Apple Releases iOS 26.5: E2EE Encryption for Messages with Android Arrives, But Not in Italy

With the release of iOS 26.5, Apple has officially initiated the rollout of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for messaging based on the RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol. This is a crucial technical milestone that aims to close the historical security gap in communications between iPhone users and the Android ecosystem. Although the RCS protocol was already present on Apple devices, the lack of universal cross-platform encryption protection had until now compelled privacy-conscious users to migrate to third-party clients such as WhatsApp or Signal.

The current implementation requires specific parameters to be operational. On the Apple side, it is necessary to mount build 26.5 and be under the coverage of a carrier that explicitly supports E2EE encryption on RCS. In the United States, major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon) have already confirmed immediate compatibility, while in Italy - at the time of writing - no operator supports the new feature (you can check the full list of compatible operators here).

iOS 26.5: E2EE Breaks the Wall Between iMessage and Android

Regarding the interlocutor on the Android platform, the only technical requirement is the use of the latest version of Google Messages, also connected to a certified network. When the security criteria are met, the Messages interface on iPhone displays a lock-shaped icon at the top of the chat, indicating that the data transit is protected from prying eyes.

Apple has made it clear that this encryption is enabled by default and will be gradually extended to all RCS conversations, both new and existing. Despite the opening to this standard, the California giant maintains a clear internal distinction: communications between Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) will continue to transit through the proprietary iMessage protocol, which remains the privileged and native channel for the Apple ecosystem.

Today's release involves the entire Apple software stack, with mirrored updates for iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, and watchOS, all reaching version 26.5. Although the focus is on the security of messages, Apple has introduced functional enhancements in other areas of the operating system. In Maps, the "suggested places" feature debuts, a predictive recommendation system that analyzes the user's recent searches and local trends to highlight potentially relevant points of interest. Aesthetically and in terms of customization, the beta includes the new wallpaper "Luminance", dedicated to Pride celebrations. This is a dynamic and highly customizable background characterized by a vivid color palette that leverages OLED displays to maximize contrast.

Despite the incremental nature of the update, addressing cross-platform messaging issues represents the closure of a long-standing technical and regulatory dispute, fueled over time by pressures from Google and new international regulations, including those from the Chinese market. The persistence of "green bubbles" remains a distinctive aesthetic trait, but equality in data security is now a fundamental technical reality in the mobile landscape.