Google Voice finally seems to be working on RCS support

It could finally happen. A new Google Voice update plants the seeds for RCS support, although the exact details remain unclear.

About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” article, we have decompiled the latest version of an app that Google has uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we can see different lines of code that suggest possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not offer these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We will, however, try to allow those that are close to completion to show you what they will look like in case they are shipped. With that in mind, read on.

Google Voice is an invaluable tool for accessing a phone number on a multitude of different devices, but to say it has less impact without RCS support is an understatement. Now that virtually all Android phones and iPhone supports the new messaging experience, Google Voice is less useful for both business and consumer users.

But that seems to be changing.

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Google Voice for Android version 2026.11.01.1014278023 doesn’t enable RCS, but it hints, for the first time, that the feature might be on the way. In a disassembly of the application, a simple string emerges:

This indicates a new send button used for RCS messages rather than SMS. Google Messages similarly changes its send button to differentiate the two standards.

This update contains a host of other new channels around images, videos and more, but none of them are directly related to RCS support.

The people there Android Authority I discovered some other information about RCS, including an “RCS Chat Preference” toggle and various RCS actions and messages. But, again, nothing is available yet, and it’s unclear when it might happen, if ever.

Google defends RCS support for over a decade now, so it’s long late for Voice, a long-running Google product, to get on board. While the information in this update does not serve as confirmation to RCS if it comes to Voice, it is the most exciting update on the topic in years.

Learn more about Google Voice and RCS:

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