Apple has taken a major step toward securing cross-platform messaging. With iOS 26.4 beta 2, Apple and Google are now testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages sent between iPhone and Android devices.
This marks the first time encrypted RCS messaging is being enabled across platforms in testing.
Encrypted RCS between iPhone and Android
In the first iOS 26.4 beta, Apple introduced early support for encrypted RCS, but it was limited to iPhone-to-iPhone conversations when iMessage was disabled.
Now, with beta 2, iPhone users running iOS 26.4 can exchange end-to-end encrypted RCS messages directly with Android users. On the Android side, users must be running the latest version of Google Messages.
Conversations labeled as encrypted are protected end-to-end, meaning messages cannot be read while in transit between devices.
Not shipping in iOS 26.4
Despite the expanded testing, Apple has clarified in its developer release notes that encrypted RCS will not officially ship with iOS 26.4.
Instead, the feature is expected to arrive in a future update across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS 26 releases. During the beta phase, encryption support is limited and may not be available on all devices or carriers.
Collaboration with the GSM Association
Apple worked alongside the GSM Association to implement end-to-end encryption standards for RCS. While iMessage has long supported E2EE for iPhone-to-iPhone conversations, RCS encryption across platforms has remained fragmented.
Android already supports encrypted RCS messaging between Android devices. However, full encryption for iPhone-to-Android conversations has not been available until this cross-platform beta testing.
Why this matters
Bringing end-to-end encryption to RCS between iPhone and Android users closes a long-standing privacy gap. It strengthens security for cross-platform conversations, aligning them more closely with the protections offered by iMessage and other encrypted messaging services.
Although the feature is still in beta and not yet publicly rolling out, this is a significant milestone in modernizing SMS replacements and improving cross-device privacy.
