New evidence found in iOS 26.3 Beta 2 suggests that end-to-end encryption for RCS messages will soon become a reality, almost a year after Apple first announced its support for the feature. For iPhone users chatting with Android users, this could be a useful privacy improvement.
Apple currently supports RCS for broader cross-platform messaging, a feature introduced with iOS 18. However, these chats still lack the same level of protection as iMessage. This means that photos, videos and texts sent via RCS are not end-to-end encrypted. The latest beta suggests that Apple is finally laying the groundwork to change that and bring RCS closer to iMessage-level security.
What the iOS 26.3 beta has revealed so far
According to 9to5Mac, the discovery was discovered by developer Tiino-X83, who discovered new clues to the RCS-E2E encryption hidden in iOS 26.3 Beta 2.
Apple is apparently adding a carrier bundle setting that will allow mobile operators to enable or disable RCS encryption at the network level. Interestingly, this code is currently only displayed for the four major French airlines Bouygues, Orange, SFR and Free, there is no evidence for other regions yet.
This limitation is not accidental. RCS encryption rules are governed by GSMA standards, which require encryption to be enabled for all users in a market unless local regulations prevent this.
Network operators cannot specifically enable encryption for some users and disable it for others. Users must also be clearly notified when encryption is unavailable, and almost all message content must be protected, aside from typing indicators.
It’s important to note that this is not a guarantee that RCS encryption will be rolled out publicly with iOS 26.3. Apple may simply be preparing the framework for a later update. Nevertheless, the presence of carrier controls and visual indicators strongly suggests that progress is being made.
If Apple actually flips the switch, iPhone users would finally get encrypted RCS chats with Android users, closing a long-standing privacy gap and making cross-platform messaging much safer.
