Chat Features stuck on "Trying to Verify"...

You’ll need to complete a few steps to turn on RCS messaging, but it’s important to take note of the specific requirements.

* RCS will need to be available in your region and your carrier should support it, but most importantly, keep in mind that RCS will need your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to use the new chat features. Without a data connection, they simply won’t work. If your phone can’t find a connection, it will go back to SMS messaging. It’s not a major issue, but it’s something to keep in mind if you don’t have an unlimited plan.

 

* Before enabling RCS messaging, make sure that your phone’s settings have Google Message as your default messaging app. If you have an Android One or Google Pixel, Google Message is your default. If your settings are something else, easily change it by going to the Settings app, then hitting Apps and notifications > Advanced > Default apps > SMS app. Then, select the Messages app as your default messaging app. If you don’t have it, first download the Messages app from the Play Store It will ask you to set it as the default messaging app once you launch it.

 

* Okay, so you have Messages set as your primary messaging app. The next thing to do is open the app and go to Settings. Do this by tapping the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner. Select Settings, then tap Chat features. Finally, Enable chat features to turn RCS messaging on. Tapping this option will cause a new bar to appear. It will show the message Setting up (in orange). Wait for setup to complete. Within a few seconds, the message should change to Connected (in green). It may not work the first time, but you can always retry the configuration by selecting Setting up. Of course, if your service provider or region doesn’t allow RCS, you won’t be able to execute the configuration. 

 

Running latest messages update 20220214_00_RC02

Carrier is AT&T

UPDATE 03/04: So here's the resolution that worked for me (your mileage may vary). As per AT&T, since my phone was an unlocked non-ATT branded device, ATT had to "allow" the RCS option to work. They did some magic on their end and all is well, at least for now.

You won't believe it, but SOMEHOW Google ended up on my list of blocked contacts. Go to the Messages app, in the three dot menu open 'Spam & blocked'. Then hit the three dots again and open 'Blocked contacts'. One of the contacts was called "Google". Once I deleted the blocked contact I still had to do a bit of restarting to get it to connect. 

I didn't see this recommended anywhere else. Hopefully this helps someone else save some time and tears ;)

I went into my general Google account settings, clicked personal info, then clicked my phone number. I saw that my device toggle was off for auto-verifying, so I toggled it on and the pending message went away below it after a few refreshes. 

Then I went back into Google messages and toggled chat features off and on, and it went from verifying, to connecting, to connected in 30 seconds. 

THANK YOU!! 

Michael

Anyone get a proper response yet? I am stuck in "Trying to verify"