Google and Apple are now testing a new feature that brings encrypted messaging to texts exchanged between Android and iPhone users.
The companies announced that end-to-end encrypted RCS (Rich Communication Services) is being rolled out in beta. This means messages sent between the two platforms can no longer be read by anyone else, not even the companies themselves.
On iPhone, green bubble messages will now show a lock icon with the words “Text Message ยท RCS | Encrypted” at the top of the chat. Android users will see the same lock icon in Google Messages, just like they do when messaging other Android users.
See also: What is RCS messaging and should you use it?
This builds on RCS support that Apple added to iPhone with iOS 18 in 2024, which already brought typing indicators, read receipts, and higher-quality photo sharing to Android-iPhone conversations. Apple later promised to add encryption.
To try it, iPhone users need to be on the iOS 26.4 beta with a supported carrier. They can find the option in Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging and make sure “End-to-End Encryption (Beta)” is turned on. Android users need to join the Google Messages beta program.
Encrypted RCS messaging will be available to everyone in a future iOS 26 update, where it’ll be enabled by default.