Announced, not yet available
At the WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple included end-to-end encryption for RCS among iOS 27's new features. It is one of the most anticipated capabilities for users who exchange messages cross-platform with Android contacts, and represents a meaningful step toward a universal secure messaging standard. However, developers who installed iOS 27 beta 1 in the hours after the keynote found no such option in the Messages settings.
No cause for alarm, but a partial roadmap signal
According to 9to5Mac, Apple confirmed the feature has not been cut: it simply has not landed in the first test build. This is a common situation in early betas, where announced features are enabled progressively across subsequent builds. RCS E2EE remains in the iOS 27 feature list, but with a practical asterisk for those hoping to test it immediately.
The broader context
RCS end-to-end encryption has been anticipated for years by Android and iPhone users exchanging messages. iOS 26 introduced basic RCS support; iOS 27 is meant to complete the picture with encryption. The fact that the feature arrives in a later beta suggests a technically more complex implementation that requires coordination with carriers and Android manufacturers supporting the advanced RCS profile.