17 simple tips and tricks to get started with RCS

While much of the world may love WhatsApp, Google Messages has one major advantage: it’s preinstalled on everything from the cheapest Android phones found behind bodega counters to the top flagships lining the shelves of carrier stores. It’s the best way to communicate via RCS or SMS. Plus, with regular updates, it offers an experience akin to iMessage.

While many people prefer using a different encrypted messaging app for Android, Google Message is still an excellent way to communicate. However, new users of the app may miss out on some of its most useful features. We gathered the most useful tips and tricks together, so you can see everything the app has to offer.

1. Send texts from your computer with Google Messages

While the desktop version of Google Messages doesn’t have the same functionality as the Android app, it’s more than enough to view, send, and reply to messages from your computer.

Here’s how to set up Google Messages on a desktop browser:

1. Open Google Messages for web on your desktop browser.
2. If you’re using a private computer, toggle the Remember this computer switch. Otherwise, you’ll have to reconnect your phone each time you open the website.

   
3. Open the Google Messages app on your phone.
4. Tap the three-button menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.
5. Tap Device pairing.
6. Tap QR code scanner.

   

   

7. Scan the QR code on Messages for web.

2. Enable Google Messages’ RCS chat features

The most important feature of Google Messages is RCS compatibility. Enabling RCS chat in Google Messages brings end-to-end encryption, typing indicators, and read receipts to your messages. However, they won’t work when chatting with a non-RCS app (that is, not iMessage).

Not sure if RCS is enabled for a chat? A padlock icon appears next to your messages when RCS is enabled.

Here’s how to enable chat features in Google Messages:

1. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Messages settings.
3. Tap Chat features.

   

   

4. Toggle the Enable chat features switch to the on position.
5. Tap Verify your number.

   

   

6. Enter your phone number and tap Verify now.
7. Toggle the rest of the switches to enable other RCS features.

   

   

3. Schedule a text in Google Messages

Scheduling a text in Google Messages works for both RCS and SMS chat. With this feature, you can send text messages at any time.

Here’s how to schedule a text:

1. Open a chat and type your message into the chatbox.
2. Tap and hold the Send button.
3. Tap a pre-selected date and time, or tap Pick date and time to choose your own time.

   

   

4. Mark important messages within Google Messages

You can place a star next to messages for easy reference and to avoid losing important ones. Google Messages also automatically suggests you “star” messages containing important information like addresses and phone numbers.

Here’s how to star messages:

1. Tap and hold the message you wish to star.
2. Tap the star button at the top of your screen.

   

   

Here’s how to view your starred messages:

1. Return to Google Message’s homescreen.
2. Tap the three-button menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.
3. Alternatively, tap the search bar at the top of your screen, then select the Starred category.
4. Tap Starred.

   

   

5. Set message reminders

Google Messages sometimes automatically suggests that you set a reminder, but you can do it manually. You can set a reminder for any time, and you’re notified through the Messages app when the reminder triggers.

Here’s how to set a message reminder:

1. Tap and hold a message.
2. Tap the Reminder button (the alarm clock) at the top of your screen.

   

   

3. Tap a pre-selected date and time, or tap Pick date and time to choose your own time.
4. After setting the reminder, an alarm clock icon appears next to the message. Tap this to update the reminder.

   

   

After the time set has expired, a reminder missed message appears next to the conversation. When you send another message in that conversation, the reminder disappears.

6. Share your location in Google Messages

You can share your location in the Google Maps app, but you can save time by sharing it directly within Google Messages.

Here’s how to share your location with just a couple of taps:

1. Open a conversation.
2. Tap the plus button in the lower-left corner of your screen.
3. Tap Location.

   

   

4. Tap Send this location to send your current location.
5. Tap the search button in the upper-right corner of the screen to search for and send a different location.

   

   

7. Pin conversations in Google Messages

A pinned conversation stays at the top of your conversation list, even when newer messages come in. You can pin up to three conversations, which also appear in Messages for Web.

Here’s how to pin a conversation:

1. Tap and hold the conversation you wish to pin.
2. Tap the Pin button at the top of your screen.

   

   

To unpin a message, repeat the previous steps.

