Apple and Google announced in 2026 that end-to-end encryption (E2EE) is coming to Rich Communication Services (RCS) messages sent between iPhones and Android devices, with the feature officially arriving in the iOS 26.5 update.
The two companies described the move as a cross-industry effort to make RCS — the messaging format that replaces traditional SMS — more secure and private. Apple first added RCS support to iPhones with iOS 18, which introduced typing indicators, read receipts, and high-resolution media transfers, but E2EE was not included at that time. The encryption feature was announced for RCS chats last year and appeared briefly in the iOS 26.4 beta before being pulled from the stable release. It has now been confirmed for iOS 26.5.
E2EE means messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can read them. According to the companies, neither Apple, Google, nor telecom operators can access the contents of an encrypted conversation. Google notes that each encrypted conversation carries a unique verification code that must match on both ends to confirm the protection is active.
iPhone users will be able to identify an encrypted conversation by a “Text Message · RCS | 🔒 Encrypted” label in the chat. Google Messages users will see the same lock icon previously displayed in standard RCS chats.
The announcement comes as some other platforms have moved away from E2EE. The source notes that apps like Instagram have been reverting to standard encryption, which the source says puts user data at greater risk.
The feature is currently in beta and is being rolled out in partnership with supported carriers. Full availability for all users is expected within the next few months.
Source: mint – technology