iOS 26.5 adds encrypted RCS to Messages: how to verify it’s on
▼ Summary
– iOS 26.5 adds RCS end-to-end encryption in the Messages app, enabled by default in beta.
– To confirm the setting is on, go to Settings ⇾ Apps ⇾ Messages ⇾ RCS Messaging and check the ‘End-to-End Encryption’ toggle.
– Encryption for a specific conversation depends on both your carrier and your contact’s carrier supporting it.
– You can check a conversation’s encryption status by tapping the name at the top and looking for the message at the bottom of the details view.
– An encrypted conversation shows “This conversation is encrypted end-to-end,” while an unencrypted one says “This conversation is not encrypted end-to-end.”
The latest iOS 26.5 update, released earlier this month, brings a significant security upgrade to the Messages app: RCS end-to-end encryption. This feature finally extends robust privacy protections to conversations that have traditionally lacked them. Here’s how you can confirm it’s active on your device and verify the encryption status of any specific chat.
iOS 26.5 introduces encrypted RCS messaging as a core enhancement. While iMessage users have long enjoyed the assurance that their chats are fully encrypted, the same could not be said for green bubble conversations. That changes with this update. Apple has upgraded Messages to support RCS end-to-end encryption, which is currently in beta and enabled by default.
To check that the feature is turned on, navigate to Settings → Apps → Messages → RCS Messaging and ensure the ‘End-to-End Encryption’ toggle is switched to the on position. However, a simple toggle activation does not guarantee that every RCS conversation you have will be encrypted. As Apple explains on its support page, encryption depends on whether all participants in a chat are using carriers that support the feature. Even if your carrier is on board, the person you’re messaging must also have a compatible provider. When end-to-end encryption is active, you’ll see the word “Encrypted” along with a lock icon at the top of the conversation.
For older threads where the lock icon may not appear consistently, there is a more reliable method to check encryption status. Simply tap the name or profile image at the top of the conversation to open the details view, then scroll all the way to the bottom. There, you’ll find a message that clearly states the encryption status. If the conversation is secure, it will read: “This conversation is encrypted end-to-end, so messages can’t be read while they’re sent between devices.” If it is not encrypted, the message will plainly state: “This conversation is not encrypted end-to-end.”
This approach is far quicker and more straightforward than hunting for a lock icon, especially in long-running threads. With iOS 26.5, Apple has made it easier than ever to know exactly how private your RCS chats really are.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
