iOS 26.3 Beta 2 Hint: Encrypted RCS Messages Are Finally Coming to iPhone

Encrypted RCS is coming to iPhone! 🔐 iOS 26.3 Beta 2 found code for secure messaging. Android chats are about to get safer. 📱👇 

Apple seems to be preparing the final piece of the RCS puzzle. Just months after opening the gates to RCS messaging on the iPhone, the Cupertino giant is now laying the groundwork for end-to-end encryption (E2EE).

The discovery was made by X user Tiino-X83, who dug into the code of the freshly released iOS 26.3 Beta 2. What they found suggests that secure, encrypted chats with Android users could be available a lot sooner than we expected.

Le chiffrement de bout en bout arrive sur le RCS de l’iPhone !

Je viens de vérifier les carrier bundles d’iOS 26.3 bêta 2, et Apple a ajouté un nouveau paramètre permettant aux opérateurs d’activer le chiffrement pour le RCS

Pour le moment, aucun opérateur ne l’a encore activé pic.twitter.com/RkFGH5J5ut

— Tiino-X83 (@TiinoX83) January 12, 2026

The Carrier Clue

So, how do we know encryption is coming? It’s all in the carrier bundles.

According to the findings, iOS 26.3 Beta 2 includes new settings that would allow mobile carriers to toggle E2EE on and off for RCS messages. Interestingly, these specific settings were only spotted for four major French carriers: Bouygues, Orange, SFR, and Free.

While these are currently just code references, they indicate that Apple is building the infrastructure to handle encryption. It’s likely that these specific carriers are being used as the initial testing ground for the feature, with a wider rollout to follow.

Closing the Privacy Gap

If you have been wondering why RCS wasn't encrypted from day one, you aren't alone. The GSMA—the body that sets mobile standards—requires E2EE to be enabled for all users unless blocked by local laws. This is part of the Universal Profile 3.0 standard, which Apple announced support for back in March 2025.

Bringing E2EE to RCS is a massive deal. Right now, if you message an Android user via RCS, your messages are readable by the carrier. Once encryption hits, those chats will be as secure as iMessage (blue bubbles).

This means documents, photos, and text will remain strictly between the sender and the receiver. Apple won't be able to see them, and neither will the carriers.

More Than Just Security

Encryption isn't the only benefit here. RCS brings a ton of quality-of-life features that bridge the massive gap between old-school SMS and iMessage.

We are talking about:

• Typing indicators and Read receipts.
• High-resolution photo and video sharing (no more compressed, blurry videos).
• Emoji reactions.

With the addition of E2EE, RCS becomes a true rival to iMessage, rather than a "good enough" backup.

When Will You Get It?

The iOS 26.3 Beta 2 is available to developers now, but the public release is expected by the end of January. It will drop alongside iPadOS 26.3.

If the carrier settings are accurate, the rollout might depend on your specific carrier supporting the Universal Profile 3.0 standard. But the code is there, which means the secure, green-bubble future is finally on the horizon.

#Apple #iOS26 #RCS #iPhoneUpdate #TechNews #MobileMessaging #Privacy #Encryption