Apple Tests Encrypted RCS Messaging for iPhone
▼ Summary
– Apple has begun testing end-to-end encrypted RCS messages with the iOS 26.4 developer beta released on Monday.
– This initial test is only for encrypted RCS messages between Apple devices and is not yet testable with other platforms like Android.
– The fully encrypted feature will not ship with iOS 26.4 but will be released publicly in a future software update.
– Once fully available, it will enable encrypted messaging between iPhone and Android users, addressing a major missing feature in cross-platform texting.
– The same iOS 26.4 beta also introduces the ability to seamlessly swap between audio and video podcasts.
A major step toward truly secure cross-platform messaging is underway, as Apple begins testing end-to-end encrypted RCS within the latest developer beta. The move signals progress on a long-awaited feature that promises to enhance privacy for texts exchanged between iPhone and Android users. Currently, this initial testing phase is limited to communication between Apple devices, with support for other platforms to follow in a future public software update.
The developer beta for iOS 26.4, released this week, includes the foundational framework for this encrypted messaging. It’s important to note that this is purely a test; the full, publicly available feature will not be included in the final release of iOS 26.4. Apple has clarified that the encrypted RCS capability will ship in a subsequent update. For now, the encryption is only active between iPhones and is not yet functional when messaging devices on other operating systems.
This development follows Apple’s announcement last year that it would adopt the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard. While RCS itself already improves the basic texting experience between different platforms by enabling features like read receipts and higher-quality media sharing, the absence of default end-to-end encryption has remained a significant gap. The encryption ensures that only the sender and intended recipient can read a message’s contents, preventing access by carriers, Apple, or any intermediaries.
The push for a universal encrypted standard gained momentum in late 2024 when the GSM Association (GSMA), the industry body that helps develop RCS protocols, declared work on end-to-end encryption as a key priority. Then, in March of this year, Apple formally committed to supporting this encrypted RCS across its ecosystem, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. The current beta testing represents the first tangible step toward fulfilling that promise.
Beyond the encrypted messaging tests, the iOS 26.4 developer beta introduces another user-focused enhancement: a new interface that allows listeners to seamlessly switch between the audio and video versions of a podcast. This feature aims to improve the listening and viewing experience within Apple’s Podcasts app by making it easier to transition between formats without starting a new episode search.
The broader rollout of encrypted RCS will mark a pivotal shift in mobile communication, effectively closing a major privacy and feature disparity that has long defined the messaging divide between Apple’s iMessage and other platforms. When fully implemented, it will provide a more secure and modern messaging experience for everyone, regardless of the device they use.
(Source: The Verge)
