Ryan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Apple is testing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS chats between iOS and Android within the newest iOS 26.4 Developer Beta 2 launch.
- You possibly can check the characteristic now on supported iPhones and carriers with the developer beta put in, and an Android cellphone with the Google Messages app beta.
- E2EE for cross-platform RCS chats will carry safe messaging to iPhone and Android customers, stopping anybody from seeing your messages throughout the sending course of.
The GSMA’s RCS Common Profile 3.0 makes use of Messaging Layer Safety (MLS) protocol to carry end-to-end encryption to chats between completely different system purchasers. This is able to profit any dialog between iPhone and Android, as iPhone to iPhone chats (through iMessage) and Android to Android chats (through RCS) are already end-to-end encrypted in sure conditions. The RCS Common Profile 3.0 will even improve Android messaging, as the present implementation leaves conversations with out end-to-end encryption except each the sender and recipient use a messaging shopper supporting the characteristic.
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Apple explains the end-to-end encryption for RCS beta within the iOS 26.4 Beta 2 launch notes:
On this beta, RCS end-to-end encryption will turn out to be obtainable for testing between Apple and Android gadgets. This characteristic shouldn’t be transport on this launch and will likely be obtainable to clients in future iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS 26 releases. Finish-to-end encryption is in beta and isn’t obtainable for all gadgets or carriers. Conversations labeled as encrypted are encrypted end-to-end, so messages can’t be learn whereas they’re despatched between gadgets.
As the discharge notes explains, solely sure gadgets and carriers will help end-to-end encryption of iPhone to Android RCS messages at this stage. To make use of it, iPhone customers want to put in the newest developer beta and navigate to Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging and allow Finish-to-Finish Encryption (Beta). Android customers want to verify they’re enrolled within the Google Messages app beta to obtain end-to-end encrypted RCS messages from iPhone customers (through 9to5Google).
The Messages app on iOS will present Textual content Message, RCS, and Encrypted badges in conversations that leverage end-to-end encryption. The Google Messages app on Android will show the identical lock icon presently proven for Android to Android chats with E2EE.
Notably, Apple confirms that safe RCS messaging between iPhone and Android gadgets gained’t publicly launch within the last iOS 26.4 construct. We’ll have to attend for a future software program replace for that. When the cross-platform E2EE characteristic does arrive, iPhone and Android customers can message one another securely, realizing their messages can’t be learn by anybody whereas they’re being despatched.
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