topic Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages in Mobile Apps & Services

Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:49:31 GMT

Phone: Samsung Galaxy S10 (UK)

Version: OneUI 2.5 / Android 10

I've been using my phone in Samsung Messages with Chat (RCS) for months without issue. I could even send Chat messages to a friend who's using Google Messages. I didn't think this would work as I was using Samsung Messages, but it does.

I recently read that Google have finally added Scheduled messaging to Google Messages. So I installed it and was disappointed it doesn't have this feature yet, at least in The UK.

Since then:

Samsung Messages:

Since then Samsung Messages says it's connected to RCS (all seems fine) but I can tell it's not connected as that same friend and someone else I used to send Chat messages to now only give me the option to SMS.

I believe it's struggling to connect as from time to time it asks me to click the Accept button again to turn on Chat.

I've tried:

Clearing Application Data/Cache.
Restarting the phone.
Removing and reinserting the SIM card.
Leaving it 24 hours but if I open the previous chat for the two friends I know have Chat on their phones I'm now only ever offered SMS.

Google Messages:

Google Messages connected to Chat the first time. But since going back to Samsung Messages, then back to Google Messages again, I can't get Chat to connect. In hindsight I shouldn't have Google Message's cleared app data but I wanted to be sure only one SMS app was active.

It's always constantly at Setting Up - Trying to Verify your number and never does.

I've tried:

Uninstalling/reinstalling Google Messages
Installing Google Play Carrier Services (is this actually needed for EE UK? I think it's for the US)
Clearing Application Data/Cache.
Restarting the phone.
Removing and reinserting the SIM card.
Opting into the Beta program to use the latest version. I've now opted out and am back on the latest stable release.
Leaving it 24 hours. Do I need to leave it Turned Off for 8 days? - https://support.google.com/messages/thread/84900536?msgid=89777417

Right now I'd prefer to use Samsung Messages until Google add scheduled messaging to Google Messages.

But ultimately I just want one of them to connect to Chat. I've been trying for 2 weeks now and neither will connect to Chat.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

Fiona26 — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:16:12 GMT

Since 2nd Jan my chat features in Samsung messages stopped working. It's been working great for months no problems. I did trouble shooting steps with Samsung. No luck there, I factory reset my Note 20 ultra still didn't solve the issue. Contacted EE who done everything there end and also sent a new sim. Its not my phone chat features works fine with other sims. If I put my sim in another device, same problem. Samsung will say registration failed and Google messages just will not verify my number, after so many attempts it will say my device is not compatable. Its completely frustrated me as I can't fix it and don't know why it stopped working in the first place. I posted on here too if anyone else had this issue and how did they fix it, I have tried everything.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:39:34 GMT

Hi Fiona,

Thanks for the detailed reply. It looks like you echo much of my experience. Mine stopped working around 28/12/20.

I've not Factory Reset or contacted EE, Samsung or Google Support yet. Contacting support can be laborious. I've not factory reset as I'm unconvinced it's the phone and like you say it didn't fix it for you.

In Samsung Messages I was getting "Registration failed" but aren't now, but am happy it is failing as I know two contacts have RCS enabled and I'm only now offered SMS. Annoyingly in Samsung Messages the On/Off button has no visual indicator to say it's done anything.

Lots of new posts over on Google's forum too. I'm wondering if it's a larger issue Google haven't noticed/aren't letting on yet:

https://support.google.com/messages

I've also never had a clear answer to how Samsung Messages interpolates with Google Messages?

Does Samsung app use it's own RCS Server, share Google's, is it something different. I know Samsung Messages relies on your carrier supporting RCS (e.g. EE UK does, Sky UK doesn't), whereas Google Messages it doesn't.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

Pugs1957 — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:39:36 GMT

If the phone tells you all is OK, there's a chance your 2 contacts may have RCS issues. Is it a great coincidence? Maybe not as some devices have this issue. Contact them and ask.

You are both in EE, so am I but not on EE firmware and has worked through to Android 11 Beta 3 in my S10.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:49:25 GMT

Hi Pugs,

My phone was bought New from a Third Party site, not on EE firmware either.

I'm not sure as Google Messages won't connect though and it can be impossible to know for sure with Samsung Messages as there's no visual indicator to say whether the On/Off button is doing anything.

I know one of the two people has a Nokia 6 (Stock Android 9) with Google Messages on ID Mobile (which uses 3). I can ask this friend the next time I see him (will need to check myself, wouldn't be able to get him to check). The other is the man who serviced my boiler so can't ask him .

It would also be interesting to see if they can RCS Chat to me. I bet not as it has to register for other phones to know you have RCS enabled. I'll ask the first friend though for sure. Thanks.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

Pugs1957 — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:00:50 GMT

Although, I've been using this site for a while I can't see how to send a PM otherwise I'd be happy to help test it.

Re: Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

Fiona26 — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:05:18 GMT

I think Samsung is using Googles rcs server. I had to use Google messages for chat features before it was on samsung messages. And to have both apps fail my number. I have reported the issue with samsungs developers and reported problem with Google. Hope the issue gets fix as I like chat features. Once you've used it for months you don't want to go without it. Going through trouble shooting with Samsung, I found out that my Note 20 ultra cannot load boot menu, I've read that it's a bug with android 11 as other uses have also got this issue. Glad I didn't go ahead with the sending off my device for an engineer to look at. I don't think it's the phone. Its bugs in updates most probably that we will have to wait to be fixed. I hope.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:07:10 GMT

Hi Pug,

You click on my Name to message. What did you have in mind?

