End-to-End Encrypted RCS Comes to Apple and Android Chats
a day ago
- #RCS Encryption
- #Cross-Platform Messaging
- #Apple iOS Update
- Apple’s iOS 26.5 update introduces end-to-end encryption for RCS, enabling encrypted chats between Android and iPhone in default messaging apps.
- Encryption is enabled by default for RCS conversations between Apple Messages and Google Messages, provided carriers support RCS and encrypted messages.
- RCS replaces SMS, improving media quality in cross-platform chats, with encryption ensuring messages are inaccessible to Google, Apple, or carriers.
- The feature relies on GSMA RCS Universal Profile 3.0 and Messaging Layer Security protocol, though metadata may still be collected, making alternatives like Signal preferable for some.
- Cloud backups may store messages unencrypted unless Advanced Data Protection is enabled on iOS; Google Messages encrypts text but not media in backups.
- Encrypted RCS is in beta on Apple devices, with rollout depending on carriers and Android phones using the latest Google Messages version.
- Users will see a lock icon and "Encrypted" label in RCS chats once all parties have updated software and carrier support is in place.