Overview
- Apple released iOS 26.5 on Monday, starting a gradual rollout of end-to-end encrypted RCS for iPhone–Android chats.
- The protection works only when the iPhone runs iOS 26.5, the Android uses the latest Google Messages, and both lines are on a supported carrier.
- Encryption is on by default, with a lock icon in the thread and a new Messages setting under Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging to confirm it.
- Support will expand over months and may not hit every line at once, even on listed networks like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Rogers, Bell, and Telus.
- The upgrade adds end-to-end encryption to the GSMA RCS standard built on Messaging Layer Security, yet chats can still fall back to unencrypted SMS or RCS, so iMessage, WhatsApp, and Signal remain more consistent.