As you may know, Google removed the option to sign in Google Messages with QR Pairing. Now, they force you to do it ONLY with a Google account. People who don’t have and don’t want to create one, or people that just prefer QR pairing can still do it. But with a workaround:

  1. Download (or use) a Google Messages version that still allows QR pairing (like one from January 2026). It can be downloaded from Uptodown store. I tried installing it from an apk directly but it failed.
  2. Open the link: https://messages.google.com/web/authentication
  3. Sign in following the instructions on the screen.

Do it as soon as possible because Google might remove this option soon.

  • Wyb@lemmy.world
    0·
    11 hours ago

    But using this strategy will result in still using google services. Both creating demand by using their app, and using recaptcha, but also providing information by scanning the QR code to finish the handshake.

    Let them keep their QR codes. I’ll be visiting another website.

  • Auster@thebrainbin.org
    0·
    11 hours ago

    • [Solved] indicates it was a question that got solved; post however is just a tutorial. Clickbait much?

    • Community, “deGoogle”; post, “how to keep using a Google service”.

    🤔

      • dragospirvu75@lemmy.ml
        OP
        0·
        10 hours ago

        I put ‘solved’ because it has the solution, not only a question. Then, I will change it. I used deGoogle, because it removes the need of Google account. Everyone is free to share this information everywhere, I discovered it after many attempts.

        • youmaynotknow@lemmy.zip
          0·
          8 hours ago

          You are literally pushing Google here. This is about de-googling. Think about it, it may save you some day.

          • dragospirvu75@lemmy.ml
            OP
            0·
            6 hours ago

            If you know a better way to send RCS messages from a computer, you are free to tell us. I would be grateful. :D

            • youmaynotknow@lemmy.zip
              0·
              5 hours ago

              Why use RCS at all? Because of other people? I ask because I had that dilema at some point, and decided I cared more about my privacy than someone else’s convenience. So, if they want to talk to me, use Signal or SimpleX, otherwise, call me and we can meet somewhere.

              • dragospirvu75@lemmy.ml
                OP
                0·
                4 hours ago

                Yes, because people refuse to use FOSS messaging apps. So we have to use the lowest common denominator SMS/RCS. I also have Signal, SimpleX, XMPP, Delta Chat and Threema.

                • youmaynotknow@lemmy.zip
                  0·
                  4 hours ago

                  I get how difficult it is to just swim against the current. But the reality is that it boils down to choice. I chose to allow whomever wasn’t willing to help me achieve my privacy just fade away from my life if that’s what it took. However, I don’t condemn anyone that hasn’t made that choice, because I know how hard it is to make it and stand your ground.

              • eldavi@lemmy.mlEnglish
                0·
                4 hours ago

                convenience always wins out because it takes A SHIT TON of effort to understand what you’re giving up to get that convenience when you lack the background understanding that most of us here have.

                it’s definitely a failure on their part; but we’ve reached a point at which there’s SO MANY who have failed that it’s become everyone’s problem.

                • youmaynotknow@lemmy.zip
                  0·
                  4 hours ago

                  I didn’t always have the understanding of what I was giving up, but the signs were there so I chose to dig deeper. Fast forward 10 years, my mental health is the envy of many people because I chose to not care if people removed me from their lives for refusing to use the same services they do.

                  Having said that, we all have a choice to make. So, I disagree with that comment that it’s now everyone’s problem '. It certainly isn’t my problem. There are those that have chosen to add what I use to their arsenal of services, others that flat out switched to them, and then there are those that, likee, refused to use other services (like Signal and SimpleX) and I’m very happy with the decisions each of them made.