Apple adds encrypted RCS messaging to iPhone
▼ Summary
– Apple added support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in beta with iOS 26.5, protecting messages between Apple and Android users from being seen by Apple or Google.
– Encrypted RCS chats show a lock icon and “Encrypted” message at the top, with encryption on by default for supported carriers and requiring the newest Google Messages on Android.
– iOS 26.5 introduces ads in Maps, which may show local ads based on approximate location or search terms, with ad data not linked to the user’s Apple account.
– The update also includes new wallpapers as part of iOS 26.5.
– Apple released iOS 26.5 alongside iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 on Monday.
Apple has quietly introduced a significant upgrade to its Messages app with the release of iOS 26.5, enabling encrypted RCS messaging between iPhone and Android users for the first time. This update, rolled out on Monday, brings end-to-end encryption to cross-platform chats in beta, ensuring that neither Apple nor Google can intercept or read your messages while they are in transit.
When you open a conversation with an Android contact after updating to iOS 26.5, you’ll notice a lock icon and a small “Encrypted” label at the top of the chat. This indicator confirms that your exchange is secure, provided both parties are on a carrier that supports the feature. Apple has stated that encryption will be enabled by default and “will be automatically enabled over time for new and existing RCS conversations.” For Android users, the latest version of Google Messages is required to participate. Apple had been testing these encrypted RCS chats with Android users earlier this year, and this release marks a broader rollout.
Beyond messaging, iOS 26.5 introduces new wallpapers and a notable addition: ads in Maps. A pop-up that appeared when I opened Maps after the update stated that “Maps may show local ads based on your approximate location, current search terms, or view of the map while you search.” Apple assures users that this advertising information “is not linked to your Apple account,” offering a degree of privacy reassurance.
The update isn’t limited to iPhones. Apple also released iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 on Monday, bringing a suite of improvements across its ecosystem.
(Source: The Verge)
