iOS 26.3 Beta 2 Leaks End-to-End Encryption Support for RCS Messages

JAKARTA - Apple is getting closer to bringing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) features for RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages. Strong indications appear in iOS 26.3 beta 2, which shows new references related to RCS encryption settings at the level of mobile operators. This finding revives Apple's plan, which has been announced since March 2025, but has been minimally developed.

The existence of this feature was first highlighted by user X, Tiino-X83, who found a new code line in the iOS 26.3 beta 2 carrier bundle. The code allows operators to enable or disable end-to-end encryption for RCS messages, depending on policies and regulations in each region.

Interestingly, from the results of Tiino-X83's search, this setting is currently only found in four major operators in France, namely Bouygues, Orange, SFR, and Free. Meanwhile, no similar code lines were found on other operators, both in Europe and other countries he has checked. This raises the suspicion that Apple's E2EE RCS implementation will depend heavily on local regulations.

By default, the GSM Association (GSMA) requires RCS clients to enable end-to-end encryption by default. However, this provision has an exception if local regulations expressly prohibit the implementation of E2EE. In the GSMA documentation it is stated that RCS client providers must enable or disable E2EE for all users in a market, and should not apply it only to some users. If the feature is disabled, users must also be informed that E2EE is not available in their region.

Furthermore, the GSMA standard also requires that the encryption status be clearly visible by the user when E2EE is active. This carrier bundle setting found in the iOS 26.3 beta is suspected to serve as the main controller to meet these requirements, ranging from encryption activation to the display of a security indicator on the messaging application.

Even so, there is no guarantee that this RCS end-to-end encryption feature will be immediately present at the same time as the public release of iOS 26.3. It could be that Apple has only prepared the technical foundation first to be activated in the next iOS update. However, the inclusion of this code into the beta version indicates that development is already in an advanced stage.

If it is actually released, E2EE support for RCS will be an important step for Apple in improving cross-platform communication security, especially between iPhone and Android users. Thus, RCS messages have the potential to have a security level equivalent to iMessage, something that many users have long been waiting for.

For now, iOS 26.3 beta 2 at least gives a clear signal that RCS end-to-end encryption is no longer just a plan, but a feature that is ready to be realized in not too long.