Apple’s iOS 26.5 update brings end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to RCS messaging between iPhone and Android, according to Apple’s iOS 26.5 release notes. Multiple outlets report that the feature is enabled by default for supported accounts and is presented in Messages settings with a toggle. Conversations are marked with a lock icon when encryption is active.
Coverage agrees that E2EE for RCS is available only when both the sender and receiver use compatible, supported carriers and RCS implementations. The roll-out is staged over time. While iOS 26.5 includes the capability, Apple reportedly keeps the E2EE behavior in beta.
Several sources also describe testing that began earlier, with iOS 26.4 beta trials, while the feature did not ship in the iOS 26.4 release. Reporting adds that Apple worked with the GSM Association to implement the feature as part of the RCS Universal Profile 3.0, built on Messaging Layer Security. In the meantime, sources note that RCS E2EE is not available for all Android-to-iPhone conversations until the other side meets the requirement for the latest supported setup.
