Fixing iOS 18 RCS Issues: Troubleshooting Tips

An editor at Blogzine

September 17, 2024
🕑 2 minutes read
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iOS Tips

Key Information

The recently launched iOS 18 features RCS messaging support for iPhones, though some users are facing challenges with RCS functionality.
To troubleshoot, ensure that your carrier supports RCS, and verify that RCS is enabled both on your device and for your contacts.
Effective remedies reported by users include restarting the device, resetting network settings, and toggling airplane mode on and off.

With the rollout of Apple’s iOS 18 update, RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging is now available for iPhones, enhancing communication capabilities between iPhone and Android users. Despite this advancement, some users have encountered problems with RCS functionality. Common issues include:

Inability to activate RCS.
Messages defaulting to SMS instead of using RCS.
RCS features being non-functional with Android contacts.

These complications may stem from various factors, including insufficient carrier support, device compatibility, and software-related bugs.

7 Solutions for ‘RCS Not Working’ on iOS 18

Here are steps you can take to troubleshoot RCS messaging on iOS 18:

1. Verify Carrier Support

First, check if your mobile carrier supports RCS messaging. Follow these steps:

Open the Settings app and select General.
Tap on About.
Select Carrier.
If you see “Voice, SMS & RCS,” your carrier is RCS-enabled.

2. Enable RCS Messaging

Ensure that RCS messaging is activated in your iPhone settings:

Open the Settings app and select Apps.
Tap on Messages.
Activate RCS Messaging under ‘Text Messaging’.

3. Restart Your iPhone

A simple device restart has proven effective for many users. This can re-establish connections and address minor issues, so it’s worth trying.

4. Reset Network Settings

If problems continue, resetting your network settings may help:

Go to the Settings app and select General.
Tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Select Reset.
Choose Reset Network Settings.

5. Confirm RCS Status of Contacts

Check that your contacts are using devices and apps that support RCS. Not all Android smartphones or messaging applications enable RCS by default.

6. Toggle Airplane Mode or Restart Your iPhone

Switching Airplane Mode on and off can refresh your connection. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, restarting your iPhone has helped several users in getting RCS functioning again.

7. Contact Your Mobile Carrier

If none of the aforementioned methods resolve the issue, it’s best to get in touch with your mobile carrier for assistance. They may need to adjust your account settings or provide additional troubleshooting steps.

Additional Considerations

As a newly introduced feature, iOS 18 may still have some bugs to resolve. Keep the following points in mind:

Activation of RCS may take some time after enabling the setting.
Some features might not be compatible across all devices and carriers.
RCS messaging currently does not support encryption on iOS 18.

By following these troubleshooting steps, most users should be able to address issues with RCS on iOS 18. If difficulties persist, it may be beneficial to wait for upcoming software updates from Apple, which typically include essential bug fixes and enhancements.

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