Apple Enhances Secure Messaging Capabilities

As part of iOS 26.5, released this week, Apple has expanded its secure messaging capabilities to include end-to-end encrypted RCS (Rich Communication Services) chats with Android users through the Messages app on iPhones. With this update, iPhone users can now engage in encrypted conversations with their Android counterparts, ensuring that only the sender and recipient see the messages during transmission. The feature is enabled by default, with Apple confirming it will be automatically applied to new and existing RCS conversations over time. To distinguish these secure chats from standard ones, a lock icon and an “Encrypted” message indicator appear at the top of the conversation thread. This updated messaging feature marks another significant step in Apple’s efforts to enhance user privacy and security in its ecosystem.