Google, Apple start testing encrypted RCS on Android and iOS 26.4

a day ago

Google and Apple are testing encrypted RCS messaging between Android and iPhone.
Messages between Android and iOS users are encrypted and cannot be read by anyone else.
iOS Messages app will show green bubbles with "Text Message · RCS | [lock icon] Encrypted".
Google Messages will display the same lock icon for encrypted messages.
iOS 18 introduced RCS support for typing indicators, read receipts, and higher-quality media with Android users.
End-to-end encrypted RCS support was announced by Apple last March.
Testing requires iOS 26.4 beta 2 on iPhone and the latest Google Messages beta on Android.
Users must enable "End-to-End Encryption (Beta)" in Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging.
Beta testing may have message delivery issues, service interruptions, and bugs.
Encrypted RCS messaging will be enabled by default in a future iOS 26 update.

Hasty Briefsbeta