For quite some time now, many people have been reporting on Reddit that Rich Communications Services (RCS) has stopped working in Google Messages on their Android smartphones that either have an unlocked bootloader or are rooted. Now, Google has confirmed to Android Authority that it is indeed the case as it has blocked RCS in Google Messages on Android devices that have an unlocked bootloader or are rooted. According to the company, it has taken this step to fight spam and fraud.
“As we fight spammers and fraudsters, we take into account different indicators. A large volume of RCS spam comes from automation, which typically relies on modifications to the sending device. We will continue to look for ways to prevent spam and fraud while minimizing the number of users affected,” said a Google Spokesperson to the publication. That means if you unlock the bootloader of your Galaxy smartphone or root it, you will not be able to use RCS in Google Messages on your device.
According to Mishaal Rahman, Google is making the latest change by implementing the Play Integrity API attestation checks on Google Messages. Reportedly, once that happens, RCS messages disappear from chats, and the application doesn’t give any error message, leaving people in the dark about what’s happening. According to Google, when RCS stops working, Google Messages should fall back on SMS/MMS. However, people report that isn’t happening, which is causing them inconvenience.
