Title: Apple RCS: How to turn on RCS on iOS, features, and FAQs
URL: https://www.infobip.com/blog/apple-rcs
## Is RCS messaging available on Apple iOS?
Apple has enabled P2P RCS messaging with the release of iOS 18, as announced at Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC24), and A2P RCS for business with the release of iOS 18.1 beta in October 2024.
iOS 18 has arrived, bringing RCS messaging to Apple users. You can download and install iOS 18, and Android and iPhone users can finally enjoy rich messaging features and seamless communication between their devices – the war between the blue and green message bubbles might be coming to an end.
## Which carriers support RCS messaging?
Currently, RCS messaging is available in the following countries for P2P and A2P messaging depending on the carrier. Here's a quick guide on where it is supported:
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **Magenta** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **BASE** Available Available **Orange** Unavailable Unavailable **Proximus** Available Available **Telenet** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **TIM** Available Available **Vivo** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **Bell** Available Available **Chatr** Available Available **Fido** Available Unavailable **Freedom Mobile** Available Available **LUM** Available Available **Rogers** Available Unavailable **SaskTel** Available Available **Telus** Available Available **Videotron** Available Unavailable Tbaytel Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **China Mobile** Available Available **China Telecom** Available Available **China Unicom** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **Magenta** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **Bouygues Telecom** Available Available **Free Mobile** Available Available **Orange** Available Available **SFR** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **1&1** Available Available **Deutsche Telekom** Available Available **O2** Available Available **Vodafone** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **Cosmote** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **Magyar Telekom** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **Jio** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **KDDI** Available Available **Softbank** Available Unavailable
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **SingTel** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **Slovak Telekom** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **KT** Available Available **LG U+** Available Available **SKTelecom** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **Jazztel** Available Available **Masmovil** Available Available **Movistar** Available Available **Orange** Available Available **Pepephone** Available Available **Vodafone** Available Available **Yoigo** Available Available
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **3** Available Available **BT/EE** Available Available **Giffgaff** Available Available **O2** Available Available **Sky** Available Available **Tesco** Available Available **Vodafone** Unavailable Unavailable
**Carrier** **P2P** **A2P** **AT&T** Available Available **Cellcom** Available Unavailable **Cellular South** Available Unavailable **Charter** Available Available **Comcast** Available Available **Cox** Available Unavailable **Dish** Available Available **MetroPCS** Available Available **Mint Mobile** Available Available **Nex-Tech Wireless** Available Available **Strata** Available Available **T-Mobile** Available Available **US Cellular** Available Available **Verizon** Available Available
## How to enable RCS on your iPhone
First, you have to update your iOS software to iOS 18. If you live in one of the countries listed above and are a customer of one of the supporting carriers, you should be able to turn on RCS messaging (beta).
In iPhone settings, select Messages, then RCS Messaging, and enable the channel to start chatting with Android users using rich messaging.
In iPhone settings, select Messages, then RCS Messaging, and enable the channel to start chatting with Android users using rich messaging.
## RCS as a fallback channel for iMessage
Here is what the new messaging methods look like:
1. **iMessage**: There are no changes to iMessage in iOS 18. It will remain the preferred channel for messaging between Apple devices using blue bubbles. However, **RCS will be the new fallback when iMessage isn’t an option**.
1. **RCS**: means non-iOS users can finally enjoy rich messaging perks when communicating with Apple users, but Apple-Android conversations will stay as green bubbles. Since RCS relies on data usage, SMS will remain the final fallback option when a basic cell connection is the only option.
1. **SMS or MMS**: would be the message type iPhone and Android users would rely on to exchange messages, but these channels are not as rich or engaging as RCS, making conversing with people who own different devices more difficult.
## High resolution media sharing between Android and iPhone via RCS
With RCS enablement now on iPhones and Androids, rich media sharing is now available and better than ever. Users can now send and receive images, videos, and other media in full resolution without losing any quality to their images.
For businesses, this means they can send rich media messages for promotional content, product demos, or even how-to-videos that look sharp and are supported on any device. It also opens the door for more seamless experiences like visual order confirmations, event tickets, or user-generated content submissions. No matter your industry, being able to share media-rich content in real time over a native messaging app enhances engagement with customers.
