iOS, macOS, and iPadOS 26.5 updates arrive with encrypted RCS messaging and more

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 Apple’s security vulnerabilities page. This is Apple’s 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 “beta” label in this release, and Apple says it’s limited to a subset of supported cellular carriers . Expanded support “will roll out over time.” Encrypted chats will show up with a padlock icon in the Messages app; if you don’t see a padlock, the message isn’t encrypted, even if you’re using RCS. Other additions in the 26.5 releases are new Pride-themed wallpapers and some of the initial work needed to support ads in the Apple Maps app. There are also a handful of smaller platform-specific additions and bug fixes, which you can find on Apple’s release notes pages (we’ve linked each in the first paragraph). …