iOS 26.5 Beta Continues RCS End-to-End Encryption Testing for iPhone and Android Messages

iOS 26.5 beta restores an End-to-End Encryption toggle in RCS settings, enabled by default.

RCS E2EE was tested in iOS 26.4 beta but wasn’t shipped in the iOS 26.4 update; the option has returned in iOS 26.5 beta.

Currently, RCS messages between Android and iPhone do not have E2EE; RCS between Android users does, and iMessage between iPhone users is end-to-end encrypted.

Encrypted conversations show a lock symbol.

The RCS E2EE feature is still in beta and is not available to all devices or carriers in iOS 26.5.