Google starts rolling out encrypted RCS chats between Android and iPhone users

Google says end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging is rolling out between Android and iPhone users, with the feature starting in beta for iPhone users on iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users on the latest version of Google Messages.

Credit: Google

The company says the upgrade will secure cross-platform chats by default, which puts RCS conversations between the two mobile platforms on a more private footing than the old SMS and MMS system.

In Google’s own words:

“Google Messages has had end-to-end encrypted messaging between Android devices for years, but we knew we couldn’t stop there.”

The company says users will see the familiar lock icon in cross-platform RCS chats, and that encryption is on by default, with the change automatically enabled over time for both new and existing conversations.

Apple’s support pages say the encrypted RCS setting is also on by default in iOS 26.5, and that availability can vary by region and carrier.

The rollout is the result of a joint push between the two companies.

Google said Apple and Google “have led a cross-industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to Rich Communication Services (RCS),” a step that closes a long-running security gap in texting between the two platforms.

Google Messages already encrypted Android-to-Android RCS chats, but cross-platform conversations had not had the same protection until now.

For users, the change is not universal yet.

Apple says the encrypted RCS feature is still in beta, requires iOS 26.5 and a carrier that supports end-to-end encrypted RCS, and can be turned on or off from the Messages settings screen.

Google says Android users need the latest Google Messages app, which means the feature will land unevenly across markets and carriers even after the software updates are installed.