Apple is preparing to bring end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to RCS chats on iOS, a move that could land as early as the next major update. 
The upgrade will finally put iPhone-to-Android RCS conversations on the same privacy level as iMessage and Android-to-Android RCS chats.
When Apple introduced RCS support with iOS 18, it relied on the GSMA RCS Universal Profile 2.4. That version offered perks like higher quality media sharing, typing indicators, emoji reactions, and read receipts – but no true end-to-end encryption. Messages were only protected in transit, meaning they could be decrypted on servers during delivery.
True E2EE, where only sender and receiver can access message content, is included in RCS Universal Profile 3.0. Recent iOS 26 beta builds reveal Apple testing Messaging Layer Security (MLS), the same protocol Google uses for secure chats in Google Messages. If rolled out, this would eliminate interception risks and bring RCS privacy standards in line with iMessage.
Google Messages has long supported E2EE for Android-to-Android RCS chats, while Apple’s iMessage has had it since launch. Apple confirmed its commitment to the technology, stating it worked with industry partners to ensure RCS evolves into a secure and reliable standard. The company plans to roll E2EE support across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in future updates.
Although iOS 26 may introduce encrypted RCS, not every part of the 3.0 standard is expected immediately. Features like group mentions and group icons could remain absent for now. Still, adding E2EE to cross-platform RCS would mark a major win for privacy-conscious users on both iOS and Android.
Until Apple flips the switch, Android users who want encrypted RCS should stick to Google Messages, which already secures one-on-one chats.