Apple has begun testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages on the iPhone

Apple has released a beta version of iOS 26.4 with E2EE support in RCS

* What’s new?

In the current beta, developers can already test end‑to‑end encryption (E2EE) for messages sent via the RCS protocol. Once the feature is fully ready, iPhone and Android users will be able to securely exchange encrypted messages.

* Implementation status

At present the technology works only between Apple devices and is not compatible with other platforms. According to The Verge, a public release of protected RCS messages will not be included in the final build of iOS 26.4; it will appear in one of future updates.

* RCS development context

RCS support was introduced into Apple’s operating systems starting with iOS 18, but without E2EE. Implementing the standard improved the quality of text‑message exchange between Apple and Android devices, yet the lack of cross‑platform encryption remained a significant drawback.

The GSM Association announced in September 2024 that it is working on end‑to‑end encryption as the next major step for RCS development.

* Apple’s future plans

In March 2025 the company confirmed its intention to support E2EE in RCS across all its platforms: smartphones, tablets, computers, and smartwatches.

* Additional functionality

The first beta of iOS 26.4 also includes a new feature for podcast lovers. Users can smoothly switch between audio and video versions of episodes without interrupting content playback.