Apple has released the Release Candidate (RC) for iOS 26.5, confirming a significant upgrade to RCS messaging within the Messages app. This update will introduce end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging, enhancing security and privacy for users communicating between iPhones and Android devices.
According to the release notes, the end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging feature will be available in beta through supported carriers and will roll out gradually. Apple indicated that a list of these carriers will be published on their website prior to the public launch of iOS 26.5, which is expected next week. Currently, details about the specific carriers supporting this feature are not yet available.
Previously, end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging was available in the beta version of iOS 26.5 and was also included in the iOS 26.4 beta before being removed. Unlike the previous beta, Apple did not issue any warnings regarding the removal of this feature from iOS 26.5.
Although end-to-end encryption for RCS is still classified as a beta feature, it will be included in the final release of iOS 26.5, providing users with increased security for their messaging interactions.
