RCS Chats stuck in "Setting up" 3 weeks after porting number | iD Mobile Community
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RCS Chats stuck in "Setting up" 3 weeks after porting number

  • July 23, 2025
  • 8 replies
  • 528 views

Nearly 3 weeks after porting my number I still can’t use RCS chats.  It is showing my new number but the status is stuck in “Setting up...”  I believe the problem may be due to the fact that the number is still linked by Google to my old EE SIM, even though it is no longer provisioned.  I have an iD e-SIM, so for a period before porting I had both SIMs working, and during that time RCS chats moved to my temporary iD number.  I have since successfully got RCS to forget that number but now it doesn’t work at all.  (RCS Chats does connect if I re-enable my old SIM, but that is no good since, as I said, that SIM is no longer provisioned.)

I have tried every suggestion I can find, including:

  • Clearing cache and storage for Carrier Services and App, including turning WiFi and mobile data off and on in various orders
  • Disabling RCS chat through the Google website
  • Uninstalling updates to Messages app
  • Just waiting for several days
  • Etc.

Any more suggestions?  Do I need a new SIM?

Best answer by Tom

Hi ​@henderjd 

 

I’d recommend trying to leave it off for a few days or even as ​@andewhite says a few weeks if necessary. 

 

RCS can get a little confused if it’s turned on and there’s a number transfer in progress.

 

Tom

8 replies

andewhite
Platinum 
Contributor
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  • Platinum 
Contributor
  • July 24, 2025

Sounds like the Google RCS servers haven’t recognised that your registered device has been assigned a different mobile number, ​@henderjd

You could try the following steps:

  • Turn OFF RCS chats (“Chat features”) in the Google Messages app.
  • Turn OFF the handset and carefully remove the iD SIM card.
  • Check the SIM card is clean and undamaged, wait 30-minutes before re-inserting the iD SIM card.
  • Turn ON the handset.
  • Turn ON RCS chats.

Otherwise, have a look through your Google Account, maybe an old device is still registered as linked to your mobile number, or a current device is linked to the wrong mobile number.

As a last resort, just turn OFF RCS chats for 2-weeks, and then try again. The Google RCS servers appear to have a long latency for devices registered to use RCS (“Chat features”).


Tyler C
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • July 28, 2025

Hi there ​@henderjd, we hope that ​@andewhite was able to help.

 

Please let us know if any further questions.

 

Thanks,

Tyler


  • Author
  • New Contributor
  • July 28, 2025

Thanks to @andewhite for taking the time to reply. As I mentioned, I have an eSIM, so taking it out and cleaning it is not an option. I did try turning it off.

I also checked and I have no old device still registered, but when I switch to my old decommissioned EE SIM, RCS chats do connect with my current number (although obviously I can't use it with a decommissioned SIM) so, as I mentioned previously, I think that may be part of the problem.

I note the advice to wait for two weeks, but I have had this problem for over three weeks now. Is it important to not even try turning RCS on during tat period?


Tom
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • Answer
  • July 29, 2025

Hi ​@henderjd 

 

I’d recommend trying to leave it off for a few days or even as ​@andewhite says a few weeks if necessary. 

 

RCS can get a little confused if it’s turned on and there’s a number transfer in progress.

 

Tom


andewhite
Platinum 
Contributor
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  • Platinum 
Contributor
  • July 29, 2025

Thanks to @andewhite for taking the time to reply. As I mentioned, I have an eSIM, so taking it out and cleaning it is not an option. I did try turning it off.

I also checked and I have no old device still registered, but when I switch to my old decommissioned EE SIM, RCS chats do connect with my current number (although obviously I can't use it with a decommissioned SIM) so, as I mentioned previously, I think that may be part of the problem.

I note the advice to wait for two weeks, but I have had this problem for over three weeks now. Is it important to not even try turning RCS on during tat period?

If you’ve left the EE network, probably best to remove the EE SIM card or delete the EE eSIM from the phone using your iD SIM product, ​@henderjd.

When you switched to iD, your EE SIM / eSIM was deactivated - currently, deactivated SIM products cannot be reactivated.


  • Author
  • New Contributor
  • August 12, 2025

I waited two weeks without turning on RCS and it is now working! (I did need to do one final clearance of storage and cache first.) Thanks for your help.


Tyler C
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • August 13, 2025

Hey there ​@henderjd, thank you for the update and that’s great to hear!

 

Thanks,

Tyler


Digimick1967
New Contributor
  • New Contributor
  • September 27, 2025

I had similar issue and resolved it by replacing eSIM with physical SIM. I do t think ID mobile supports RCS over eSIM