New RCS update brings stronger security, backed by Google and Apple

For a while, RCS messaging missed out on a key feature: end-to-end encryption. But now, the GSMA has shared exciting news—the latest RCS update includes this much-needed security boost. Even better, tech giants Google and Apple are fully on board.

The RCS Universal Profile 3.0 introduces end-to-end encryption using something called the “Messaging Layer Security” (MLS) protocol. In simple terms, this update sets rules for keeping chats safe across different RCS apps and companies. It ensures that messages, files, and other shared content stay private as they move between users.

The GSMA says this change makes RCS the first widely used messaging service to offer secure, encrypted chats that work across apps from different providers. Paired with features like SIM-based verification, this upgrade protects users from scams, fraud, and privacy risks, giving RCS a top-notch safety edge.

This news follows another big win for RCS: Apple added support for it in iOS last year. Around that time, hints dropped that the GSMA and Google were teaming up to add encryption. Now, it’s official. Apple told 9to5Mac it’s happy to have helped lead this push and will roll out updates for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and watchOS soon. They’ve long used this kind of encryption in iMessage and are thrilled to bring it to RCS, too.

Google’s also jumping in. They told The Verge that their Messages app has had encrypted RCS chats since 2020. Now, they’re eager to update it fast to match this new standard. This could even let Google Messages securely connect with other RCS apps on Android, though those are getting rarer. For now, these changes aren’t live yet—the standard is set, but the updates are still coming. When they do, RCS will be a safer, more private way to chat, no matter what device you use.