Google Messages blocks RCS on rooted Pixel phones and custom ROMs to prevent spam and abuse

Some Google Pixel users who have rooted their phones or installed custom ROMs have recently discovered that RCS functionality within Google Messages is no longer working. Messages may seem to send initially but disappear, and in some cases, the number verification processes appear to work without actually enabling RCS features.

The issue isn’t just limited to Google Pixel users. According to multiple reports (1,2,3,4) doing rounds on Reddit and Google forum, RCS chats in Google Messages simply don’t work on any Android phone that is rooted, has a custom ROM installed or basically, the bootloader is unlocked. I have the latter experience with the Pixel Experience ROM on one of my phones. While RCS worked fine at some point, the feature has recently stopped working despite my phone number passing verification. I’ve made multiple attempts to send RCS messages to my colleague Dwayne Cubbins when testing various Messages features for our coverage but it just never works, and now I know why.

Google has confirmed to 9to5Google that this is not an error, but an intentional move to safeguard the RCS system from spam and abuse. The company wants to ensure devices comply with RCS standards and operating procedures. To achieve this, it seems Google Messages has implemented Play Integrity API attestation checks that result in rooted devices or those with a custom ROM losing access to RCS. While this change affects RCS, traditional SMS/MMS messaging continues to function on rooted or modified devices.

The RCS block surfaced in late November and has been causing intermittent issues ever since. While savvy users versed in rooting have bypassed Google’s restrictions by circumventing the Play Integrity API, this highlights a tension between Google’s security aims and Android’s inherent flexibility. Many users feel limiting core communication tools like RCS is too severe a measure. While spam prevention is important, Google could explore less restrictive methods and improve communication to users when RCS is unavailable.