A P2P rich-media sharing in a conversation on iMessage vs. RCS vs. SMS
Let’s take a deeper look at RCS for businesses and how to prep your rich messages to look their best on iPhone or Android devices:
## A snapshot of RCS for Business: iPhone vs. Android features
As of October, 28th 2024, RCS for business is also live on all Apple devices. Just like with RCS person-to-person messaging (P2P), RCS for Business availability is limited to the carriers that currently support the channel. For the carriers that support RCS for Business, there will be no additional actions needed, meaning RCS enabled users are able to receive messages by default on RCS for Business without enabling any additional settings.
As more and more telecoms adopt RCS into 2025, we expect the use of RCS for Business as a conversational channel for brands to grow. It will allow brands to connect with Apple and Android users on a rich messaging channel.
Total global growth in RCS for Business messages on the Infobip platform grew 5x in 2024, with the largest spike happening after Apple launched their support for the channel.
Now as a native channel on both Apple and Android devices, RCS for Business has the potential to match the massive reach of SMS through MNOs with rich-messaging features for elevated customer experiences.
### RCS for Business features:
1. Verified sender status
1. Custom branded messages
1. Rich media: text, images, GIFs, audio, video, documents, location
1. Rich cards
1. Buttons
1. Carousels
1. Suggested actions to messages (quick replies)
RCS for Business is still new on iPhones, so there are a few quirks that need to be ironed out. The features listed above can look or perform differently depending on the device. We’ve done some testing and created a list of key differences and top tips to keep in mind when building RCS messages for customers on iPhone and Android, so messages always look and perform their best:
### Text messages and links
Although there aren’t any differences between iPhone and Android text messages on RCS for Business, a key issue is that links may not be clickable on iPhone.
Through thorough testing, we’ve discovered a clear pattern - if links are placed at the end of the message, they are always clickable. Anywhere else is a gamble.
Top tip: To ensure your links are clickable every time, place them at the very end of the message or use a call-to-action (CTA) button to eliminate the risk of a URL not working.
### Rich cards
Rich cards are a great way to grab attention, but they are limited to three lines of text on iOS, this is about 144 characters. So, if your message exceeds this limit, it will be cut off for iPhone users, affecting how they see and understand your message.
Top tip: Split your messages into two; the first includes an image and text message and the second being a clickable button to make sure everything is visible. Otherwise, you should keep the text part of your message down to 144 characters if you are using one message.
### Rich card with more than two CTAs
Multiple CTAs are clearly visible on all Android devices but only sometimes on iPhone. In some cases, depending on the device model, only the first two CTAs are visible, and the others are tucked away under “Other”. Users must click to view the remaining CTAs.
Top tip: Place the two most important CTAs at the top to ensure they’re visible in any scenario. You can also try creating a structured sequence of messages or replies to guide customers through the conversation and avoid using more than two CTAs.
### Carousels
Carousels are an interactive and popular feature of RCS. They display slightly differently on iPhones vs. Android. On Androids the carousel is horizontal and scrollable so users can easily swipe through the carousel. On iOS the carousel looks like a stack of cards which can disrupt the user experience.
Top tip: Apple is expected to adjust carousel display on RCS for Business but for now continually test your messages on various iOS devices to ensure they display consistently. You should also ensure all images meet Google specifications to reduce the risk of display issues. Lastly, try using rich cards with specific and targeted CTAs instead of solely relying on carousels for rich messages.
### Other features: iPhone vs. Android
RCS for Business
### iPhone
- **Google wallet**: Not supported
- **Calendar**: Supported
- **Request location**: Not supported
- **Share location**: Supported
- **Receive location**: Supported
RCS for Business
### Android
- **Google wallet**: Supported
- **Calendar**: Supported
- **Request location**: Supported
- **Share location**: Supported
- **Receive location**: Supported
Top tip: Instead of requesting a location from customers, send clear instructions and a CTA for them to share their location with you since that feature is currently available across devices.
### How does RCS for Business compare to SMS and Apple Messages for Business?
All three channels are popular for their own reasons and can help businesses achieve certain goals around their business messaging. Let’s take a closer look at RCS vs SMS for business messaging and compare these channels to Apple Messages for Business (AMB).
