Apple is finally delivering on its promise to encrypt RCS messages between iPhones and Android devices. The company posted changelog notes for iOS 26.5 RC (release candidate), stating it will "introduce end-to-end encrypted RCS (beta) messaging." This marks a significant milestone for cross-platform messaging security.

The update addresses a long-standing gap in RCS functionality. While Google added E2EE to its Messages app back in 2019, the RCS standard itself never included encryption protections. The GSMA announced in 2025 that RCS Universal Profile 3.0 would support E2EE, prompting Apple's commitment to add this feature across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.

Users will need to manually enable the feature in Settings > Messages > RCS Messages. Once activated, chats will display a locked icon with "Encrypted" beside it—similar to Google's implementation on Android. The rollout will be gradual, with support arriving for supported carriers "over time" rather than all at once.

This concludes years of pressure from Google's "Get the Message" campaign, which pushed Apple to adopt RCS and finally close the security gap between iPhone and Android messaging.