Texts between iPhone and Android can now be end-to-end encrypted
Apple and Google began rolling out end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in beta, so cross-platform texts can only be read by sender and recipient.
What's new
End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iPhone and Android began rolling out in beta. Only the sender and recipient can read the messages.
Requirements
- iPhone: iOS 26.5 with a supported carrier.
- Android: the latest Google Messages.
- Encrypted chats show a lock icon; encryption is on by default.
Background
- iMessage has been end-to-end encrypted since 2011.
- Android users have had E2EE among themselves since 2021.
- Apple only began supporting RCS in 2023.
The rollout is in beta, so some users may not have it yet.
Founder and editor-in-chief of Kurd Developers. Phone and tech news on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
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