Google Messages are now encrypted by default when messaging between Android devices, the company said in a blog post on Tuesday.
Google Messages have had an option to encrypt your messages in settings, but now it’s set to default.
This means that when sending texts between two Android devices, including in group chats, outside actors won’t be able to view or monitor your messages. Encrypted messaging is already default on instant messaging services like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and Apple’s iMessage.
Unfortunately, text messages between iPhone and Android users still lack this encryption. This is because Apple uses iMessage as the default messaging app, and this app isn’t available on Android. For encrypted messaging between Android and iPhone, it’s best to use a third-party instant messaging app instead.
Read more: Pixel 7 Pro Review: Google’s Best Flagship Phone Gets Better
Google’s push to make Google Messages encrypted by default is part of a campaign to get the larger phone industry on board with RCS, or rich communication services. In the early days of cell phone communication, standard SMS text messages were an easy way to communicate without having to jump on a phone call. But as people’s needs became more dynamic, with longer posts, images and videos, SMS didn’t have the baked-in infrastructure to handle these demands. It’s why Apple moved away from standard messages to iMessage in 2011, where larger messages and files could go through its servers. To make the transition easy, Apple made iMessage the default messaging app on iPhones, allowing it to handle both iMessages and standard text messages.
This meant, however, that those messaging iPhone users from non-iPhones wouldn’t have their messages encrypted, nor would they be able to share pictures or jump into group chats as easily. Their messages also came in green bubbles.
Still, SMS needed to be phased out. RCS is a standard that Google, Samsung and phone carriers are on board with. Apple has been holding out, citing a lack of incentive or demand from its users. And in court filings revealed during the Apple vs. Epic Games trial, we learned that iMessage is a core reason as to why people don’t switch from iPhone.
