New evidence found in iOS 26.3 beta 2 suggests that end-to-end encryption for RCS messages is nearing reality, nearly a year after Apple first announced its support for the feature. For iPhone users who chat with Android users, this could be a meaningful privacy upgrade.
Apple currently supports RCS for richer cross-platform messaging, a feature that arrived with iOS 18. However, those chats still lack the same level of protection as iMessage. That means photos, videos, and texts sent over RCS are not encrypted end-to-end. The latest beta hints that Apple is finally laying the groundwork to change that, bringing RCS closer to iMessage-level security.
What the iOS 26.3 beta has revealed so far
According to 9to5Mac, the discovery was spotted by developer Tiino-X83, who noticed new references to RCS E2E encryption buried inside iOS 26.3 beta 2.
Apple appears to be adding a carrier bundle setting that allows mobile operators to enable or disable RCS encryption at the network level. Interestingly, this code currently shows up only for France’s four major carriers, Bouygues, Orange, SFR, and Free, with no evidence yet from other regions.
That limitation is not random. RCS encryption rules are governed by GSMA standards, which require encryption to be enabled for all users in a market unless local regulations prevent it.
Carriers cannot selectively turn encryption on for some users and off for others. Users must also be clearly notified when encryption is unavailable, and nearly all message content must be protected, aside from typing indicators.
It is important to note that none of this guarantees RCS encryption will launch publicly with iOS 26.3. Apple may simply be preparing the framework for a later update. Still, the presence of carrier controls and visual indicators strongly suggests progress is being made.
If Apple does flip the switch, iPhone users would finally get encrypted RCS chats with Android users, narrowing a long-standing privacy gap and making cross-platform messaging a lot safer.
