iOS 26.5 brought encrypted texting between iPhone and Android
Apple's May 2026 release notes listed end-to-end encryption for RCS messages, where carriers support it.
Kivorent News desk, published , 1 min read
This is a look back at an event from . We wrote it on November 11, 2026, from the sources listed at the end.
Apple's release notes for iOS 26.5, published on May 5, 2026, listed end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iPhones and Android phones. Availability depends on the carrier, MacRumors reported.
What that means
RCS is the modern replacement for SMS. It is what lets an iPhone and an Android phone exchange typing indicators and higher-quality photos. Until this update, those messages were not end-to-end encrypted, so they could in principle be read in transit.
With end-to-end encryption, only the two phones in the conversation can read a message.
Why it mattered
Messages between two iPhones have been encrypted this way for years. Texts to Android users, shown in green, were the gap. Closing it protects a very large number of everyday conversations.
Check that both people are on current software and that the carrier supports it before assuming a chat is covered.
Sources
- Top stories: iOS 26.5 coming soon, goodbye $599 Mac mini, and more, MacRumors, May 9, 2026
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