If you’ve been pulling your hair out over Google Messages getting stuck on that dreaded “Setting up” screen when trying to activate RCS, you’re definitely not alone. A Reddit user might have just discovered the fix that Google hasn’t bothered to tell anyone about.
The problem has been driving Android users crazy for weeks now. You know the drill – you open Google Messages, see that spinning wheel next to “Setting up,” and no matter how many times you clear cache, restart your phone, or sacrifice a USB cable to the tech gods, nothing works. Meanwhile, your iPhone-wielding friends are happily sending high-res photos while you’re stuck in SMS stone age.
Reddit user FourEightNineOneOne stumbled across something interesting while digging through US Mobile’s help documentation. Turns out there’s an extra step that most troubleshooting guides completely ignore: disabling Phone Number Verification in your Google settings before doing the usual cache-clearing routine.
Here’s what actually worked for multiple users who tried it: Go to Phone Settings, then Google, then All Services, and find Phone Number Verification. Turn that sucker off. After that, you can do the standard dance of clearing cache and data for both Google Messages and Carrier Services.
The fix worked so well that other Reddit users started calling it “magical.” One person said they were “shocked at how it worked instantly” after trying dozens of other solutions. Another user mentioned they’d basically given up hope before finding this workaround.
This is a recurring problem, as we highlighted towards the end of last year when users started reporting widespread RCS connectivity issues. Lately, it’s become a widespread issue again, as we reported on our sister site PiunikaWeb earlier this month.
While likely unrelated, some users in the US are also getting messages saying “RCS messaging is now provided by your wireless carrier and governed by their terms and privacy notice,” which suggests major backend changes are happening. These messages, however, seem to be tied to AT&T and other piggyback carriers like FirstNet.
That said, the Phone Number Verification trick doesn’t work for everyone – some users report it still didn’t solve their problems. But given how many people it has helped, and considering it’s a simple toggle that takes 30 seconds to try, it’s worth a shot if you’re dealing with the endless “Setting up” loop.
Feel free to drop a comment below to let us know if this helped fix the problem for you or not.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1325 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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