What's new in iOS 26.5? Encrypted iPhone-Android texts, new emojis

Apple iPhone users are getting a fresh round of software updates, including encrypted messaging between iPhones and Android devices, accessibility improvements and new Apple Music features.

Apple released iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 on Monday, May 11, bringing several new features and bug fixes to compatible devices. The update also includes a new Pride-themed wallpaper, expanded Apple Maps recommendations and refinements to Apple’s Liquid Glass interface.

The software updates were detailed by 9to5Mac and PCMag.

Here's what's new and what users should know.

Encrypted RCS messaging comes to iPhone

One of the biggest additions in iOS 26.5 is end-to-end encrypted Rich Communication Services, or RCS, messaging in beta, a feature Apple and Google helped develop as part of a broader effort to improve privacy for cross-platform texting.

The update allows encrypted messaging between iPhone and Android users using supported carriers and the latest version of Google Messages on Android devices. Apple said users will know a conversation is encrypted when a lock icon appears in RCS chats, and encryption is enabled by default.

"When RCS messages are end-to-end encrypted, they can’t be read while they’re sent between devices," Apple said in a release announcing the feature. The company added that encrypted messaging will gradually become available for both new and existing RCS conversations over time.

Supported U.S. carriers include AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, as well as Boost Mobile, Cricket, Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and several others, according to PCMag.

Apple noted that iMessage conversations between Apple devices have long included end-to-end encryption.

Liquid Glass, accessibility updates

The update also expands Apple’s Liquid Glass interface with new accessibility-focused settings.

Apple said a revised "Reduce Motion" option more reliably minimizes animations for users sensitive to on-screen movement. A separate "Reduce Bright Effects" setting reduces flashes caused by tapping buttons and other interface elements.

Subtitle and caption controls are now easier to access while watching content, and Apple says the update also improves keyboard accuracy for fast typists after users complained about frequent typing mistakes.

New wallpaper, emojis and Apple Music tools

iOS 26.5 also adds a downloadable "Pride Luminance" wallpaper that dynamically reflects a spectrum of colors across the display.

The update includes eight new emojis, including an orca, trombone, ballet dancer, landslide and distorted face.

Several new Apple Music features are also included. Playlist Playground, currently in beta, can generate playlists from written descriptions, complete with suggested titles and tracklists.

A new Concerts feature recommends nearby live shows from artists in a user’s music library, while Offline Music Recognition can identify songs even without an internet connection and provide results later.

Apple also added a new Ambient Music widget featuring curated playlists for sleep, productivity, chill and wellness.

Other iOS 26.5 changes

Additional updates include:

• New tools in the Reminders app that let users mark reminders as urgent and filter them in Smart Lists.
• Freeform now includes expanded image creation and editing tools through Apple Creator Studio.
• Family Sharing users can now use their own payment methods for purchases instead of relying on the family organizer.
• Apple Maps gains Suggested Places recommendations based on trending nearby locations and recent searches.

The iOS 26.5 update arrives less than a month before Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 during its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected], or on Twitter @athompsonUSAT