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iOS 26.5 Will Finally Secure RCS Messages Between iPhone and Android
The iOS 26.5 update will bring an important security upgrade for iPhone users: end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android.
E2EE: the missing piece of interoperability
The RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol is the standard set to replace the aging SMS. RCS adds extra features such as read receipts and group chats, as well as the ability to share high-definition photos.
It is not new, since Google has offered it since 2016 in the Messages app available on Android. When you exchange messages between two Android devices via RCS, that exchange benefits from end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
But when it comes to exchanging messages between an Android device and an iPhone (Apple), via RCS, it is different. Apple has always favored its own protocol through iMessage, even though its position was revised a year ago. Indeed, with the release of iOS 18.4 in April 2025, Apple added support for RCS.
Nevertheless, the security level is not the same: RCS conversations between an iPhone and an Android were still not protected by end-to-end encryption. In other words, depending on the device used by your recipient, the security would not be the same.
The response to this security issue was provided by the GSMA through the publication of version 3.0 of the RCS Universal Profile specifications. Why? Simply because this new version adds encryption based on the MLS (Messaging Layer Security) protocol.
An imminent rollout with iOS 26.5
After being tested in the iOS 26.4 beta, the arrival of RCS with E2EE is now officially confirmed in the release candidate version of iOS 26.5. This version is expected in about a week and it will indeed bring this new feature.
In iOS settings, there will also be a new button to configure this new security feature. The good news is that it will be enabled by default. Unlike iMessage, which enforces end-to-end encryption, you could choose to do without it with RCS (but that would be a shame...).
From now on, French carriers must also do what is necessary to support RCS with E2EE on iPhones.
