For years, texting between an iPhone and an Android device felt less like a private conversation and more like shouting across a crowded street. Well, that changes on May 11, 2026, as Apple and Google jointly launched end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messaging.
The long-awaited feature is rolling out first in beta with iOS 26.5 (also announced today) and the latest version of Google Messages.
How did the companies achieve this?
It’s quite rare that Apple and Google work together on something, as they’re often busy creating advertisements to make fun of each other.
However, for enabling end-to-end encryption for RCS, both companies have worked together, alongside the GSM Association, to codify the encryption standard into RCS Universal Profile 3.0, built on Messaging Layer Security Protocol.
The result: messages traveling between iPhones and Android devices can no longer be seen or heard by anyone mid-way, not even Apple and Google. Once you enable the feature, a small lock icon appears in your Messages app, indicating that the chat is secured.
Who can use the feature right now?
For the feature to take effect, carrier support is essential. Thankfully, the E2EE rollout for RCS has arrived with an impressive list of carrier partners.
In the United States alone, major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Xfinity Mobile, among others, already support the new security feature. Canadian carriers, including Bell, Rogers, and Telus, are also supported.
It’s worth mentioning here that both the sender and the receiver must have a participating carrier for encryption to kick in their chats. While iMessage continues to provide E2EE independently, support for RCS will gradually extend to all existing conversations over time.
For me, E2EE for RCS sounds more than just a software update: it’s a geopolitical truce between different smartphone platforms. For years, the lack of cross-platform encryption gave way to privacy-first messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Now, the baseline has risen, and for good.
