Does RCS already work with Messages in the Netherlands? This is what you need to know!

The new iOS 18 adds support for RCS to the Messages app, but does this already work in the Netherlands?

Does RCS already work with Messages in the Netherlands?

RCS stands for Rich Communication Services. RCS text messages can be sent to non-Apple devices, among other things. The service supports sending texts, high-resolution photos and videos, links, and more. RCS messages appear in green speech bubbles on your iPhone.

With the arrival of iOS 18, RCS is supported in the Messages app in the Netherlands. Developer GSM Association (GSMA) has announced that work is underway to implement end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for messages sent between Android and iPhones. However, no timeframe is given for that implementation.

Does RCS work in the Netherlands without end-to-end encryption? Unfortunately not. There is still a condition for it to function: your provider must support it. But unfortunately there are currently no providers in the Netherlands that support it. That will come, but here too we do not know when.

Check if there is support

If you want to check (after a while) whether support is available, you can do a few things:

RCS switch

When there is support for RCS from your provider in the Netherlands, an extra switch will appear in the Settings. Here’s how to check if it’s there:

• Open the Settings app;
• Tap ‘Apps’ at the bottom;
• Tap on ‘Messages’ and scroll down a bit;
• Check whether ‘RCS’ is also listed under ‘Send as text message’.

Calls, SMS and RCS

As soon as your provider supports RCS, that information will be added in the Settings. To check if that is the case, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app;
• Tap ‘General’ and then ‘Info’;
• Scroll down and tap on ‘Provider’.

If you only see ‘Calls and SMS’ here, then RCS is not yet supported.

Support for RCS in the Netherlands

We don’t know yet when providers in the Netherlands will add support for RCS. If you don’t feel like checking yourself whether it’s already there, keep iPhoned in mind. As soon as something changes, we will inform you immediately!