iPhone-Android RCS messaging finally gets the security upgrade we’ve been waiting for

• Apple has released the iOS 26.5 release candidate, which officially introduces end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS conversations between iPhone and Android.
• A new encryption toggle in the Messages settings will now be enabled by default, preventing third parties from intercepting chats.
• While currently in the RC phase, the feature is expected to reach the stable branch and become widely available to all users very soon.

iPhone-Android text messaging through RCS has long been overdue for a security upgrade, and that upgrade is finally here (well, almost). Apple has released the iOS 26.5 release candidate, and amongst other changes, it officially introduces support for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS conversations, expanding the safety net for iPhone-Android text conversations.

iOS 26.5 release candidate is widely rolling out. The update changelog explicitly notes the introduction of E2EE for RCS (beta) messaging, and Apple’s Senior Engineering Manager Emad Omara also notes on X that interoperable E2EE RCS is rolling out with this update.