Android Users Finally Get Encrypted RCS Chats With iPhones

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Apple and Google have begun rolling out end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between Android and iPhones running iOS 26.5. It’s a long-overdue change that closes a major privacy gap in cross-platform texting.

Galaxy to iPhone messaging just got a big privacy upgrade

The upgrade brings encryption through the GSMA RCS standard, meaning messages sent between Android and iPhone devices are now protected in transit. In simple terms, your chats are no longer sitting ducks, and neither companies nor carriers can read them along the way.

On supported devices, users can identify encrypted conversations by a lock icon within the chat interface. On iPhones, the Messages app displays a clear encrypted RCS label, while Android users will see similar indicators inside Google Messages when chatting with compatible iPhone users.

The rollout is currently in beta and depends heavily on carrier support, so availability will vary by region and network provider. Several major US carriers have already enabled the feature (check the list below!). Meanwhile, broader global expansion is expected to take place gradually over the coming months.

Even so, this is a meaningful upgrade for Galaxy owners who regularly message iPhone users. The platform gap still exists, but at least your conversations are no longer stuck in the past when it comes to security, which is a welcome change.

These US carriers support encrypted RCS between iPhone and Android

Here are the US carriers currently supporting encrypted RCS between Android and iPhone as part of this rollout:

• AT&T
• Boost Mobile
• C Spire
• Cellcom Wisconsin
• Consumer Cellular
• Cox Mobile
• Cricket
• Family Mobile
• FirstNet
• Metro by T-Mobile
• Mint Mobile
• Nex-Tech Wireless
• PureTalk
• Red Pocket
• Spectrum
• Strata
• T-Mobile
• TracFone / Straight Talk
• Ultra Mobile
• US Cellular
• Verizon
• Visible
• Xfinity Mobile

If you’re using a Samsung Galaxy phone with Google Messages, you’ll get encrypted chats with iPhone users as long as your carrier is on this list and the feature is enabled for your account. Encrypted RCS chats only work when both users are on supported carriers and compatible versions of Messages.

Written by

Abhinav Anand

Abhinav Anand is the News Editor at SammyGuru and a technology journalist based in New Delhi. Before joining SammyGuru, he contributed to numerous outlets, including Android Headlines, ExtremeTech, The Mac Observer, Financial Express, Economic Times, iGeeksBlog, KnowTechie, PhonesWiki, SlashGear, and more. You can reach him at [email protected].

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