Apple is getting closer to adding end-to-end encryption to RCS messages on the iPhone. New findings in iOS 26.3 beta 2 show that Apple has started laying the technical groundwork after months of silence.
Last March, Apple confirmed plans to support encrypted RCS messaging after the GSM Association finalized the standard. Since then, there has been little public movement. The latest beta changes that picture.
New carrier control found in iOS 26.3 beta 2
A new carrier bundle setting appears in iOS 26.3 beta 2. This setting allows carriers to enable or disable end-to-end encryption for RCS messages at the market level.
Tiino-X83 identified the change while reviewing carrier bundles. He also noticed something unusual. Only France’s four major carriers include this new line of code. No other carriers he checked showed the same option.
“Apple has added a new parameter allowing carriers to activate encryption for RCS. Strangely, only the four main French carriers have this line of code.”
The discovery aligns with GSMA rules. RCS clients must enable end-to-end encryption by default unless local regulations block it. Carriers cannot switch encryption on or off for individual users. If encryption is unavailable, users must see a clear notice.
The GSMA standard also requires that users can see when encryption is active. The new carrier bundle option likely supports that requirement. It gives Apple a way to follow the rules while respecting local laws.
Still, nothing confirms a public rollout in iOS 26.3. Apple sometimes adds code well before turning features on. This beta may simply prepare the system for a later release.
That said, the presence of the setting signals real progress. Apple rarely adds carrier-level controls without a clear plan behind them.
Tiino-X83 also shared a smaller update tied to the same beta.
“Beta 2 restores eSIM support on Apple Watch with Free Mobile.”
For now, encrypted RCS remains inactive. But the code is in place, and that alone suggests the wait may not be long.
