Google Messages waiting to connect? 7 fixes for RCS

You open Google Messages and see a status such as waiting to connect, connecting, setting up or waiting to verify. The app lets you send texts, but the nicer features, like typing bubbles, read receipts and full quality photos, are missing. The status never changes. This guide explains what the message means, what to check first, and how to reset the setup if it truly is stuck. Menu names change between versions of the app, so look for the closest match on your phone.

What does “waiting to connect” mean in Google Messages?

Google Messages uses RCS, a newer standard that replaces plain SMS for chats between compatible phones. To switch it on, the app verifies your phone number and registers with a Google service. While that happens, you see a status such as Setting up, Connecting or Waiting to verify. Past outages left many users stuck on these screens for an hour or more, and a restart helped some of them. The app falls back to SMS while it waits, so your texts still go through. If you want the basics, see our guide on what RCS messaging is.

Why is Google Messages stuck on waiting to connect?

• No working data or Wi-Fi. RCS needs the internet to register.
• A new SIM, eSIM or phone. The app has to verify the number again.
• The wrong SIM or number selected. Dual SIM phones can try to verify the line you do not use for texts.
• Another default texting app. Samsung Messages can be set as the default instead of Google Messages.
• A carrier or Google outage. Past outages left users stuck at Connecting for about 90 minutes.
• A stuck app state. Old cache or an old version of the app.

Fix 2: Turn RCS off and on again

Fix 3: Check the number and the SIM

In the same RCS chats screen, check that the phone number shown is yours. If the number is missing or wrong, tap Verify your phone number or enter it by hand. On a dual SIM phone, open Settings › Connections › SIM manager (the path varies by brand) and check which SIM is set for text messages. If you recently changed SIM, eSIM or phone, give the app a few minutes to verify. Some phones have a Messages setting for choosing which SIM to use for RCS.

Fix 4: Make Google Messages the default app

RCS in Google Messages only works if it is your default SMS app. Open Settings › Apps › Choose default apps › SMS app (or Default apps on your phone) and select Messages by Google. If Samsung Messages is the default, switch it. After the change, wait a few minutes and open Google Messages again. If your Samsung texts will not send at all, see our guide to Samsung texts that will not send.

Fix 5: Update Google Messages and restart

Open the Play Store, search for Messages, and tap Update if you see it. A bug fix may already be out. Then restart the phone by holding the power button and choosing Restart. Also install system updates under Settings › System › Software update, as in our guide to updating your Android phone. After the restart, wait a few minutes before you check the status.

Fix 6: Clear the cache, then the data

If the status stays stuck, clear the app’s stored files. Go to Settings › Apps › Messages › Storage. Tap Clear cache first and restart. If that does not help, tap Clear data. This resets the app and its RCS setup, and you will go through the first-run screens again. Your SMS history usually stays, since it is stored on the phone, but back up anything important first. Our guide to how to clear app cache on Android shows the steps on Samsung, Pixel and others.

Fix 7: Check your carrier and the Google side

If you have tried everything, the stall may be outside your phone. Some carriers and prepaid plans have had limited RCS support, and Google has had outages that left Messages stuck on connecting. Check Downdetector or social media for reports, and wait a little. You can also ask your carrier whether your plan and number are set up for RCS. Make sure the line is active and not blocked for data. If you are about to change plans anyway, see how to switch phone carriers without losing your number.

Send as a text in the meantime

While RCS is stuck, your messages still send as SMS or MMS, usually at no extra cost on a US plan. If one message is stuck, press and hold it and choose Retry as text message, or Send as SMS. A chat that says Text message in the box instead of RCS message is using the older standard. When RCS returns, the same chat will switch back on its own.

Texting an iPhone

Newer iPhones can also use RCS with Android phones, so the connecting status can matter when you text an iPhone. If the other person has an older iPhone, messages travel as SMS or MMS, and photos may look compressed. If your texts to an iPhone fail instead of just waiting, read about Android phones that do not get texts from iPhone.

How to tell if RCS is working

Open a chat with someone who also uses Google Messages or a recent iPhone. If the text box says RCS message, and you see typing dots, read receipts and larger photos, RCS is on. If it says Text message, or SMS, that chat is using the older standard. You can also open Messages settings, tap RCS chats and look for the status line. A Connected status means the setup finished. Anything else means it is still working or has failed.RCS needs both sides. If the other person has RCS off, or uses a phone that does not support it, your chat will stay on SMS even when your own setup is fine. That is not a fault. Try a chat with someone you know uses Google Messages to test.

Samsung Galaxy phones: Samsung Messages or Google Messages?

Many Galaxy phones come with both Samsung Messages and Google Messages, and some carriers set one as the default. RCS in Google Messages needs Google Messages as the default texting app. If you prefer Samsung Messages, RCS runs through it with Samsung and carrier support instead, and it has its own Chat features switch. Do not turn on both and expect them to share a connection. Pick one app, set it as the default and finish its setup there. If your Samsung is stuck in the middle, switch the default app, wait a few minutes and open the app again.

What not to do

Do not uninstall Google Messages and install random messaging apps that promise to fix RCS. Do not enter your phone number on unfamiliar websites to verify it. Do not clear data without a backup if you rely on old SMS conversations. And do not change your SIM or number while the setup is in progress, because it can restart the verification from zero. Be patient for a few minutes after each change, because the app updates its status slowly.

Quick checklist

• Mobile data or Wi-Fi works, and you tried Airplane Mode.
• RCS chats was turned off and on.
• The right SIM and number are set, and Messages is the default app.
• Messages and Android are updated, and the phone was restarted.
• You cleared the cache, then the data if needed.
• You checked your carrier and for outages.