed with updates aimed at boosting your device’s functionality, including enhanced lock screen personalization options and improvements to Messages. One of the most eagerly awaited updates is the support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) in Messages, which promises to upgrade the texting experience between iPhone and Android users.
To verify that RCS messaging is functioning, here’s what you need to know. During Apple’s WWDC presentation, RCS messaging received minimal focus, but it is set to be available with the iOS 18 release this fall. RCS messaging offers advanced texting capabilities such as typing indicators and “Delivered” status messages when messaging Android devices. It also ensures high-quality video and picture sharing between iPhones and Android devices. However, being a public beta, the update might come with bugs, including faster battery drain. Therefore, it’s wise to install this beta on a secondary device rather than your main one.
