iOS 26.5’s Messages app has RCS end-to-end encryption in beta

Source: 9to5Mac

iOS 26.5 beta 1 is now available

iOS 26.5 beta 1 is now available for developers, with a new Apple Maps feature, hints of a new in‑app subscription option, but no signs of Siri upgrades. iOS 26.5 also gives Messages support for end‑to‑end encrypted RCS messaging.

RCS messaging again supports E2EE in iOS 26.5 beta 1

During the iOS 26.4 beta cycle, Apple let users test out RCS messaging with end‑to‑end encryption (E2EE). From the very first beta, Apple was clear that E2EE for RCS was only being tested in iOS 26.4 and wouldn’t actually ship until a future 26.x release.

Now, with iOS 26.5 beta 1, end‑to‑end encrypted RCS messaging has returned, and all signs indicate it’s likely to stick around in the shipping version.

Inside Settings → Apps → Messages → RCS Messaging, iOS 26.5 users will see a new “End‑to‑End Encryption (Beta)” toggle with the following description:

End‑to‑end encryption is in beta and is not available for all devices or carriers. Conversations labeled as encrypted are encrypted end‑to‑end, so messages can’t be read while they’re sent between devices.

End‑to‑end encryption for RCS is enabled by default in iOS 26.5 beta 1. This time, there’s no mention in Apple’s release notes that it won’t ship in the public build. With iOS 26.4 beta 1, Apple stated: “This feature is not shipping in this release and will be available to customers in a future software update.” No such disclaimer appears in iOS 26.5’s developer notes.

It’s always possible Apple might pull it from future betas, but for now it seems likely that when iOS 26.5 ships, it will include end‑to‑end encrypted RCS messaging.

Have you been testing out RCS end‑to‑end encrypted messaging? If so, how has it worked for you? Let us know in the comments.