
iOS 26.5 Enables E2EE for iPhone–Android RCS Conversations
Apple confirms iOS 26.5 adds default-end-to-end encryption for cross‑platform RCS messages between iPhone and Android, with rollout tied to carrier support for the latest RCS and a Settings toggle to enable it; the feature, still in beta, is part of RCS Universal Profile 3.0 built on Messaging Layer Security and aims to bring iPhone–Android chats on par with iMessage security, while adding capabilities like editing, deleting, and inline replies as rollout continues.
