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iOS 26.5 launched earlier this month<\/a>, with one of the major new features the addition of RCS end-to-end encryption in the Messages app<\/a>. Here\u2019s how to check it\u2019s enabled on your iPhone and active in a given conversation.<\/p>\n iOS 26.5 adds end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging<\/p>\n One of the many benefits of using iMessage is that you know your conversations are always end-to-end encrypted. That level of security has never previously extended to green bubble conversations. But in iOS 26.5, now it can.<\/p>\n iOS 26.5 upgraded the Messages app with support for RCS end-to-end encryption. You can find supported carriers via the link below.<\/p>\n RCS end-to-end encryption is currently available in beta, and it\u2019s on by default in iOS 26.5.<\/p>\n To confirm it\u2019s enabled on your iPhone, go to Settings \u21fe Apps \u21fe Messages \u21fe RCS Messaging and ensure the \u2018End-to-End Encryption\u2019 toggle is on.<\/p>\n But the toggle being on isn\u2019t a guarantee that all of your RCS conversations are encrypted. Per Apple\u2019s website<\/a>:<\/p>\n RCS messages can be end-to-end encrypted when all participants have carriers that support encryption\u2026Even if your carrier supports encrypted RCS messages, the encryption of each RCS conversation depends on whether your contact\u2019s carrier also supports it. When end-to-end encrypted, RCS message conversations show \u201cEncrypted\u201d with a lock icon at the top.<\/p>\n So encryption depends not just on your phone and carrier, but also those of the people you\u2019re messaging. Fortunately, iOS 26.5 provides a way to see if a given conversation is encrypted.<\/p>\n How to check an RCS conversation\u2019s encryption status in iOS 26.5<\/p>\n As Apple says, you can check for the lock icon at the top of a conversation to see if it\u2019s encrypted. But for threads that are months or even years old, that\u2019s not the most convenient method. Sometimes the lock appears more recently, but it\u2019s inconsistent.<\/p>\n There is another way to check though, and it\u2019s far simpler. Just follow these steps:<\/p>\n Tap the name or profile image at the top of the conversation to open Messages\u2019 details view<\/p>\n Scroll down to the bottom of the screen<\/p>\n Check the message at the very bottom regarding the conversation\u2019s encryption status<\/p>\n If it\u2019s an encrypted RCS conversation, you\u2019ll see a message that says: \u201cThis conversation is encrypted end-to-end, so messages can\u2019t be read while they\u2019re sent between devices.\u201d<\/p>\n If it\u2019s not encrypted, the message will say: \u201cThis conversation is not encrypted end-to-end.\u201d<\/p>\n This method for checking encryption status is quicker and easier than looking for the lock icon at the top of a conversation.<\/p>\n Best iPhone accessories<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779911890_77_rcs-e2ee-messages-ios-26-5.jpg\")
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