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henderjd
New Contributor
July 23, 2025
Solved

RCS Chats stuck in "Setting up" 3 weeks after porting number

  • July 23, 2025
  • 12 replies
  • 2023 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

    12 replies

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    New Contributor
    aw1607
    New Contributor
    January 28, 2026

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

    Hi, I had pretty much exactly the same problem with eSims, but something did work without having to revert back to a physical sim:

    1. Switch off RCS in the Google messages app (go into the app, choose setting, message settings, RCS chats, Turn off RCS chats)

    2.  then go back out of the app and go into your phone settings

    3. At the very top of the menu, depending on which phone you're using, you'll see 'Google Services and Preferences' - click on that

    4. Then click on 'All Services'

    5. Scroll down and you'll see 'Phone Number Verification' and click on that

    6. switch off where it says 'Automatically verify phone number(s) and leave it off for a few seconds

    7. Switch it back on and then go back to the Google messages app and switch RCS chats back on.  Mine connected to RCS virtually instantly

     

    Thank you!!! I've tried about 5-10 other solutions, if not more. Everything recommended and spouted online didn't work. THIS one did!!

     

    You. Are. A. Gem! 💎

     

    Ty! 

      New Contributor
      ZZK
      New Contributor
      January 28, 2026

      No problem :-)

      It's so annoying isn't it when it won't connect! You would have thought Google would have found a simpler way to do it all by now. 

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