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If an RCS message is stuck on “Sending” or “Awaiting retry,” first check the RCS status and your internet connection. The cause may be a connection problem, phone-number verification, an unsupported recipient or carrier, or a setting—not necessarily a service outage. On Android, use Google Messages’ RCS settings to narrow it down; on iPhone, check mobile data or Wi-Fi and carrier support for RCS.
Start by identifying what is failing
On Android, open Google Messages, tap your profile menu, then go to Messages settings > RCS chats. Menu labels can vary by app version. Note whether the status says connected, connecting, awaiting retry, or unsupported. That status helps distinguish a general connection issue from number verification or unavailable RCS service.
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Also check the scope: are all RCS conversations affected, or just one person or group? If SMS/MMS works but RCS does not, the problem may be specific to RCS availability or registration. If neither works, check the phone’s connection, SIM, account, and carrier service.
Check your connection, SIM, and messaging setup
- Test internet access. Open a webpage using mobile data, then try Wi-Fi if available (or the reverse). RCS needs an internet connection to send as RCS.
- Check signal and Airplane mode. Make sure Airplane mode is off and the phone has a usable mobile signal where needed.
- Check the SIM and SMS service. Confirm the SIM is seated correctly and that the phone can receive SMS messages. SMS receipt may be needed for phone-number verification.
- Update Google Messages and confirm it is the default texting app. Google lists both as troubleshooting checks for RCS problems.
- Check carrier support and account status. Confirm that your carrier supports RCS and your plan or account balance allows messaging. On a dual-SIM phone, check which SIM is configured for mobile data and calling.
These checks apply to Google Messages on Android. RCS availability and exact settings can vary by carrier, country, device, and app version.
#1 Best Overall
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
If Google Messages says “Awaiting retry”
Google says that if “Trouble connecting. Awaiting retry…” continues for more than 30 minutes, Google Messages is having trouble verifying your phone number. Follow the verification prompt in the app, and confirm that the phone can receive SMS and has an internet connection. This 30-minute threshold applies to that verification status; it is not a measure of how often RCS messages fail.
If only one person or group is affected
One contact
- Check that the number is correct, including its country code.
- Make sure the contact is not blocked.
- If needed, remove and re-add the contact, then try the conversation again.
A single affected conversation does not by itself prove that your phone is misconfigured: the other person’s RCS availability or eligibility may be involved.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Group conversation
If a participant temporarily loses RCS connectivity, a group conversation may split into individual SMS/MMS threads. Check whether the issue affects one participant or the entire group before changing your RCS settings.
Use SMS/MMS fallback to send a message now
When RCS is unavailable, SMS or MMS fallback may let a message through. Google’s guidance is: “If you don’t have data, or the recipient isn’t online, Google Messages can still be sent as SMS or MMS.” Whether that works depends on your settings, carrier support, and plan; carrier charges or other limits may apply.
Rank #3
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
In Google Messages, check whether automatic resend as SMS/MMS is enabled. If it is not, look for the option to resend the stuck message as a text message. The exact controls can vary by app version. A fallback message is no longer being sent as RCS, and SMS/MMS may have different delivery behavior.
On iPhone: check data access and carrier support
Apple’s guidance for sending RCS or MMS on iPhone is to check that mobile data or Wi-Fi is available and that the carrier supports the message type. RCS support depends on the carrier, region, device, and software, so a setting alone cannot make an unsupported service available.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Reset RCS only after the basic checks
If the connection, app, SIM, and verification checks have not helped, Google documents toggling RCS off and back on in Google Messages. Re-enable it afterward and check the RCS status. Do not leave RCS off indefinitely: if it is not re-enabled within 30 days, you may be removed from RCS group chats.
If your old phone is lost or unavailable, Google also provides remote RCS deactivation through phone-number verification. Consider the same 30-day group-chat consequence before using deactivation, and enable RCS again on your current phone when possible.
Best Value
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
When to contact your carrier or support
If messages remain stuck after these checks, contact your carrier or app/device support. Give them the phone model, Android or iOS version, Google Messages version if relevant, carrier and region, the exact RCS status shown, whether SMS/MMS works, and when the failure began. Those details help separate a phone configuration or verification issue from a carrier or service problem; a stuck message alone does not identify a single root cause.
Quick Recap
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