Overview

• Apple has said it will add end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in future updates across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.
• Strings reading “RCS Encryption Enabled” and “RCS Encryption Opt-in Test Enabled” were found in iOS 26 betas, indicating active testing.
• GSMA’s Universal Profile 3.0 specifies Messaging Layer Security for RCS, enabling encrypted chats between different client implementations.
• Reporters caution the feature may not ship with iOS 26’s initial release and could arrive in a subsequent update.
• Early analysis suggests Apple may focus on encryption first and leave some RCS niceties like group icons and mentions for later.