Explore the latest developments concerning End-to-end encrypted RCS.
End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out today for Android and iPhone users
Google and Apple are rolling out end-to-end encryption for RCS, securing chats between Android and iPhone users by default.
Google Messages has had end-to-end encrypted messaging between Android devices for years, but we knew we couldn't stop there.
Google and Apple have led a cross-industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to Rich Communication Services (RCS), making the cross-platform messaging format that replaces traditional SMS more secure and private.
Starting today, end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out in beta for iPhone users running iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users on the latest version of Google Messages.
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When RCS messages are end-to-end encrypted, they can’t be read while they’re sent between devices.
‘Not Available For All’—Apple Changes iPhone Messaging This Week
Updated on May 12 as Apple’s new messaging update goes live.
It’s finally here — almost. Almost 18-months after the FBI warned Americans to stop texting between iPhone and Android, Apple has fixed the problem. This week, iOS 26.5 should bring encrypted cross-platform messaging for the first time.
That availability affects devices — suggesting not all iPhones will be capable of sending fully secure RCS messages — and also carriers, which affects even iPhones with the upgrade. And it’s this second type of availability that’s the bigger issue.
When you send a WhatsApp message it is always end-to-end encrypted. That’s because WhatsApp controls all “ends” of the chat. The clients (apps) ensure that every message is secure. That encryption can never fall away.
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iOS 26.5 Is Now Available With 6 Cool New Features
After a month of beta testing, Apple is now rolling out iOS 26.5 to everyone. While this update doesn't bring the long awaited all-new Siri with Gemini support, which is now expected to be unveiled during the WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple still has a few interesting upgrades for users, such as end-to-end RCS encryption and improvements to Apple Maps and the App Store.
Compared to iOS 26.4, which was an update full of useful and hidden features, iOS 26.5 still has plenty to offer iPhone users, as Apple continues to build upon one of the biggest evolutions to the mobile software since the release of iOS 7 almost 13 years ago.
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