Google and Apple begin rolling out end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging for Android and iPhone users

Yesterday, both Google and Apple officially announced that they have led a cross-industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to Rich Communication Services (RCS), making the cross-platform messaging format that replaces traditional SMS more secure and private.

End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out in beta for iPhone users running iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users on the latest version of Google Messages. For Android users, the E2EE RCS messaging is available on devices that support the RCS standard and have end-to-end encryption enabled.

When RCS messages are end-to-end encrypted, they can’t be read while they are sent between devices. Apple users will know that a conversation is end-to-end encrypted when they see a new lock icon in their RCS chats. Meanwhile, Google Messages users will know a cross-platform conversation is end-to-end encrypted when they see the same lock icon.

Encryption is enabled by default and will automatically be enabled over time for new and existing RCS conversations.

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