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

Pugs1957 — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 08:28:27 GMT

You could message me or vice versa to test .

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:37:57 GMT

@Pugs1957 wrote:
If the phone tells you all is OK, there's a chance your 2 contacts may have RCS issues. Is it a great coincidence? Maybe not as some devices have this issue. Contact them and ask.

I saw my friend earlier and his Google Chat is still connected and I could messages with other people where Chat was connected. But for me it was SMS only as mine still won't connect.

So sadly nothing wrong his end.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 23:58:00 GMT

This still isn't working 😞

I even left Google Messages off for 8 days, as posted here, made no difference:

https://support.google.com/messages/thread/84900536?msgid=89777417

I use WhatsApp mostly luckily but if Samsung and Google aren't get their own Chat service working they can't going to get much uptake. I've given up for now and have uninstalled Google Messages. I installed it to get Scheduled Messaging, which isn't available in The UK yet :(.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

Members_iWmX1kD — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 13:40:21 GMT

Same problem here. No chat service trough EE. I have checked my phone and my dad's - both Samsung. What's even worse, is that on his phone (S9) in Samsung Messages the chat service is active, but it isn't sending texts. Message appears in blue, but does not go through to the recipient.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 19:37:32 GMT

Hi,

Although I believe the issue lies on Google's RCS server, I wonder if it's only occurring for EE users. There's another thread from a Fiona also on EE. She went to the extent of changing her number but it stopped connecting after a week.

For your Dad, do they send to the same person as SMS messages? I guess you could risk turning Char Off and On again.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 21:55:25 GMT

Google Messages just instantly connected. If it doesn't work for you, leave it off 2-3 weeks.

Now Google Messages finally has scheduled messages I didn't try Samsung Messages. The plan was always to move to Google Messages. It's become the iMessage of android.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

asggold — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 00:04:34 GMT

Not just an EE issue but in the US too (Verizon). I ran into almost word for word your exact situation above. After doing tests today I am 99% sure it is a Samsung Messages issue. Unfortunately, who knows who will resolve this (Samsung, Google, Carriers). All anyone says to check if it is turned in is if you see the Chat Settings in the menu. However, I was able to prove today that even though all that is in the many it doesn't actually connect to the RCS servers.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 13:16:07 GMT

Yeah it means nothing if it says On, it doesn't actually mean it's connected in Samsung Messages.

What about in Google Messages?

Have you tried leaving it off for 8 days to 3 weeks? Some say 8 days I'm not sure if it was 2 or 3 weeks for me but a reasonable amount of time. I Turned it Off in Google Messages (which at least tells you what it's doing) and uninstalled it. I then wiped Samsung Messages AppData (can't trust the On/Off switch at all) and when it said do you want t use Chat I tapped on Cancel.

I think it's the only way to be sure it's off for your account. I then left it for a good while.

I'd also stick with one, Samsung or Google. Don't try it in both. I reckon we were making it worse by doing this.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

asggold — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 12:49:22 GMT

Yea, I got Google Messages working again. So, I think I am going to stick with that for now. There are a couple things I like better about Samsung Messages and also that it is native to my watch. However, the HUGE downfall (other than the RCS doesn't really work) with Samsung messages is the lack of being able to also use on the web. I have all Mac's and the only app integration now for Samsung Messages that can be used is the Your Phone app that is Windows based. Messages for Web on Google Messages will work anywhere. If there was an app or some way to use Samsung Messages on the Mac it might be worth trying to figure all this out but not yet. Just glad knowing it was not just me having these issues and hopefully one of these companies involved takes ownership to fix the issues.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

bradavon — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 13:15:38 GMT

You couldn't get it working in Samsung Messages?

Prior to Christmas I had it working fine in Samsung Messages. Granted I didn't try when I re-enabled RCS last Tuesday, but my expectation it would've worked.

Google Messages and Samsung Messages I think both use the Jibe servers so I was expecting whatever the issue was to be cleared on both.

Although Samsung Messages does still seem somewhat reliant on carrier support too. Whereas Google Messages isn't.

I think on the Galaxy S21 (outside of North America) you now get both preinstalled, because like you say Google Messages doesn't support Galaxy Tabs or Galaxy Watches. Not sure which they set as default. Having both is plain dumb, when neither are perfect.

I don't think Samsung are interested in Apple devices, especially since their partnership with Microsoft.

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

MissChelle — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:37:47 GMT

Did you ever resolve this issue? I am experiencing the same problems

Re: Chat (RCS) not connecting in Samsung Messages or Google Messages

asggold — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:42:27 GMT

No. Chat still not working correctly in Samsung Messages but everything working perfectly in Google Messages. So, I decided to just stay with Google Messages for now and not even mess with Samsung Messages anymore. I did test one more time after a Carrier Services update yesterday to see if, by some chance, that fixed anything but no luck. Still was not able to chat the same people who chat with over RCS on Google Messages.