Google working to fix this annoying RCS group chat issue with Messages

Google is on the case to fix a frustrating RCS group chat glitch that’s been plaguing users of the Google Messages app for months. Imagine this: you’re in the middle of a lively group chat, bouncing messages back and forth, and suddenly, instead of your replies landing in the group, they pop up as individual texts. Or worse, you’re left staring at an “X” inside a spinning circle, with no clue what the message was supposed to be.

Early this year, some reports began surfacing from annoyed users who noticed that their group replies were breaking into separate one-on-one threads. Since then, the issue hasn’t just lingered — it’s multiplied, with fresh complaints pouring in from both Pixel and Samsung users, as well as those on other Android devices.

A popular description goes like this: when a group message arrives, instead of neatly slotting into your ongoing group chat, it creates a new thread with just one person’s response. If you try replying in that thread, your message doesn’t reach the group. And the worst part? Sometimes, the message bounces back to you. If you’ve been tearing your hair out, know you’re not alone.

This bizarre behavior has sparked widespread discussion in online forums. And more recently, after Apple’s latest iOS 18 update introduced RCS (Rich Communication Services) support, some users have speculated that iPhones might be adding to the group chat chaos. The theory? RCS on iPhones could be triggering group message splits when Apple devices communicate with Android phones. But given this issue started way back before iOS 18 became a thing, it’s unclear how big of a role the iOS update plays. But one sure thing is that the group chat bug isn’t confined to one platform or carrier.

On the bright side, Google has officially acknowledged the issue. According to a Google support rep on Reddit, the Messages team is actively working on a fix — though when that will roll out remains a mystery.

In the meantime, if you’re juggling both iPhones and Androids in your group chats, there’s a temporary fix you can try: turning RCS off and on. Yes, it sounds like the classic “turn it off and on again” tech advice, but it could help. Also worth noting is that when an iPhone user disables RCS, messages fall back to SMS/MMS and sends a new Group Message in new conversation threads on Android devices (on the Google Messages app). This explains why some have been quick to blame the new iOS 18 update. However, when RCS is off on an Android phone, you might not get any messages from the group until you turn it back on. A bit like a digital game of musical chairs.

This group chat glitch has undoubtedly been a headache for many, especially for users relying on stable conversations in situations where every message matters. So, until Google rolls out its patch, Android and iPhone users may want to double-check their RCS settings before diving into any critical group chats. Rest assured, the fix is on the horizon, and soon, group texts will (hopefully) be back to behaving as they should.