[ Full comparison of RCS vs AMB ](https://www.infobip.com/blog/google-rcs-vs-apple-messages-for-business)
[ Full comparison of RCS vs SMS ](https://www.infobip.com/blog/rcs-vs-sms-which-is-best)
## How secure is RCS for Business?
End-to-end encrypted RCS is now in testing for P2P messaging on the iOS 26.5 beta in in USA and Canada. It is enabled by default and built on GSMA’s RCS Universal Profile 3.0 using the MLS (Messaging Layer Security) protocol. If it ships as expected in May 2026, iPhone and Android users will be able to exchange encrypted RCS messages. Both devices and carriers need to support Universal Profile 3.0 for encryption to activate, and metadata (who you texted, when, how often) falls outside the encryption scope.
Additionally, secure business messaging is crucial as fraud scams are currently on the rise. RCS is regulated by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) who must give approval for enterprises to send messages. These rigorous measures manage brand verification and anti-SPAM rules, making RCS for Business a preferred solution for trusted brands and businesses seeking secure and reliable communication channels with their customers.
## FAQs about Apple RCS
RCS is a rich messaging channel that is now native on iPhone and other iOS devices. RCS allows iPhone and Android users to exchange rich messages like images, videos, emojis, stickers, files, and more. iMessage is still the go-to channel for iPhone-to-iPhone messaging, but RCS offers a way for users of different devices to interact with rich messaging on a native channel without having to download an OTT app.
SMS is a text-only channel that is native on all mobile devices, including iPhones. RCS is also a native channel now available on iOS devices but allows for richer conversations between users like images, stickers, videos, files, and more. Apple and Android users can use RCS to have rich conversations whereas SMS allows for text-only interactions
Famously, SMS and RCS message bubbles are green on iPhones which differentiate them from the blue iMessage bubbles.
If you don’t live in a country where MNOs have adopted RCS then you don’t have access to RCS yet. Review the list of MNOs and regions where it's available here.
If you do have access to RCS, then you might have to update your software to iOS 18 and/or turn it on in your iPhone settings to start using the channel.
To turn on RCS on an iPhone go to settings, select “Messages”, then click on “RCS Messaging” and turn on the channel with the toggle.
To turn off RCS on an iPhone go to settings, select “Messages”, then click on “RCS Messaging” and turn off the channel with the toggle.
The motivations behind supporting RCS on iPhones haven’t been officially disclosed. However, there are a few key factors that could have influenced their decision:
#### EU regulations
In 2022, the EU approved the Digital Markets Act, which requires tech companies like Apple to ensure that basic features in their instant messaging services can work together by 2024. That would mean that iMessage and the App Store would have to become available to everyone. Failure to adhere to these rules could result in fines of up to 20% of their total revenue, which is a pretty good reason to consider support for RCS.
#### RCS gaining popularity
As rich messaging becomes a standard for everyday communication, the usage of RCS is expected to grow. There were 1.2 billion RCS users in 2022 and Juniper Research estimated that by 2026 there would be 3.8 billion users. That would make up 40% of the world’s smartphone users. But when you add the potential of all iOS users having access to RCS, these numbers are likely to skyrocket, making RCS a major contender in the messaging ecosystem.
#### Enhancing user experience
To date, rich messaging between Android and iPhone users could be the cause of frustration. When an iOS user sends an image message to an Android user, it is delivered as an MMS. However, MMS may not be covered by their regular data plan, leading to additional charges.
Enabling RCS means that there will finally be seamless communication between Apple and Android users. For carriers, this transition might lead to a decrease in P2P MMS revenue, possibly prompting them to consider the adoption of RCS to create an additional revenue stream.
[Juniper Research Leaderboard 2024]
### Infobip is the leading global RCS for Business player.
[ Contact us ](https://www.infobip.com/contact)
[ Check out the report ](https://cdn-web.infobip.com/uploads/2024/10/Infobip-RCS-Leaderboard-Reprint-2024.pdf)
### Infobip has a history of helping brands benefit from using RCS for Business:
### Curious about RCS?
Learn everything you need to know in our guide.
[ RCS for Business guide ](https://www.infobip.com/guides/rcs)
This blog is regularly updated as news and features around RCS on iPhones is released. The latest update in September 2025 added new information on carriers supporting A2P and P2P RCS messaging.