Cross-platform messaging just got a major security upgrade. Google Messages is now testing end-to-end encrypted RCS with iPhone as Apple and Google jointly work toward secure messages between Android and iOS devices. This is one of the most significant messaging milestones in years and it has real implications for anyone who texts between Android and iPhone. Here is everything you need to know.
What Is Happening With RCS Encryption?
As of the iOS 26.4 beta 2, Apple and Google are actively testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users. When the feature is active, Google Messages displays a lock icon at the start of any cross-platform thread, signaling that the conversation is protected.
This means that messages sent between a supported iPhone on iOS 26.5 and an Android phone running Google Messages would be encrypted from the moment they leave the sender’s device until they arrive at the recipient’s. No third party, including carriers or Google itself, can read those messages in transit.
Apple had tested this feature in the iOS 26.4 beta before pulling it from the final release. It is back in the iOS 26.5 beta, suggesting the two companies are closer to a production launch than ever.
Why Did It Take So Long?
RCS itself has been available on Android for years and Apple added RCS support in iOS 18. But end-to-end encryption for cross-platform RCS has been missing because it requires both Apple and Google to agree on and implement the same encryption standard.
For most of the past two years, the two companies used different approaches to encryption that were not interoperable. The current testing is based on the GSMA’s Universal Profile standard, which both sides have now committed to. Getting two of the largest tech companies in the world to agree on an encryption protocol is no small feat, which is why it has taken this long.
Which Devices Support Cross-Platform RCS Encryption?
On the Android side, end-to-end encrypted RCS in Google Messages is currently rolling out on flagship devices. This includes the Pixel 10 series, the Galaxy S26, and other select devices. Samsung users in the US are also being prompted to switch from the Samsung Messages app to Google Messages, which helps unify the Android side of the equation.
Worth noting: Samsung recently confirmed it is ending its own Messages app in the US, with users being shifted to Google Messages automatically. That change directly supports the rollout of encrypted RCS at scale on Android.
On the iPhone side, users will need iOS 26.5 or later once the feature launches publicly.
What Else Is New in Google Messages?
The encrypted RCS rollout is not the only thing changing in Google Messages right now. Several other updates are live or rolling out:
- Smart Reply now places suggestions in the text field for manual confirmation before sending, reducing accidental sends.
- Read receipts have been moved to a new circle icon at the bottom-right corner of message bubbles.
- Google Messages for web now requires Google Account sign-in instead of the QR code method.
- Gemini Nano is being used for scam detection in Google Messages on flagship Android phones.
The on-device Gemini Nano scam detection is particularly significant. It can now catch subtle conversational threats like romance baiting and fake job offers — patterns that older rule-based systems missed entirely. You can read more about Gemini Nano 4 coming to Android and what on-device AI means for Android users broadly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google Messages have end-to-end encryption with iPhone?
It is currently in testing. As of the iOS 26.4 and 26.5 betas, Apple and Google are testing end-to-end encrypted RCS between iPhone and Android devices. A full public launch has not been confirmed yet.
How do I know if my RCS messages are encrypted?
When end-to-end encryption is active in Google Messages, you will see a lock icon at the start of the conversation thread. The same icon will appear on iPhone once the feature is publicly available.
Does standard RCS have encryption?
Standard RCS messages between two Android users on Google Messages are already end-to-end encrypted. The new development extends that encryption to cross-platform messages between Android and iPhone for the first time.
What Android phones support encrypted RCS?
Currently, end-to-end encrypted cross-platform RCS is rolling out on the Pixel 10 series, Galaxy S26, and other select flagship devices. Broader rollout is expected as the feature moves toward a public launch.
Why is Samsung ending its Messages app?
Samsung is discontinuing its native Messages app in the US and moving users to Google Messages. The move helps consolidate Android messaging on a single platform, which supports broader features like encrypted RCS. You can learn more about the Samsung Messages app shutdown here.
Conclusion
End-to-end encrypted RCS between Google Messages and iPhone is one of the most anticipated upgrades in mobile messaging history. After years of green bubbles and unencrypted cross-platform texts, users on both Android and iOS are finally close to having secure, modern messaging by default. Keep an eye on the iOS 26.5 and Google Messages updates in the coming weeks for the official public launch.
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