Creating a group chat on Messages takes three steps: open a new conversation, add multiple people, and send your first message

The exact steps depend on whether you use Apple Messages (iPhone, iPad, Mac), Google Messages (Android), or Samsung Messages (Android). All three let you add people to a single conversation so everyone sees the same thread. The process is straightforward on each platform, though the buttons and menus look different.

This guide covers the most common setup: starting a group from scratch with people you want to message together. If you want to add someone to an existing one-on-one chat, the steps are similar but slightly shorter.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, tap the compose button, then add multiple contacts before typing your message.
  • On Android with Google Messages, create a new conversation and add recipients one at a time from your contacts.
  • Samsung Messages works similarly to Google Messages but uses slightly different menu labels.
  • You can add or remove people from a group chat after you create it, though some platforms limit who can do this.
  • Group chats on Messages work only with other Messages users on the same platform — iPhone groups use iMessage, Android groups use SMS or RCS depending on your carrier.

Starting a group chat on iPhone

Open the Messages app and tap the pencil-and-paper icon in the top-left corner (or swipe left and tap "New Message"). This opens a blank conversation window. At the top, you will see a field that says "To:" — tap it and start typing the first person's name or phone number. Select them from your contacts when they appear.

Keep typing names or numbers in the same field. Each person you add appears as a small bubble below the "To:" line. Add as many people as you want — there is no hard limit, though groups with more than 20 people can become slow. Once everyone is added, tap in the message field at the bottom and type your first message, then tap the send button (the arrow icon).

The group chat is now created. Everyone in it will see all future messages from everyone else. If you want to name the group (so it shows "Soccer Team" instead of "Sarah, Mike, Jordan"), swipe up from the bottom of the chat and tap "Details," then tap "Group Name" and type what you want.

Starting a group chat on Android with Google Messages

Open Google Messages and tap the pencil icon at the bottom right to start a new conversation. You will see a field that says "To:" — tap it and search for the first person by name or phone number. Tap their name when it appears. Repeat this for each person you want to add, tapping the "To:" field again after each selection.

Once all recipients are added, tap in the message field and type your message, then send it. The group chat is now active. To name the group, open the chat, tap the three dots at the top right, select "Group details," and tap "Add group name."

Starting a group chat on Android with Samsung Messages

Open Samsung Messages and tap the compose icon (pencil and paper) at the bottom. Tap the "To:" field and search for the first contact by name or number. Select them, then tap the "To:" field again to add the next person. Continue until everyone is added.

Type your message in the text field and send it. To add a group name, open the chat, tap the three dots at the top, select "Group settings," and enter a name. Samsung Messages also lets you set a group photo and choose notification sounds for that specific group.

Adding or removing people after the group is created

On iPhone, open the group chat, swipe up from the bottom, and tap "Details." Scroll down and tap "Add Contact," then select the person you want to add. To remove someone, tap "Details," scroll to see all members, swipe left on their name, and tap "Remove."

On Google Messages, open the group chat, tap the three dots at the top right, select "Group details," and tap "Add members." To remove someone, tap their name in the member list and select "Remove from group."

On Samsung Messages, open the chat, tap the three dots, select "Group settings," and tap "Add members" or swipe left on a member's name to remove them. Note that on some Android phones, only the person who created the group can add or remove members.

Why some group chats don't work the way you expect

If you create a group chat on iPhone and one person has an Android phone, the group will not work like a normal iMessage group. Instead, it converts to SMS or MMS (regular text messages), which means no read receipts, no typing indicators, and sometimes slower delivery. This is a limitation of how iPhone and Android handle group messaging differently.

On Android, group chats work best when everyone uses the same messaging app. If some people use Google Messages and others use Samsung Messages or a different app, the group may not function properly. The safest approach is to ask your group what app everyone uses before you create the chat.

Some carriers limit how many people you can add to a single SMS group chat. If you get an error when trying to add more than 10 or 15 people, your carrier may have a restriction. Switching to an app like WhatsApp or Telegram removes this limit entirely.

Naming your group and customizing notifications

Group names are optional but helpful when you are in multiple group chats. On iPhone, the group name appears at the top of the conversation. On Android, it appears in the chat list and at the top of the open chat.

All three platforms let you mute notifications for a specific group chat so you do not get alerts for every message. On iPhone, swipe left on the group in your chat list and tap the speaker-with-slash icon. On Google Messages, long-press the group, tap the three dots, and select "Mute." On Samsung Messages, long-press the group and tap "Mute notifications."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone to a group chat without them knowing?

Yes. When you add someone to a group chat, they receive a notification that they have been added, but they can see the entire message history from that point forward. There is no way to hide the fact that they were added, though you can message them separately to explain why.

What happens if someone leaves a group chat?

On iPhone, everyone in the group gets a notification that the person left. On Android, it depends on your carrier and app — some show a notification, others do not. Either way, the person no longer receives messages sent after they leave, and they cannot see new messages in the group.

Can I delete a group chat?

Yes. On iPhone, swipe left on the group in your chat list and tap "Delete." On Android, long-press the group and tap "Delete." Deleting the chat removes it from your phone but does not affect the other people in the group — they still have the conversation.

Why is my group chat showing as SMS instead of iMessage?

This happens when at least one person in the group has an Android phone or does not have iMessage turned on. iPhone automatically switches group chats to SMS when it cannot reach everyone through iMessage. You can switch back to iMessage-only by removing the Android user, but they will not receive messages if you do.

Can I make a group chat with people who do not have my contact information?

Yes, but you need their phone number or email address (on iPhone). You can type their number directly into the "To:" field without having them saved as a contact. They will still receive the message and can reply, though they may not know who you are until you introduce yourself in the chat.