Cupertino: Apple announced the addition of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to Rich Communication Services (RCS) messages exchanged between iPhones and Android devices in the upcoming iOS 26.5 update. The new feature protects message content, preventing any third party from intercepting or viewing it, thus bringing conversations between iPhones and Android devices to the same level of security as iMessage.
According to Qatar News Agency, the feature works by default without user intervention, but can be controlled through message settings. Encrypted messages appear with a small lock icon, and enabling encryption requires both parties to be using networks of carriers that support the latest version of the RCS messaging standard.
Apple had begun testing the feature in the iOS 26.4 update without officially launching it, before it returned within the beta versions of the iOS 26.5 update, confirming that it would continue until the final release.
This move comes as part of Apple's collaboration with the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) to develop encryption within the RCS 3.0 standard, which also adds other features such as editing and deleting messages, and direct reply to specific messages within conversations.