RCS not working on WiFi after updating to iOS 26 [iOS26]

I found a solution on my end, the problem was in the Wi-Fi settings.

When connected to my Wi-Fi network i always have "Private Wi-Fi Address" set to Off - with this

setting being like that, IMS drops the RCS registration when Wi-Fi is active.

As soon as i changed the setting to "Fixed" or "Rotating" - RCS Activated and works over Wi-Fi.

I had the same issue. I fixed it my going into my phone settings and reset -> reset all network settings. Then I deleted my eSIM and added a new eSIM. Then RCS worked on wifi

Like others replying, I too have tried fixing, rotating, and turning off the Wifi: T-Mobile, iPhone 16 Pro, and a Ubiquiti Dream Router 7. It isn't the setting itself but the process of switching the setting that causes the Wi-Fi to release and renew, turning RCS back on and making it work reliably. When I leave the house and come back, despite being re-connected to my Wi-fi, RCS fails again. Weirdly, it doesn't fail across all my message threads with Android users.. Some continue to show "RCS message" in gray within the Messages app. Then I turned the Wi-Fi on the phone off, waited, turned it back on, and RCS is working again. I'm kinda over it and about to turn it off, letting my Android friends eat it lol.

The pinned solution works. In my case, I went to do it but my Privite Wifi was already set to "Fixed" but was still giving me issues. Tried changing it to "Rotating" but the problem persisted. Tried "Off" but still no dice. After "Off" I went back to "Fixed" and it started to work. Guess the option was buggy. Now RCS works on Wifi, even with a VPN. Thanks!

Mine sends RCS if I'm on 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi but not on my 5Ghz network ever since I updated to iOS 26

I have exactly the opposite problem. RCS messaging only works when I'm connected to WIFI. I contacted AT&T it took them several days to finally to tell me it's not their problem but Apple. Apparently there is a problem ios26 with RCS working properly. And yes I did everything. Reset network settings, deleted esim, installed new one(3 times), factory reset phone--same problem. So hopefully Apple gets it fixed.

I found this article for my cell provider. I switched to "fixed" as proposed, then re-registered my e911 address as the article says. It has been working for the past 24 hours, without either temporarily turning the wifi off or changing the private address setting to something else and back to fixed.

Have you tried resetting network settings? That is another solution which may help.

RCS is also not working for me since upgrading to iOS 26 on my iPhone 16 Pro Max. In addition, I am getting delayed texts (oftentimes needing to turn on / off wifi to get text messages again). I contacted AT&T live chat support and they said this is an Apple Bug that they need to fix.

yes, my bad. The requirements section in the article linked, states, that for t-mobile customers wifi calling must be enabled. While it does not say that, setting ons, is required to activate it.

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4 hours on the phone today with both Apple and Verizon wireless and each of them telling me it’s the other company’s issue. This all happened immediately after the iOS 26 update along with a bunch of other issues on my phone. I wish one of these companies would take accountability and do their job jobs. I currently cannot text android users that have RCS enabled because RCS will not work on my phone and it continues to say waiting activation.

Peter,

did you try turning it off then back on? Mine was on fixed too so I turned it off, went back one page just to be sure, then turned it back on and it seems to have fixed it.

Have you tried changing it to setting it to "Rotating" or "Off" and then changing back to "Fixed"?

If that does not work, try resetting network settings and doing the same.

Mine is already set to Fixed. Just to test it, I switched it to Rotating and it worked. Back to Fixed and it still works. Hopefully it lasts