End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) Comes to Android Messages

Google has officially rolled out end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in its built-in Messages app for Android. After months of beta testing since November, this feature is now available to all users.

How E2EE Works in Android Messages

Currently, end-to-end encryption is only available for one-on-one chats; group chats do not yet support E2EE. Both participants in a conversation must have RCS (Rich Communication Services) features enabled to use E2EE.

How to Tell If Your Messages Are Encrypted

It’s easy to check if your messages are protected by end-to-end encryption: look for the lock icon on the “Send” button. If you see the lock, your conversation is secure and cannot be accessed by third parties.

Additional Updates in Android

The E2EE feature is being gradually rolled out to all users as part of an Android update. In addition to encryption, Google has improved other features in the Messages app, such as the ability to pin important messages.

Other recent Android updates include an expanded earthquake warning system for more countries, new emojis, enhancements to Android Auto, and improvements to Voice Access.