RCS group chat explained: How it works on Android and iOS

RCS is everywhere in 2025, and group messaging just got a major upgrade. But between Android settings, app compatibility, and Apple’s long-awaited support, it’s hard to know what actually works (and what’s just hype).

Does RCS group chat work on iPhones now? What happens when one person in the group doesn’t have it turned on? Can brands use it like WhatsApp or iMessage groups?

And most importantly: what does this all mean for your business communications strategy?

This guide is built for digital marketers, CX leaders, and platform managers who want a no-nonsense breakdown of how RCS group messaging works today. We’ll cover the tech behind it, where it stands now on Android and iOS, what limitations still exist, and how Infobip helps businesses deliver rich, personalized messaging at scale, without the confusion.

What is RCS group chat?

A step up from MMS group messaging

RCS (Rich Communication Services) transforms group messaging into a smoother, app-like experience:

• Read receipts and delivery confirmations for every message.
• Rich media support including high-quality images, videos, and interactive buttons.
• Data-first delivery, meaning messages are sent via Wi-Fi or mobile data, not traditional SMS infrastructure.

This eliminates the fragmentation and limitations typical of MMS group chats. Instead of clunky message threads or media failing to send, RCS creates seamless conversations, provided all participants have RCS-enabled devices and messaging apps.

Apps that support it today

RCS group messaging isn’t universal just yet, support depends on the app, device, and carrier. Here’s where it stands today:

• Google messages: The default messaging app on Pixel and Android One devices. It offers the most complete and consistent RCS group chat experience, including support for typing indicators, read receipts, and media sharing.
• Samsung messages: Available on Samsung devices, but RCS support varies. In some regions, users may need to manually enable chat features or switch to Google Messages for full functionality.
• iPhones (iOS 18 and up): As of iOS 18, Apple has RCS support. This means cross-platform group chats between Android and iPhone users will soon feel much more seamless, though iMessage remains the default on Apple devices.

How does RCS group chat actually work?

RCS group messaging, for consumers, operates differently from traditional SMS or MMS, and even from messaging apps like WhatsApp or iMessage. At its core, RCS relies on carrier infrastructure and device-level compatibility, introducing a few important requirements:

• All participants must have RCS enabled on their device.
• Each user’s messaging app must support RCS (e.g., Google Messages).
• The mobile carrier must support RCS and interconnect with others.

If even one participant in the group doesn’t meet these conditions, the conversation may fall back to SMS or MMS, resulting in broken threads, missing features, or lower message quality. This is especially common in mixed-device or international groups where RCS rollout is uneven.

Another factor is the default messaging app:

• Google messages offers the most complete RCS group chat experience and is widely supported across Android devices.
• Samsung messages may require manual activation of RCS features, and compatibility can vary by region and carrier.

In short, RCS group messaging works best when all participants are using a compatible app, device, and carrier, making consistency key to the user experience.

What makes it different from iMessage or WhatsApp groups?

While RCS offers many of the same features, rich media, typing indicators, delivery receipts, its setup is different from centralized messaging apps like WhatsApp or Apple’s iMessage.

• No centralized server: RCS uses a federated model relying on Google’s Jibe platform and carrier networks, not a single company’s infrastructure.
• Limited end-to-end encryption: Currently, E2EE is only supported in 1:1 RCS chats, not group messages.
• Mixed interoperability: Native messaging app support improves accessibility, but global consistency remains a challenge.

RCS vs WhatsApp vs iMessage: Group messaging comparison

As RCS continues to evolve, particularly with Apple adding support in iOS 18, the user experience across platforms is expected to improve. But it’s important to understand: for brands, RCS remains a one-to-one channel, not a tool for group threads or broadcast-style discussions.

Want to compare RCS with other channels? These might help.

RCS group messaging and iPhone + Android compatibility

For years, the gap between Android and iOS messaging created frustrating limitations for users, especially in group chats. But with Apple’s rollout of RCS support on iOS 18, cross-platform messaging is finally becoming more seamless, bridging one of the biggest divides in mobile communication.

Will RCS group chat work with iPhones?

Yes. As of iOS 18, RCS is officially supported on iPhones, enabling richer messaging between Android and iOS devices. This includes:

• Support for media sharing, high-resolution images, and longer messages
• Typing indicators and read receipts in cross-platform group chats
• Wi-Fi and data-based delivery, avoiding SMS/MMS fallback in most cases

However, some limitations remain:

• End-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS group chats is still not available. While iMessage continues to support E2EE across all conversations, RCS encryption today is still limited to one-on-one chats, regardless of platform.
• Some features like reactions or advanced media previews may behave differently between iOS and Android, depending on app implementation and carrier settings.

How to enable and use RCS group chat on Android

To take advantage of RCS group messaging, all participants must have RCS enabled on a supported messaging app and carrier network. Here’s how users can enable and manage it:

• Enable RCS: In Google Messages, go to Settings > RCS chats and make sure chat features are turned on.
• Start a group chat: Tap “Start chat,” add multiple recipients, and begin the conversation.
• Customize your group: You can name the group, add or remove members, and even assign a custom group icon.
• Fallback behavior: If someone in the group doesn’t support RCS, the chat will revert to SMS/MMS automatically.

Note that RCS service is provided either by your carrier or by Google’s Jibe platform, depending on device and region.

What this means for Android users and brand messaging

For Android users, this is a major improvement: group messaging with iPhone users is now richer, faster, and far more consistent than SMS ever allowed.

For businesses, however, it’s important to note that RCS for Business (A2P) still operates exclusively as a one-to-one channel. Despite improved device compatibility, group threads remain unsupported for brands due to privacy, compliance, and platform design.

That said, Infobip’s platform ensures your messages reach every customer, regardless of device, with fallback to SMS, WhatsApp, or Viber where needed. So even as RCS grows more universal, your delivery and customer experience remain uninterrupted.

How Infobip helps you deliver richer messaging experiences

While RCS group chat isn’t available for brands today, Infobip empowers businesses to deliver rich, one-to-one conversational experiences at scale, with all the personalization and automation of a group-like interaction, but built for security, compliance, and performance.

• Reach 100% of your audience with smart fallback to SMS, WhatsApp, or Viber when RCS isn’t available
• Orchestrate journeys with Infobip customer engagement platform, our visual builder for timed, trigger-based communication
• Personalize messages based on language, device type, user behavior, and interaction history
• Track and optimize engagement using delivery, click-through, and conversion metrics in real time

As RCS becomes more popular, especially with iOS adoption, Infobip is your future-proof messaging partner, ready to scale your customer communications across channels and regions.

FAQs about RCS group chat