What you need to know
- Encryption-focused update for RCS messaging between iPhone and Android has been detailed.
- Apple says the feature will arrive as soon as iOS 26.5 is released, which is speculated to arrive next week.
- The RCS standard never had E2EE protection, it was Google who decided this for messages; However, a GSMA update in 2025 announced that encryption was on the way.
It’s been a long time since we were all crazy about RCS, but an update brings those vibes back Apple is finally ready to fulfill its promise.
This was highlighted earlier today (May 5) 9to5MacApple is reportedly preparing to follow through on its promise to add encryption to users’ messages with Android. The company posted the changelog for its iOS 26.5 RC build, which is the final test iteration of the software before it hits servers for everyone. In its notes, Apple says it will “introduce end-to-end encrypted RCS (beta) messaging.”
It says its RCS encryption will come online for “supported carriers.” The publication estimates that this update will begin rolling out sometime next week; However, Apple’s post suggests that its encryption will not be simultaneous. This support will be “rolled out over time,” meaning some users and carriers may see E2EE whenever it arrives, while others will have to wait a while.
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It would be nice if all iPhone users could get it at once, but to stop us, 9to5Google Here’s what it might look like on those devices. The post says users will likely have to go into their Settings (Settings > Messages > RCS Messages) and make sure their end-to-end encryption toggle is active. Once complete, your chat will display a lock icon with “Encrypted” next to it. This is similar to the “RCS Chat with X” lock icon in Google Messages on Android.
reserve
GSMA announced in 2025 that its update at that time (RCS Universal Profile 3.0) will support E2EE for users. Shortly thereafter Apple confirmed that it would “add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in a future software update.”
Android Central’s Tech
All I can say is that finally. It’s been a long journey, one that Google has been on tirelessly with its “Get Messages” campaign. This means that now, Android and iPhone users talking to each other in RCS-supported chats have strong encryption behind their texts. To protect and preserve them from prying eyes.
