Archive · 3 Dec 2025
Google's Update Lets Bosses Access Work Phone Texts
Google has added a new feature called Android RCS Archival that lets employers see text messages on work phones.
This includes messages sent, received, edited, or deleted.
The feature only works on company-issued Android devices and not personal phones.
Employees will see a notification when this feature is active.
The goal is to help companies follow rules and laws that require keeping records of employee messages.
Other apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are not affected.
Employees should know that their text messages on work phones are not private anymore.
Google's new Android RCS Archival feature allows employers to archive and review text messages on company-issued Android devices.
The feature integrates third-party archiving apps with Google Messages on work-managed devices.
Employers can capture and store text messages, including those that are edited or deleted, for compliance purposes.
The feature only applies to company-managed devices and does not affect personal phones or devices with separate work profiles.
Employees will see a clear notification on their device whenever the archival feature is active.
- Who
- Employers of company-issued Android devices
- What
- Can archive and review text messages (SMS and RCS) on work phones
- When
- Upon implementation by IT organizations
- Where
- On company-managed Android devices
- Why
- To comply with regulatory requirements and legal discovery requests
- Feature Name
- Android RCS Archival
- Affected Devices
- Company-issued Android devices
- Affected Messages
- SMS, RCS, edited, or deleted messages
- Unaffected Apps
- WhatsApp, Telegram
- Notification
- Employees see notification when archival is active
- Purpose
- Compliance with regulatory requirements