Overview
- Apple confirmed in the iOS 26.5 release notes that encrypted RCS messaging is launching as a beta feature that will appear as carriers enable support.
- For a conversation to be protected, both the sender and the receiver must be on carriers that support the latest RCS profile.
- Encryption turns on by default with a switch in Messages settings, and a small lock icon shows when a thread is secured.
- Apple says iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, and watchOS 26.5 will bring iPhone–Android texting privacy in line with iMessage once supported on both ends.
- Apple worked with the GSMA to add encryption to RCS Universal Profile 3.0 using the Messaging Layer Security protocol, which also introduces editing, deleting, Tapbacks, and inline replies for cross‑platform chats.