Apple announced in March that it would support RCS Universal Profile 3.0 in a future software update. That “future update” is expected to be iOS 26–either in September or soon after. RCS 3.0 will provide the ability to encrypt iPhone-to-Android messages, as well as other features to make the experience between iPhones and Android phones more seamless.
One of those features includes message editing. According to a report by Android Authority, Google has been slowly deploying the ability to edit messages sent to iPhone users. After a message is sent, the Android user has a 15-minute window where they can long-press the message to reveal a pencil icon. Tapping the icon puts the message into an edit mode where changes can be made and the message resent. The feature worked on messages sent to iPhones running iOS 18.5 and the iOS 26 developer beta.
Android users hoping for their edits to go unnoticed will be disappointed to know that the iPhone displays the edited message as a new one with an asterisk–the edited message doesn’t replace the original message. However, while iPhone users are able to edit messages sent to other iPhones, they are not yet able to edit RCS messages sent to an Android phone. Apple could allow the functionality once it implements RCS 3.0, but it’s also likely that it keeps it as an exclusive iMessage feature.
The new Android feature seems to be in testing, as it is available to a limited number of users. Google will widen its availability as it works out the kinks and eventually roll it out to all users.
