Apple will begin rolling out end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging with iOS 26.5 next week, marking a major shift in how iPhone and Android users communicate. The update comes nearly 18 months after the FBI advised Americans not to send unsecured texts between Android and iPhone devices.
The feature will provide end-to-end encryption support to cross-platform messages sent through Rich Communication Services (RCS) for the first time. Apple, however, has warned that the feature ‘is not available to all’ users at launch.
Apple said encrypted RCS messaging will only work on supported carriers and compatible devices. The company noted that the rollout will be gradual, so not every iPhone user will gain access immediately after updating to iOS 26.5.
Unlike apps such as WhatsApp and Signal, where encryption is controlled directly by the application, encrypted RCS depends heavily on carrier support. This creates a situation where encryption may not remain consistent across all conversations.
Industry analysts say the system could shift between encrypted and non-encrypted messaging depending on network compatibility and carrier support during conversations between Android and iPhone users.
Apple’s iMessage system already uses default end-to-end encryption for conversations between Apple devices. These chats appear as blue bubbles on iPhones and cannot function without encryption.
Messages sent to Android devices, however, appear as green bubbles and traditionally relied on SMS or basic RCS standards without full encryption support.
Google Messages offers encrypted RCS chats between Android users if all participants use updated versions of the app. Still, encryption status is not always visible, which has raised concerns among cybersecurity experts.
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Privacy experts say WhatsApp and Signal continue to offer more reliable encryption because both apps manage encryption independently from carriers. Messages remain protected regardless of the network being used.
Apple said more details about supported carriers and availability will be listed on its messaging support website once the rollout begins. The update represents Apple’s biggest step yet toward securing cross-platform messaging, though carrier-specific limitations may still leave gaps for users expecting fully private conversations.