Why Your iPhone Shows ‘Text Message RCS’

In 2025, iPhone users in the U.S. are noticing a ‘Text Message RCS’ label in their Messages app, sparking curiosity. This article explains why this label appears, what it means, and how it affects texting.

What Does ‘Text Message RCS’ Mean?

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a modern messaging protocol that enhances SMS with features like high-quality media and read receipts. On iOS 18, released in September 2024, Apple labels RCS messages to distinguish them from SMS or iMessage. Learn more about RCS in our RCS Guide.

Why It Appears on iPhone

The ‘Text Message RCS’ label shows when you text an Android user via RCS, enabled by default in iOS 18. It indicates enhanced features but still uses green bubbles, unlike iMessage. For iPhone RCS setup, see our iPhone RCS Guide.

Managing RCS on iPhone

You can disable RCS in Settings > Apps > Messages to revert to SMS, removing the label but losing features. If RCS fails, check our Troubleshooting Guide for solutions.

Conclusion

The ‘Text Message RCS’ label on iPhone signals a richer texting experience with Android users. Understanding it helps you maximize iOS 18’s features. Explore more in our Tips and Tricks section.