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2h ago

Apple and Google Begin Rolling Out Encrypted RCS Between iPhone and Android

The beta makes cross-platform texts private by default under a GSMA standard with availability tied to carrier and app support.

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Overview

  • Following Monday's iOS 26.5 release, Apple and Google began enabling end-to-end encryption for RCS chats between iPhone and Android users.
  • Encryption turns on by default when available, shows a lock icon with an Encrypted label in chat, and appears on iPhone under Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging as End-to-End Encryption (Beta).
  • The feature works only when both sides meet the requirements, which include iOS 26.5 on iPhone, the latest Google Messages on Android, and carrier support on both accounts.
  • Apple published carrier lists, with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Canadian providers such as Rogers, Bell, and Telus already supporting the beta as activation expands over the coming months.
  • The system follows the GSMA RCS Universal Profile 3.0 using the Messaging Layer Security protocol, reducing a long-running privacy gap in cross-platform texting even though SMS fallbacks still are not encrypted.