Google Rolls Out Simpler Email Encryption for Gmail Users

Sending encrypted emails through Gmail has always been kind of a pain. You needed extra software, swapped certificates like trading cards, and had to hope everything worked when you hit send. Not exactly user-friendly. But now, Google’s making things way easier.

A new beta update lets Gmail’s enterprise users send encrypted emails with just a click. No complicated setup. Just toggle encryption on in your draft window, and your message is good to go. It's a huge upgrade from Gmail’s old system, which relied on S/MIME—a clunky process that required both the sender and recipient to have special digital certificates. Great for security, terrible for convenience.

Now, with client-side encryption (CSE), Gmail encrypts emails before they ever leave your device. If you’re emailing another Gmail user, they’ll see the message as usual. If they’re using a different service, they’ll get a secure link that lets them view and reply after signing into a restricted Google Workspace account. It’s not true end-to-end encryption—admins still control the keys—but it’s way more accessible than before.

Gmail isn’t the only one stepping up its game. Microsoft Outlook, which has around 400 million users, already offers encrypted messaging through its Purview Message Encryption system. It works across platforms but still leans on Microsoft’s backend tools. Meanwhile, privacy-first services like ProtonMail and Tutanota, with about 100 million and 10 million users, respectively, offer full end-to-end encryption by default—no extra clicks, no admin access, just baked-in privacy.

But here’s the thing: Gmail has about 1.8 billion users. So, even if it’s not the most private option on the market, this update has the potential to bring secure email to a lot more people.

Sure, if you’re super privacy-conscious, you’ll probably still stick with something like ProtonMail. But for the millions of businesses already living in Google Workspace, this new Gmail feature could be a big win—especially if encryption can finally become something you don’t have to think twice about.

Google Messages enables default encryption for RCS conversations

For a long time, Google has been pushing Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging, a new texting standard meant to replace SMS and MMS for Android users. Basically, the idea is to compete with Apple’s iMessage and its distinctive blue bubbles – yet it has encountered a gradual and sometimes arduous process.

TechloyEmmanuel Oyedeji