RCS in Messages app: Apple starts testing encryption
So far, iPhone and Mac users have had to live without end-to-end encryption when using RCS. This is about to change, but depends on the provider.
Google and Apple messaging apps: Friendly communication via RCS.
(Image: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com)
Communication between iPhone and Android users has been improving since the year before last: With iOS 18, Apple finally integrated support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) into its Messages app. Since then, cross-platform chatting has become easier, and the old-fashioned SMS has been replaced by modern features. However, the RCS offering on iOS is still not complete: In particular, there is no support for end-to-end encryption (E2EE). In practice, this means that mobile network operators could technically gain insight into conversations, as is also the case with SMS. This is finally set to change: With iOS 26.4, the first developer beta of which has been available since this week, E2EE for RCS is finally being implemented by Apple. However, this still has a few drawbacks.
It depends on the carrier
As Apple states in its release notes for the new operating system, the feature can only be tested initially. It is unclear whether the actual rollout will occur with iOS 26.4 (and iPadOS 26.4, macOS 26.4, and watchOS 26.4) – however, Apple writes that it is planned “in a later software update”. E2EE is fundamentally to be understood as a beta only.
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In addition, Apple is implementing the encryption with the help of carriers: The company warns that the feature is neither available on all devices nor with all mobile network operators. This is reminiscent of the basic RCS functionality, which was introduced with considerable delay by the German provider 1&1, for example, as it had to make corresponding internal adjustments.
Limited testing without Android users
In contrast to its own iMessage service, Apple is apparently not following Google's approach of simply using its own servers and thus implementing E2EE itself. Therefore, it is not yet possible to say whether there will be any compatibility problems – in the beta, E2EE is also only enabled for message traffic between Apple devices. “Testing with other platforms is not yet possible.”
Fundamentally, E2EE is part of RCS Universal Profile 3, but also knows different implementation paths there. If end-to-end encryption is active for RCS, communication streams in the Messages app will be marked accordingly. Universal Profile 3 also offers further refinements, including encrypted group chats, security for 2FA codes, and that of metadata.
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