End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out today in beta

Starting today, iPhone users running iOS 26.5 will begin seeing a new lock icon in RCS chats indicating that messages in the chat are end-to-end encrypted.

Apple and Google 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.

Starting today, 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. When RCS messages are end-to-end encrypted, they can’t be read while they’re sent between devices. Users will know that a conversation is end-to-end encrypted when they see a new lock icon in their RCS chats.…