For users of Google's Fi wireless service, managing calls and texts from a laptop has long been a source of frustration, caught between the desire for modern messaging features and the limitations of a web interface. The service's web portal offered convenient calling and basic SMS, but it was incompatible with the richer RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol, leaving users with a fragmented experience. Now, Google has implemented a significant, albeit somewhat clunky, overhaul to resolve this conflict, finally bringing RCS to the desktop at the cost of a unified interface.
The Core Compromise: Two Tabs for Full Functionality
The central change Google has rolled out is a structural decoupling of voice and messaging services on the web. Previously, both functions were housed within a single portal at fi.google.com. To break the technical deadlock that prevented RCS support, Google has now split these features into two separate web applications. Voice calls and voicemail management have been moved to a new, dedicated site at fi.google.com/webcalls. Meanwhile, all text-based communication, including the newly supported RCS chats, has been shifted entirely to the standalone Google Messages for Web platform. This means that to replicate the all-in-one functionality of the old portal, users must now keep two separate browser tabs open—one for calling and one for messaging.
Key Changes in Google Fi's Web Overhaul:
| Feature | Old System | New System |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Single unified portal (fi.google.com) |
Two separate websites |
| Voice Calls & Voicemail | Handled in main portal | Moved to fi.google.com/webcalls |
| Text Messaging | Basic SMS in main portal | Redirected to Google Messages for Web (supports RCS) |
| RCS Support on Web | Not available | Fully enabled (typing indicators, high-quality media, reactions) |
| Primary User Impact | Unified but limited | Full-featured but requires two browser tabs |
Unlocking Modern Messaging on the Desktop
The primary driver for this architectural shift is the long-awaited enablement of RCS messaging through a web browser. By redirecting messaging traffic to the native Google Messages for Web platform, Google Fi finally allows subscribers to access the full suite of RCS features on their laptops or tablets. This includes seeing typing indicators, sending and receiving high-resolution photos and videos, using message reactions, and enjoying more reliable group chats. The upgrade represents a substantial leap forward in functionality, aligning the web experience much more closely with the modern messaging experience on Android phones.
Navigating the New Web Calls Portal
The newly launched Web Calls page is designed specifically for managing voice communications. Accessible to Android users signed into their Google Account, this portal allows users to make and receive phone calls directly from a browser, a feature that notably works even if the user's primary Fi phone is turned off. It also provides a interface for checking and managing voicemail. However, this separation introduces some synchronization quirks. For instance, if a user deletes a call record from the web history, that deletion does not sync back to the call log on their phone. Conversely, deleting a voicemail from the web portal will successfully remove it from all synced devices.
Notable Limitations & Quirks:
- Platform Availability: The new Web Calls portal and RCS via Messages for web are only available for Android users. iPhone users cannot access these features.
- Sync Inconsistency: Deleting a call record on the web does not sync the deletion to your phone. Deleting a voicemail on the web does sync across all devices.
- Workflow: Users must manage communications across two separate browser tabs instead of one unified interface.
A Step Forward, But With a Clunky Workflow
While the update successfully delivers promised RCS functionality, it does so in a manner that many users may find less elegant than the previous, unified portal. The necessity to operate across two distinct websites—each with nearly identical design language—creates a fragmented workflow that can feel like a step backward in user experience. Google had hinted at this solution in an October feature announcement, framing it as the necessary path to "full RCS support for Fi’s web experience." The result is a pragmatic, if imperfect, fix that prioritizes feature completeness over seamless integration.
Activation Steps for Android Users:
- Open the Google Messages app on your phone.
- Go to Settings > Advanced > Google Fi Wireless settings.
- Stop syncing with the old Google Fi system.
- Enable the new RCS chats feature.
- Access calls at
fi.google.com/webcallsand messages atmessages.google.com/web.
How to Activate the New System
For Google Fi subscribers eager to try the new system, activation requires a quick change in settings on their Android phone. The process involves opening the Google Messages app, navigating to Settings > Advanced > Google Fi Wireless settings, and first disabling the old sync with Google Fi. Once this is done, users can then enable the new RCS chats feature. It's important to note that this upgrade and the new Web Calls portal are not available to iPhone users, as Apple's ecosystem does not support the Google Messages app or RCS in this context. The rollout, confirmed by reports on December 4, 2025, marks the end of a long wait for a more functional, if slightly more complicated, web experience for Google Fi customers.