iPhone-Android RCS Conversations Are End-to-End Encrypted in iOS 26.5

[MacRumors]

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android devices is officially available, Apple confirmed today. Support is included in iOS 26.5, which is now available to everyone.

End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging is available in a beta capacity, even though it is in the launch version of iOS 26.5. The feature is available with supported carriers and will roll out over time, and for conversations to be encrypted, both the receiver and the sender must use a carrier that supports the latest version of RCS.

Apple says that it worked with Google to lead a cross-industry effort to add E2EE to RCS. iOS users will need iOS 26.5, while Android users will need the latest version of Google Messages.

End-to-end encryption is on by default, and there is a toggle for it in the Messages section of the Settings app. Encrypted messages are denoted with a small lock symbol.

E2EE means that messages sent between devices cannot be intercepted and read by a third party. On iPhones not running iOS 26.5, RCS messages between iPhone and Android users do not have E2EE, but the new update will put Android to iPhone conversations on par with iPhone to iPhone conversations that are encrypted through iMessage.

Along with Google, Apple worked with the GSM Association to implement E2EE for RCS messages. E2EE is part of the RCS Universal Profile 3.0, published with Apple's help and built on the Messaging Layer Security protocol. ‌RCS‌ Universal Profile 3.0 also includes editing and deleting messages, cross-platform Tapback support, and replying to specific messages inline during cross-platform conversations.

Article Link: iPhone-Android RCS Conversations Are End-to-End Encrypted in iOS 26.5

 

[mnsportsgeek]

So we have all the features of UP 3.0 now?

 

[HouseLannister]

It's a start. Now do edit RCS, undo send RCS, higher image quality (UP 3.1), and cross-platform video calls (UP 4.0).

BTW: Apple announced E2EE in March 2025. These things move slooooow.

 

[TEG]

Given that RCS rarely works, this is a nothing burger.

 

[podycust]

I wish Apple would bypass carriers for RCS as Vodafone uk still don’t support it on iPhone

 

[Lunarman25]

Not available to everyone! It needs carrier support and it’s still in beta

 

[dominiongamma]

Given that RCS rarely works, this is a nothing burger.

Works for me all the time, must be you

 

[zaxxon72]

I wish Apple would bypass carriers for RCS as Vodafone uk still don’t support it on iPhone

So you have other carriers that support RCS?
In Switzerland, all carriers are asleep...

 

[maxoakland]

That’s a great feature. Props to Apple for doing that

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

What is the big deal with this?

Seriously, if you’re not doing anything illegal, why is it such a big deal to encrypt messages?

 

[infinitedreams]

I wish Apple would bypass carriers for RCS as Vodafone uk still don’t support it on iPhone

Funny thing is Three, which is now owned by Vodafone got encrypted RCS

 

[infinitedreams]

So you have other carriers that support RCS?
In Switzerland, all carriers are asleep...

EE (BT) and Three (now owned by Vodafone) have support for it in the UK

 

[iPay]

What is the big deal with this?

Seriously, if you’re not doing anything illegal, why is it such a big deal to encrypt messages?

To repel digital parasites?

 

[Entilzha]

Given that RCS rarely works, this is a nothing burger.

Odd. RCS has worked with my Google-using friends quite reliably. Haven’t had a failed send so far as I’m aware of.

 

[Entilzha]

What is the big deal with this?

Seriously, if you’re not doing anything illegal, why is it such a big deal to encrypt messages?

Because what I’m saying to someone else is no one else’s business except theirs and mine.

That’s the only reason anyone needs.

 

[CouldBeWorse]

It's a start. Now do edit RCS, undo send RCS, higher image quality (UP 3.1), and cross-platform video calls (UP 4.0).

BTW: Apple announced E2EE in March 2025. These things move slooooow.

Yeah, it was ultimately up to the GSMA to add support.

 

[GM…]

It's a start. Now do edit RCS, undo send RCS, higher image quality (UP 3.1), and cross-platform video calls (UP 4.0).

BTW: Apple announced E2EE in March 2025. These things move slooooow.

And, this was after stating they would add support. They have said nothing about the other features so far.

 

[soapropos]

What is the big deal with this?

Seriously, if you’re not doing anything illegal, why is it such a big deal to encrypt messages?

Because my discussions with someone are nobody else's business—certainly not a telecom's

 

[GM…]

Funny thing is Three, which is now owned by Vodafone got encrypted RCS

View attachment 2629184

Where do you see that?

 

[mrochester]

And still no one cares given that cross platform messaging is a solved problem.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I wish Apple would bypass carriers for RCS as Vodafone uk still don’t support it on iPhone

Without carriers, it’s “just another WhatsApp”. That’s the only thing that makes it different and the only reason why it exists.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Android users will need the latest version of Google Messages.

This continues to be the kicker for me that no one talks about.

All those years of "shaming" Apple into supporting an "open standard" and Google purposely gatekeeps RCS for themselves.

The only person I would actually use this with uses Textra because Google Messages sucks, and so none of this has ever worked because Google won't let them use the API, despite being cleared to control SMS by the system.

It's just Google's tenth attempt to control messaging and this one finally kind of worked by being the stealthiest and attacking it one layer down the stack.

 

[realmccoy69]

Funny thing is Three, which is now owned by Vodafone got encrypted RCS

View attachment 2629184

makes no difference iD mobile runs off 3 network, still don't support this and have never said they are going to adopt this option

 

[CarAnalogy]

What is the big deal with this?

Seriously, if you’re not doing anything illegal, why is it such a big deal to encrypt messages?

The canonical answer to this: because the definition of what's illegal can change.

There's a poem about the government coming for certain people and it not worrying the author because the author was not one of those people....yet....

Another very valid and less political answer: you are not just hiding your communications from the government. You are hiding them from everyone (theoretically.) There are other people besides the government who would abuse access to your private communications.

 

[Wizec]

I know that myself and my contacts are on supported carriers and they have the latest Google messaging app, but our chats are not encrypted.

I wonder if it works between supported carriers? Or does it only work if you’re both on the same carrier?