Google has begun rolling out end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in beta for iPhone users on iOS 26.5 with supported carriers, alongside Android users on the latest version of Google Messages. The move expands encryption beyond Android-to-Android chats and brings stronger privacy to cross-platform conversations that use Rich Communication Services.
The update marks a major step for messaging security because RCS is the system designed to replace traditional SMS with a more modern and capable format. Google and Apple have been working together in a cross-industry effort to make that standard more secure, and the new rollout starts making that promise visible to users on both platforms.
What the new encryption changes
End-to-end encryption means RCS messages cannot be read while they travel between devices. That protection applies to the conversation itself, which helps reduce the risk of interception as messages move across the network.
For Google Messages users, a cross-platform chat will show the same lock icon already used in RCS conversations when encryption is active. Google says encryption is turned on by default and will be enabled automatically over time for both new and existing RCS chats.
Why the rollout matters
Google Messages has supported end-to-end encryption between Android devices for years, but cross-platform RCS chats have remained a gap until now. The new beta rollout brings iPhone users into that encrypted experience, at least through supported carriers and compatible software.
That matters because RCS is meant to modernize messaging beyond SMS, and security has been one of the biggest missing pieces. With encryption now arriving for conversations between Android and iPhone users, the feature becomes more aligned with the privacy expectations many users already associate with secure chat services.
How users may notice it
The change is designed to work quietly in the background, with no need for manual setup in most cases. Users who already send RCS messages in Google Messages should see the familiar lock icon when a conversation is protected, which serves as the main visual indicator that encryption is active.
Because the rollout is starting in beta, availability may vary by device, carrier, and app version. The system is expected to expand gradually, with encryption automatically turning on for supported RCS conversations as the rollout continues.
What Google says about the feature
Google’s announcement points to the long-term goal of extending encryption beyond Android-only messaging. The company said it “couldn’t stop there,” signaling that cross-platform privacy was the next logical step after securing Android-to-Android chats.
That approach reflects a broader effort by Google and Apple to make RCS more secure and private across platforms. For users, the practical result is a messaging experience that keeps the convenience of RCS while adding stronger protection to conversations between Android and iPhone devices.
Read more at: blog.google