Apple is taking the first step toward encrypted communication between iPhone and Android , starting testing end -to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messages with the developer beta of iOS 26.4 . Apple announced plans to support the feature last year, and once it’s fully available, it will allow iPhone and Android users to send encrypted RCS messages to each other, regardless of platform.
See also: What is End-to-End Encryption and how does it help?
However, with this initial implementation, Apple is only testing encryption between Apple devices. According to the company, the feature is not yet available for testing with other platforms. Apple also does not plan to release encrypted messages with iOS 26.4. The feature will be available to the public in a “future update.”
RCS messages and end-to-end encryption
RCS messaging significantly improves the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices, but cross-platform encryption was a big gap that needed to be filled. The GSM Association, which helps develop RCS, announced in September 2024 that it was working on encrypted E2EE messaging as part of the “next big milestone” for the RCS Universal Profile. Apple said in March 2025 that it would support encrypted E2EE messaging on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in “future software updates.”
See also: How to enable Advanced Data Protection for iCloud (+ end-to-end encryption)
Apple’s move to support encrypted RCS messaging demonstrates its commitment to enhancing the security and privacy of its users. As messaging becomes increasingly important in our daily lives, the security of those communications is critical. Supporting end-to-end encryption ensures that only the senders and recipients of messages have access to the content, thereby protecting users’ privacy.
See also: Discord: End-to-end encryption in voice and video calls
The wait for the full release of this feature continues, but users can rest assured that Apple is working towards providing safer and more private communications in the future.
