Apple is adding encrypted RCS to messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users with iOS 26.5, but the useful detail is what you’ll see when protection is actually active.
The support is in the iOS 26.5 release candidate for developers and public testers, where Apple lists it as a beta. That matters because access depends on supported carriers and a gradual rollout, so installing the update won’t automatically mean every cross-platform chat is protected.
For mixed iPhone and Android conversations, the lock indicator becomes the thing to watch. Without that signal, users shouldn’t assume the privacy upgrade has reached their chat yet.
What the lock icon means
Messages will show an encrypted RCS status inside conversations with Android users once the update reaches a supported setup. The chat view will display the RCS label with a lock indicator, giving users a clear way to confirm that added protection is active.
Google Messages will use the same lock treatment for these cross-platform chats. That matches what Android users already see in encrypted conversations with other Android phones.
The visual cue is important because RCS can feel inconsistent across devices, carriers, and apps. Apple and Google are giving users a visible check instead of making them guess whether a conversation has encryption.
Your setup still decides access
On iPhone, users can check the setting under Settings, Messages, and RCS Messaging. Apple’s end-to-end encryption option is turned on by default, though that setting alone doesn’t override carrier availability.
Android users will need the latest version of Google Messages for protected chats with iPhone users. That keeps the upgrade tied to Google’s messaging app rather than every Android texting setup.
The available details don’t include a public release date for iOS 26.5. That missing date matters because the privacy change depends on the update arriving, carrier support being ready, and the right Android app being installed.
What to watch after updating
The practical takeaway is that iOS 26.5 is a real privacy improvement, but the rollout is the part users shouldn’t overlook. Encryption only helps when the chat shows that it’s active.
That makes this update less of a set-it-and-forget-it change for now. People who text across the iPhone and Android divide should look for the encryption indicator before assuming a conversation has the new protection.
Once iOS 26.5 is available, iPhone users should check the RCS Messaging setting and watch supported chats for the lock indicator. Android users should update Google Messages so they’re ready when the feature reaches their carrier.