iOS 26.5 Beta Continues RCS End-to-End Encryption Testing for iPhone and Android Messages - MacRumors
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iOS 26.5 Beta Continues RCS End-to-End Encryption Testing for iPhone and Android Messages

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Apple tested end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users in the iOS 26.4 beta, but Apple made it clear the functionality was not going to launch in the iOS 26.4 update.

RCS Feature 1
E2EE for ‌RCS‌ was removed before iOS 26.4 was released, but the feature is back in the iOS 26.5 beta as Apple continues testing it.

In the Messages section of the Settings app, the End-to-End Encryption toggle is back in the ‌RCS‌ options, and like before, it is turned on by default.

End-to-end encryption ensures that messages sent between devices cannot be intercepted and read by a third party. Right now, ‌RCS‌ messages sent between Android and iPhone users do not have E2EE, but ‌RCS‌ messages between Android users do. iMessages exchanged between iPhone users have always had end-to-end encryption.

E2EE is in beta and is not available to all devices or carriers in iOS 26.5. Conversations that are encrypted have a lock symbol.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Tags: Android, RCS Guide
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

WarmWinterHat Avatar
WarmWinterHat
16 weeks ago

For the few people that will ever use it. The rest of the world has moved on and use WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal.

That whole “Apple should add RCS to iPhones” shame campaign Google ran sure backfired on them.
For the "few people" meaning the majority of the US and Canada.

I don't know anyone using WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal on the regular, other than relatives that live in Germany.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
CarAnalogy
16 weeks ago

For the "few people" meaning the majority of the US and Canada.

I don't know anyone using WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal on the regular, other than relatives that live in Germany.
I'll never understand the people that come out of the woodwork advocating moving communications under the control of these companies. And then acting like using a system run by the telcos or Apple is crazy.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HouseLannister Avatar
HouseLannister
16 weeks ago
Apple announced this March last year. Just a glacial slow implementation. How much longer for edit or undo send to come to RCS on Apple?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Omega V Avatar
Omega V
16 weeks ago

In the UK, iPhones and Android phones are about 50/50.

So this will be useful.

If it wasn't for the case that WhatsApp is (sadly) the lingua franca of messaging apps here.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/18/instagram-to-remove-end-to-end-encryption-for-private-messages-in-may

I actually think WhatsApp is going to stop using end-to-end encryption soon, probably before 2027.

This may not matter to a lot of people but it matters to some of us at least. I use Signal as much as possible but unfortunately I can only it use it with a handful of people (less than 4). I do use iMessage for around 90% of my messaging, then WhatsApp for about 9% then Signal for the final 1% but I live in the U.S. also.

The reason I stated I see WhatsApp stopping end-to-end encryption soon is due to Meta, which owns Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, is going to stop using end-to-end encryption on May 8th in Instagram.

This makes me fully believe that Meta will then stop using end-to-end encryption in Messenger and then ultimately in WhatsApp because I don't see Zuckerberg or Meta allowing end-to-end encryption to stop in only the Instagram app. Meta will just use the same reasoning they use for Instagram for Messenger and WhatsApp. So many people are use to using these apps for messaging that it's something I believe Meta will get away with unfortunately. The majority of people are not going to freakout and move to Signal or other secure messaging apps, you're talking over a billion+ people that use these messaging apps combined.

Hope it doesn't happen but I can already see it coming and fast. So I fully believe that RCS end-to-end encryption is the best option for the majority of people but getting the average person to change is going to be a mountain to climb.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
CarAnalogy
16 weeks ago

Usage numbers from those services say otherwise. You don’t speak for everyone just because you don’t use it.
...Do you see the irony here?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
bluecoast
16 weeks ago

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/18/instagram-to-remove-end-to-end-encryption-for-private-messages-in-may

I actually think WhatsApp is going to stop using end-to-end encryption soon, probably before 2027.

This may not matter to a lot of people but it matters to some of us at least. I use Signal as much as possible but unfortunately I can only it use it with a handful of people (less than 4). I do use iMessage for around 90% of my messaging, then WhatsApp for about 9% then Signal for the final 1% but I live in the U.S. also.

The reason I stated I see WhatsApp stopping end-to-end encryption soon is due to Meta, which owns Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, is going to stop using end-to-end encryption on May 8th in Instagram.

This makes me fully believe that Meta will then stop using end-to-end encryption in Messenger and then ultimately in WhatsApp because I don't see Zuckerberg or Meta allowing end-to-end encryption to stop in only the Instagram app. Meta will just use the same reasoning they use for Instagram for Messenger and WhatsApp. So many people are use to using these apps for messaging that it's something I believe Meta will get away with unfortunately. The majority of people are not going to freakout and move to Signal or other secure messaging apps, you're talking over a billion+ people that use these messaging apps combined.

Hope it doesn't happen but I can already see it coming and fast. So I fully believe that RCS end-to-end encryption is the best option for the majority of people but getting the average person to change is going to be a mountain to climb.
I think that you're totally right.

I'm putting my tinfoil hat on here, but there has to be some reason why Meta operates WhatsApp with barely any monetisation when it must cost them billions a year.

And no, I don't think that Meta are doing it to be nice.

So yeah, if they were able to get rid of e2ee - which many governments would be very happy if they did - and not lose many users, I bet that they would.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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