Apple has released version 26.5 of all of its operating systems today: iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS 26.5, watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, visionOS 26.5, and version 26.5 of the HomePod software (whew).
None of these are particularly momentous updates, which is pretty normal this late in their lifecycle, but they add a small batch of new features alongside the pile of patches outlined on Appleās security vulnerabilities page. This is Appleās first release to support end-to-end encryption for the RCS messaging standard, for example, which, when enabled, can give green-bubble messages some of the same security and privacy advantages that iMessage users have long enjoyed.
Encrypted RCS messaging has a ābetaā label in this release, and Apple says itās limited to a subset of supported cellular carriers. Expanded support āwill roll out over time.ā Encrypted chats will show up with a padlock icon in the Messages app; if you donāt see a padlock, the message isnāt encrypted, even if youāre using RCS.
It’s great to see Apple rolling out the 26.5 updates across its operating systems. The addition of encrypted RCS messaging is an exciting feature that many users will appreciate. Looking forward to exploring all the new enhancements!