8. Categorize Google Messages conversations

Personal texts, OTP codes, appointments, and special offers clutter your conversations, making it hard to find the important stuff. Categories fix this problem by sorting your messages into three groups: All, Personal, and Business.

These categories appear below the search bar in Google Messages. Tap a category to sort your messages.

Here’s how to turn on the feature:

1. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right of your screen.
2. Tap Messages settings.
3. Tap Message organization.
4. Toggle the View messages by category slider to on.

   

   

This feature is not available in all countries.

9. Receive iMessage reactions

iMessage users can react to your message, and you’ll see the emoji on your screen. But if you still see the “Liked your SMS message,” you need to enable this option.

Here’s how to see iMessage reactions from your friends who use iPhones:

1. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Messages settings.
3. Tap Advanced.
4. Toggle the Show iPhone reactions as emoji slider to on.

   

   

10. Auto-delete authentication codes

Categorizing your messages is a neat way to stop authentication codes (OTPs) from cluttering your conversations, but they don’t need to stick around forever. You can manually delete them, but Google Messages can automatically delete these codes after 24 hours.

Here’s how to set up automatic deletion for OTPs:

1. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Messages settings.
3. Tap Message organization.
4. Toggle the Auto-delete OTPs after 24hrs slider to on.

   

   

11. Receive automatic birthday and message reminders

Google Messages can automatically remind you of your contacts’ birthdays. These conversations are moved to the top of your conversation list until either a message is sent or the reminder is dismissed.

Here’s how to let Google save you the embarrassment of missing someone’s birthday:

1. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Messages settings.
3. Tap Suggestions.
4. Tap Nudges.

   

   

5. Toggle the Suggest messages reminders slider to on.
6. Toggle the Birthday reminders slider to on.

   

12. Make a video call inside a conversation

Rather than switching apps, you can video call your contact from inside Google Messages. You’ll need to invite them to Google Meet first, but it’s a quick and simple process for them. Here’s how to call someone whether they have Meet or not.

How to call a contact already on Meet:

1. Open the conversation you wish to call.
2. Tap the Meet button in the upper-right corner of your screen.
3. Tap the red Call button in the lower-right corner of your screen.

   

   

How to call a contact who doesn’t have Meet installed:

1. Open the conversation you wish to call.
2. Tap the Meet button in the upper-right corner of your screen
3. Tap the Compose an invite button to send an SMS with an invite link.

   

   

4. Send the SMS and wait for your contact to accept the invite.

   

13. Change the notification sound for each conversation

Some conversations are more important than others. Changing the notification sound for each conversation lets you know which contact is texting you.

Here’s how to change the notification sound:

1. Open a conversation.
2. Tap the three-line menu button in the upper-right corner of your screen.
3. Tap Details.

   

   

4. Tap Notifications.
5. Scroll down and tap Sound.

   

   

6. Choose a sound and tap Save in the upper-right corner of your screen.

   

14. Always send videos by Google Photos link

Sending a video over MMS can take a lot of time and data. Instead, link to your video stored within Google Photos. It’s quicker and cheaper than sending a video via MMS.

Here’s how to send videos via Google Photos:

1. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Messages Settings in the pop-up window.
3. Tap Google Photos.
4. Toggle the Always send videos by link switch.

   

   

15. View transcriptions of voice messages

Voice messages are a great accessibility feature, but sometimes you may be unable to listen to them. Owners of the Google Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro can transcribe voice messages, so you can read and respond without having to play them.

This feature is enabled by default. Just tap the View transcript button on a voice message to open it. Tap the Settings button on a transcript to disable this feature.

16. React to SMS and RCS texts

Google Messages supports emoji reactions for SMS and RCS texts. Just note that iMessage users see an “[emoji] to [message]” text instead.

To react to a text message, tap and hold the message. Select one of the emojis to send a reaction instantly.

17. Reply to messages

You can reply to messages within individual or group conversations. This helps you keep track of messy chats. This feature is only available for RCS-enabled conversations.

To reply to an RCS message, tap and hold the message. Tap the arrow to the right of the message, and enter your message.

Google Messages with RCS is a game changer

Google Messages is the best way to communicate via RCS or SMS on Android. While other end-to-end encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp are handy, they don’t support RCS or SMS.

If you prefer staying in contact via video call, try one of the best video chat apps for Android.