Is it encrypted? Secria

Is Google Messages encrypted?

Partly. RCS chats between Google Messages users are end-to-end encrypted by default, and chats with iPhones started getting the same in a beta in May 2026. Texts that go as SMS or MMS are not sealed: your carrier can read them.

Checked on 25 October 2026 against 11 sources.

Made by Secria. We grade every app by the same rules. How we check

Google MessagesGoogle
Who can read itPersonal accounts
  • MessagesPartlyRCS chats between Google Messages users are sealed by default and chats with iPhones are being sealed in a beta, but texts sent as SMS or MMS are not, and your carrier can read them.1, 2, 3, 10
  • Group chatsPartlyA group is sealed only when everyone in it uses RCS with encryption; groups that fall back to MMS are not.1, 5
  • CallsNot offeredGoogle Messages has no calls of its own: Google's help page says phone calls open your phone app, and video calls go through your carrier or Google Meet.11
  • BackupsPartlyAndroid's backup seals your texts and chats with your screen lock PIN, pattern or password, but not pictures and videos received by MMS.7, 8
  • Post-quantumNot yetNo post-quantum protection announced as of 25 October 2026.3, 7
Who holds the keys
For chats with the lock, the keys are made on your phone and the other person's and are never shared with Google; SMS and MMS texts have no such keys.
What Google can still see
Even in sealed chats, Google and the carriers can see phone numbers, message times, IP addresses, each person's carrier, device details, and the size of messages and attachments.
Checked on 25 Oct 2026SourcesJSONCite

Keep RCS chats turned on

  1. Open Google Messages.
  2. Tap your profile picture › Messages settings › RCS chats.
  3. Turn RCS chats on.
  4. In a chat, look for a lock on the send button. No lock means that message isn't sealed.

Takes a moment. The other person needs RCS too, and if either of you loses data or Wi-Fi, messages can drop back to SMS, which isn't sealed.

Email is worth checking next: Gmail, Outlook and iCloud Mail can all read your mailbox. See which email services can.

Is Google Messages end-to-end encrypted?

Yes for RCS chats between Google Messages users, which are upgraded to end-to-end encryption automatically, in one-to-one chats and groups1. You can tell by the lock on the send button and the words "RCS chat with" at the top of the chat1, 2.

Texts sent as SMS or MMS are never end-to-end encrypted2. That happens when the other person doesn't have RCS, or when either of you loses data or Wi-Fi2, 10. You can check that RCS chats are on in Messages settings9.

Are texts between Android and iPhone encrypted?

They're starting to be. On 11 May 2026, Google and Apple began rolling out end-to-end encrypted RCS between Google Messages and iPhones on iOS 26.5, as a beta3, 4. It's on by default and is being switched on over time for new and existing chats3. The GSMA, which publishes the RCS standard, says neither Apple nor Google can read these messages6.

It depends on carriers: Apple says every person's carrier has to support encryption, and its help page still calls the feature a beta as of 25 October 20265. On an iPhone, a sealed chat shows "Encrypted" with a lock at the top5.

Are Google Messages backups encrypted?

Mostly. Android backs up your texts and RCS chats to your Google Account, and Google says that backup is end-to-end encrypted with your screen lock PIN, pattern or password7, 8. Pictures and videos received by MMS are not sealed this way8.

Google advises a PIN, pattern or password rather than a swipe, so the backup is protected by something only you know8.

Can Google read my Google Messages?

Not the sealed ones. Google says the keys for those chats are created on your phone and the other person's, and are never shared with Google2. Google and the carriers can still see who you message and when, your IP address and the size of messages, Google's technical paper says7.

SMS and MMS texts aren't sealed at all, so your carrier can read them2.

How Google Messages compares

Sorted by how many parts are sealed by default, then by how many can be. Ties go A to Z.

SignalYesiMessageYesWhatsAppYesMessengerPartlyTelegramOptionalDiscordPartlyGoogle MessagesPartlyXOptionalSnapchatPartlyInstagramNoText messages (SMS)NoTikTokNo

Sources

  1. Use end-to-end encryption in Google Messages, Google Messages Help. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  2. How end-to-end encryption in Google Messages provides more security, Google Messages Help. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  3. End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out today for Android and iPhone users (11 May 2026), Google. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  4. End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out today in beta (11 May 2026), Apple Newsroom. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  5. What is the difference between iMessage, RCS, and SMS/MMS?, Apple Support. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  6. iOS 26.5 brings E2EE for RCS: A new milestone for secure cross-platform messaging (11 May 2026), GSMA. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  7. Messages End-to-End Encryption Overview, technical paper version 1.2 (February 2022), Google. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  8. Back up or restore data on your Android device, Android Help. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  9. Turn on RCS chats in Google Messages, Google Messages Help. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  10. Control message delivery, Google Messages Help. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  11. Make a phone or video call with Google Messages, Google Messages Help. Read on 25 Oct 2026.

Changes to this answer

  • First published.

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