iOS 26.5 brings E2EE for RCS: A new milestone for secure cross‑platform messaging

By Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA

Today marks an important step forward for mobile users as the latest software update from Apple - iOS 26.5 - brings end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging. This additional security is now beginning to roll out for conversations between iPhone users running iOS 26.5 and Android devices running on the latest version of Google Messages.

This welcome progress is the result of close, cross-industry collaboration between the GSMA RCS Working Group including Apple, Google and the wider mobile ecosystem. Crucially, the new secure services are being delivered on an open, globally recognised foundation. RCS is built on an industry specification called the RCS Universal Profile, published by the GSMA and developed with inputs from across the mobile industry, including significant contributions from Apple and Google. It is also a strong example of what can be achieved when the industry works together on open standards.

For users, the benefit is simple: E2EE RCS messages can't be read by anyone but the sender and receiver when they're being sent between Apple and Android devices, even by Apple or Google. This provides users with the highest level of privacy and security while messaging. Once enabled by supporting mobile network operators, users will be able to recognise the newly encrypted conversations via a padlock icon.

We now encourage our members to leverage these new capabilities and enable more secure RCS messaging for personal and business users worldwide.

Read more on the Apple Newsroom and in this Google blog.