Who this is for
You have a new phone, or the previous device is lost, stolen or otherwise unusable, and you want RCS on that old number to stop. Two official routes exist, and the right one depends on whether you can still open the old phone.
This guide covers only RCS deactivation. It does not cover deleting a Google account, porting a number to another carrier, recovering a SIM, or promising that messages will then be delivered normally.
Choose your route
| Situation | Route | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| The previous phone still works and you can unlock it | Google Messages in-app toggle | Access to the device and the app |
| The phone is lost, stolen or unusable | Google’s number-verification portal | Ability to receive a six-digit SMS code on that number |
Google provides RCS deactivation for message-delivery problems, switching phones, or a lost or stolen device. Source
Route A: turn RCS off in Google Messages
On a phone you can still use, open Google Messages and go to your profile, then settings, then RCS chats, and turn RCS off there. This is the route for a device you can unlock and operate.
With the phone available, RCS chats can be turned off in Google Messages settings; the alternative portal verifies control of the phone number using a six-digit SMS code. Source
If the toggle is greyed out, the app will not open, or the phone no longer connects to a network, treat that as a failure of this route and move to Route B rather than guessing at other menus. The reviewed facts do not describe every menu label, app version or account state, so anything beyond profile > settings > RCS chats is unverified here.
Route B: use the official portal without the phone
When the previous device is gone, use Google’s own RCS deactivation portal and enter the six-digit SMS code only on that official page. The code proves you can receive messages on the number; it is not a password and should never be typed into a page you reached from an unsolicited message, ad or lookalike link.
A practical check before you start: confirm the number can still receive SMS, for example because the SIM is in your new phone. If it cannot receive the code, the portal route cannot complete, and the next step is your carrier’s SIM replacement process, not repeated attempts on the portal.
Know the group-chat consequence before you disable
RCS features are suspended when disabled, and Google says users are removed from RCS group chats if they do not turn RCS back on within 30 days. Source
So if you are only switching phones temporarily and plan to re-enable RCS on the new device soon, do that within the stated window if you want to stay in those group chats. If you are permanently leaving the number or the device, the removal is expected and not a fault to troubleshoot.
Check what actually happens next
After either route, verify real message reception rather than assuming success:
- Ask someone to send you a standard SMS and confirm it arrives.
- Watch for the RCS indicator in a conversation with a contact who uses RCS; if it does not return, the deactivation is likely still in effect.
- If messages to your number still fail, note which sender, app and network are involved, because the reviewed facts do not establish a guaranteed delivery fix.
Deactivation is not a repair promise. It removes RCS features from the number; it does not by itself explain or resolve every delivery problem.
What this does not do
- It is not account deletion. Turning off RCS leaves your Google account, messages stored in it and other services untouched.
- It is not number porting. Moving your number to another carrier is a separate process handled with the carriers.
- It is not SIM recovery. A lost or damaged SIM is replaced through your mobile operator.
- It does not prove identity. A public username lookup, including one run with a tool such as TraceSeek, does not control RCS settings, recover accounts or establish who owns a profile.
A separate task: your public footprint
RCS settings live on the phone side; your public profiles live elsewhere. If switching numbers has left old accounts tied to a number you no longer control, the neighboring task is to review your public account footprint. That work is separate from RCS and does not change message settings.
If your concern is an old Mac still receiving messages and FaceTime on a number you have moved on from, see the related account-control guide.
Quick recap
- Phone in hand: Google Messages profile > settings > RCS chats, turn RCS off.
- Phone gone: official portal, six-digit SMS code entered only there.
- Expect group-chat removal if RCS stays off for 30 days.
- Confirm with a real test message, and keep RCS deactivation distinct from account deletion, porting and SIM recovery.