Apple has announced that End-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iPhone and Android devices will be included in iOS 26.5. The feature has been in testing since the iOS 26.4 beta and is currently available in the iOS 26.5 release candidate. This release candidate is the version that Apple plans to release publicly, assuming no last-minute issues arise.
For end-to-end encryption to work in cross-platform RCS conversations, both devices must meet certain requirements. The iPhone must be running iOS 26.5 or later and the Android device needs the latest version of Google Messages.
Why end-to-end encryption is important for iPhone and Android RCS
RCS has replaced SMS as the default messaging protocol for iPhone to Android conversations since Apple added support for it. The update introduced features like high-quality media sharing, typing indicators, and functional group chats. The main remaining issue was the lack of end-to-end encryption.
Without E2EE, messages sent between iPhone and Android over RCS are not encrypted, unlike iMessage chats between iPhones or Google Messages conversations on Android. Google Messages displays a small lock icon to indicate when E2EE is active. Once both devices meet the software requirements, this icon will also appear in iPhone to Android RCS conversations.
What cross-platform RCS limitations still persist in iOS 26.5
End-to-end encryption fixes the biggest missing feature, but it doesn’t completely close the gap between iPhone and Android RCS. iPhone users still can’t unsend messages or reply to specific threads in cross-platform conversations. Message editing is only available on Android and emoji reactions are currently limited to iPhone in cross-platform chats.
The iOS 26.5 release candidate is now available to users enrolled in Apple’s beta program. Installing beta software on a primary device involves risks, and Apple recommends creating a full backup before continuing. To roll back from a beta version to a stable version without a computer backup, a hard reset of the iPhone is required.
Apple has yet to announce a confirmed release date for iOS 26.5 to the public.
