With the release candidate of iOS 26.5, Apple has officially confirmed what had been apparent since the first beta: End-to-end encryption for RCS messages is part of the final update. This brings one of the most important security features for cross-platform communication between iPhone and Android to public release. Despite the beta label, it will be available to all users with the final version.
The crucial clue lies in the official release notes that Apple published alongside the release candidate. There, end-to-end encryption for RCS messages is listed as a new feature, explicitly marked as beta. Activation will be phased in and depends on the individual mobile network operators.
Apple has finally put an end to a long period of uncertainty. The feature had already been activated for testing purposes during the beta phase of iOS 26.4, but then removed again shortly before the public release. Its reactivation in the first beta of iOS 26.5 raised hopes that it would work this time – and these hopes have now been confirmed.
The struggle to build a secure bridge between iPhone and Android
RCS is considered the natural successor to SMS and MMS. Apple first introduced the standard to the iPhone with iOS 18, significantly modernizing communication with Android devices. Read receipts, higher image quality, and improved group chats have since been available in the green message bubbles.
What was missing until now, however, was encryption. While iMessage between Apple devices has been end-to-end encrypted from the start, RCS messages traveled through mobile network operators' networks without this protection. With the jump to RCS Universal Profile 3.0, the technical foundation changes. The new standard includes encryption as an integral component – and Apple delivers the practical implementation with iOS 26.5.
Which mobile network operators are participating?
Apple will publish the official list of supported carriers separately. A corresponding support page has been prepared, but is not yet populated with content. The rollout is intentionally staggered because each mobile network operator must implement and activate the encryption on their end.
A look at the current overview of iPhone features from German providers shows that all four major network operators – 1&1, O2, Telekom, and Vodafone – already officially support RCS messages. This lays the foundation for the encrypted version to arrive in Germany in the coming months. Exactly when each individual provider will implement it depends on their technical capabilities.
Beta status with full functionality
End-to-end encryption will still appear with a beta label in the final iOS 26.5. However, this doesn't mean the feature is grayed out or hidden. It's available to all users whose mobile carrier supports encryption. For Apple, the beta label primarily indicates ongoing carrier activation – not limited usability for end users.
In practice, most iPhone owners will likely notice little change in the first few days. Encryption will only take effect automatically once both your own and the recipient's provider have implemented it. Within the redesigned Messages app in iOS 26, the encryption will be indicated, similar to what iMessage users are already familiar with.
An important step for the messaging landscape
The significance of this confirmation extends beyond this single update. Security between iPhone and Android was previously only available via third-party apps like Signal or WhatsApp. With encrypted RCS, this boundary blurs: even the system's own messaging app now protects content across platforms.
For users in the EU who can already use alternative default apps for SMS and RCS thanks to the Digital Markets Act, this creates an additional choice – without compromising security. Apple has thus closed a loophole that has been considered the biggest weakness since the introduction of RCS.
What this means for the release schedule
With the release candidate, iOS 26.5 has entered its final phase. The public release is expected next week, around mid-May. This puts Apple right in the timeframe that has been established for x.5 updates for years – traditionally in time for WWDC.
In addition to RCS encryption, iOS 26.5 includes other new features such as the "Suggested Places" function in Apple Maps, preparations for advertising in the Maps app, expanded support for third-party wearables in the EU, and new subscription options in the App Store. A complete overview of the beta phase and its highlights paints a clear picture: iOS 26.5 is not a maintenance update, but a strategically placed feature release ahead of the major iOS 27 upgrade this fall.
Secure messaging without platform boundaries – the most important information at a glance
End-to-end encryption for RCS marks one of the most significant steps in Apple's messaging strategy since the introduction of iMessage. With iOS 26.5, security moves out of Apple's proprietary bubbles and into the cross-platform standard. Even though the rollout via mobile carriers will take time, the technical prerequisite is now officially in place. For iPhone users who regularly communicate with Android contacts, this marks the beginning of a new era—one in which the question of security no longer depends on the choice of smartphone. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Samuel Boivin)
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