iOS 18 beta officially adds RCS messaging — here’s what you need to know

iMessage app on iPhone
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

We knew that RCS was on its way to iOS 18, but Apple hasn’t been forthcoming with details on when or how it might be available. The first iOS 18 developer beta contained hidden code for a broken version of RCS, while beta 2 launched with a non-functional RCS toggle in the settings. Except that toggle may not be non-functional anymore.

Some users have started noticing that RCS is now enabled on iPhones running the latest version of the iOS 18 developer beta. However it seems that the feature is tied to your specific carrier, so right now only those with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon plans seem to be able to send RCS messages.

That means users on other carriers and MVNOs may have to wait a little longer for Apple to offer proper cross-messaging support for RCS.

According to Brandon Butch from The Apple Den, RCS definitely wasn’t working before yesterday, meaning someone probably flipped a switch at either Apple or the three carriers to activate RCS support in iOS 18 beta. Butch also points out that videos and photos are sent at “full quality,” putting an end to MMS’s ultra-compressed stranglehold on cross-platform file sharing.

Other screenshots on X show that RCS messaging is labeled as “Text Message - RCS”, with read receipts and operational tapbacks/reactions. Another user claimed that it works between iPhone and Android as well, since their Android-using mother was able to leave their message on read. That's kinda rude, but at least that shows the system is working. Presumably, the messages are now encrypted too, which isn’t possible on the positively-ancient SMS messaging system.

The bubbles are, of course, still green. But we already knew that was going to happen, even though it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to keep unsecured SMS and encrypted RCS messages the same color.

If you have an Apple developer account, you can install the iOS 18 developer beta right now and play with RCS — assuming you’re with one of the big three carriers. As for everyone else you’ll either have to wait for iOS 18’s first public beta to launch, and we don’t know when that is, or hold off until September when the final version of the software is expected to roll out.

We also don’t know how the rollout is going to work outside the U.S. But considering WhatsApp has supplanted iMessage and RCS as the go-to messaging service in the rest of the world, it’s probably not as big a deal.

More from Tom's Guide

Category
Arrow
Arrow
Back to Mobile Cell Phones
Brand
Arrow
Storage Size
Arrow
Colour
Arrow
Condition
Arrow
Price
Arrow
Any Price
Showing 10 of 95 deals
Filters
Arrow
Our Review
1
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB
Verizon
(256GB 12GB RAM)
Our Review
2
SAMSUNG Galaxy S24 Ultra Dual...
Amazon
Our Review
3
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 512...
Samsung
(512GB)
Our Review
4
OnePlus - 12 512GB (Unlocked)...
Best Buy
Our Review
5
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB
Visible
(128GB)
Our Review
6
Pixel 8 Pro Bay 128GB...
Google Store NA
(256GB Blue)
Our Review
7
iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB (with...
Straight Talk
(Blue)
Our Review
8
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB...
Total Wireless
Our Review
9
Google Pixel 8 Pro - 128 GB
AT&T Mobility
Low Stock
(Blue)
Our Review
10
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G...
Walmart
Show more
Tom Pritchard
UK Phones Editor

Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.

Read more
How to enable RCS messaging in iOS 18
iOS 18 finally brings RCS messages to iPhone — here's how to send them
RCS messaging on an iPhone
Forget green bubbles — iPhones will soon get encrypted RCS messaging to Androids
iOS 18 Notes
iOS 18.3 beta just arrived — here's what's changed
iOS 18 logo on an iPhone 15 Pro
iOS 18.4 beta is live — here’s all the new features for your iPhone
iOS 18.4 logo on an iPhone
iOS 18.4 public beta 2 is here — all the new features to try on your iPhone
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
Apple and SpaceX just added Starlink connectivity for select iPhone users
Latest in iPhones
New emojis with iOS 18.4 beta release.
iOS 18.4 beta brings 8 new emoji to your iPhone — here's all the new options
An image of an iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center
I got tired of Safari revealing my web searches in iOS 18.4 — this setting fixes that
iPhone Flip Concept
Foldable iPhone delays — there’s a bigger problem going on at Apple
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — new survey could be bad news for Apple's super thin iPhone
Render of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro
New iPhone 17 Pro dummy leak highlights redesigned camera and part glass body
Siri in iOS 18 on iPhone
Users complain that Siri can’t answer even the most basic questions — here’s what we know
Latest in News
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Tuesday, March 25 (#653)
A first look at Amazon's Fallout TV series coming to Prime Video
‘Fallout’ season 3 plans are reportedly being made — while season 2 is still filming
Surface Laptop 7 from the front
Amazon just gave Surface Laptop 7 a 'frequently returned' label — here's what's going on
New emojis with iOS 18.4 beta release.
iOS 18.4 beta brings 8 new emoji to your iPhone — here's all the new options
23andME box
23andMe has declared bankruptcy — here's how to delete your data now
half-life alyx
Latest Half-Life 3 rumors point to a 2025 release — and maybe pigs will fly
  • dangerouscake
    Since I use DNS to block google RCS is broken on iphone with verizon wireless.

    hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

    FBI advocates RCS. *cough*
    Reply