Open Messages, tap the compose button, and add multiple contacts to send one text to several people at once

Group texting on iPhone works through the Messages app. You start a new message, add more than one recipient, type your text, and send. Everyone in the group receives the message and can reply. The replies come back to you as a conversation thread, so you see all the back-and-forth in one place.

There are two ways to do this: create a group text from scratch, or add someone to an existing conversation. Both take less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the compose button (pencil and paper icon) in Messages, then tap the plus sign to add multiple contacts before typing your message.
  • Group texts on iPhone work over regular SMS or iMessage depending on whether all recipients have iMessage enabled.
  • You can name a group text so everyone sees the group name at the top of the conversation, not just a list of names.
  • If someone leaves a group text, the remaining members can still message the group, but that person will not receive new messages.
  • Group texts sent over SMS (regular text) may cost you depending on your phone plan, while iMessage group texts use data or Wi-Fi and do not count against your text limit.

Starting a new group text from scratch

Open the Messages app on your iPhone. In the top right corner, tap the compose button — it looks like a pencil writing on paper. A new message screen opens with a blank "To:" field at the top.

Tap inside the "To:" field and start typing the first person's name. As you type, contacts matching that name appear below. Tap the contact you want to add. Their name appears in the "To:" field as a blue bubble. Type the next person's name and repeat until you have added everyone you want in the group.

Once all recipients are added, tap inside the message box at the bottom and type your text. When you are ready, tap the send button (the arrow pointing up). The message goes to everyone at once.

Adding someone to an existing conversation

Open an existing one-on-one text conversation. Tap the person's name or number at the very top of the conversation. A details panel opens showing their contact information.

Scroll down and tap "Add Contact." A screen appears with a "To:" field. Type the name of the person you want to add and tap their contact when it appears. Tap "Done" in the top right. The conversation is now a group text, and the next message you send will go to both people.

Naming your group text

If you want everyone to see a group name instead of just a list of contact names, you can add one. Open the group text conversation. Tap the group name or the list of people's names at the top of the screen. A details panel opens.

Tap "Enter a Group Name" and type the name you want — for example, "Book Club" or "Weekend Plans." Tap "Done." Everyone in the group will now see that name at the top of the conversation instead of individual names.

Understanding iMessage versus SMS group texts

Group texts work differently depending on what type of messaging service is being used. If everyone in the group has iMessage enabled (which is automatic on iPhones, iPads, and Macs), the group text sends over iMessage. These messages use your data or Wi-Fi connection and do not count against your text message limit.

If even one person in the group does not have iMessage — for example, someone with an Android phone — the entire group text converts to SMS (regular text messaging). SMS group texts use your carrier's text message plan. Depending on your plan, you may be charged per message or per recipient. If you have unlimited texting, this does not matter. If you have a limited number of texts per month, sending one message to five people over SMS counts as five messages against your limit.

You can see which type of message you are sending by looking at the send button. If it is blue, you are sending iMessage. If it is green, you are sending SMS.

What happens when someone leaves or is removed

On iPhone, group text members can remove themselves from a conversation. When someone does, they stop receiving new messages in that group. The remaining members can still text the group and see each other's replies, but the person who left will not see anything new.

You cannot remove someone else from a group text on iPhone the way you can in some messaging apps. If you want to exclude someone, you have to start a new group without them. If someone is bothering the group or sending unwanted messages, you can mute the conversation or block their number, but those are individual actions on your phone — they do not affect what other group members see.

Troubleshooting group texts that do not send

If a group text fails to send, check whether you have an internet connection or cellular signal. iMessage group texts need either Wi-Fi or cellular data. SMS group texts need cellular signal. Try turning Wi-Fi off and back on, or moving to a location with better signal.

If one person's message keeps failing to send, that person may have been removed from the group on their end, or their phone may have lost connection. Ask them to close and reopen the Messages app. If the problem continues, try removing that person from the group and adding them back.

Sometimes a group text will show a small exclamation mark next to a message, meaning it did not send to one or more people. Tap the message and tap "Try Again" to resend it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a group text to people who do not have my contact saved?

Yes. You can type phone numbers or email addresses directly into the "To:" field instead of selecting from your contacts. If you type a phone number, the message sends as SMS. If you type an email address, it sends as iMessage to that email account if the person has iMessage set up.

Do group texts cost more than regular texts?

Over iMessage, no — they use data or Wi-Fi like any other iMessage. Over SMS, it depends on your plan. Some plans charge per message sent, which means one group text to five people counts as five messages. Others offer unlimited texting. Check your carrier's plan to know for sure.

What is the maximum number of people I can add to a group text?

iPhone does not have a hard limit, but practical limits exist. Very large groups (50+ people) can become slow or unstable. For large groups, consider using a messaging app like WhatsApp or Telegram instead, which are designed to handle many participants smoothly.

Can I see if someone read my group text?

Only if the group is using iMessage and read receipts are turned on. Open Settings, go to Messages, and toggle "Send Read Receipts" on. When it is on, everyone in your iMessage group texts will see when you have read their messages. They will see a small "Delivered" or "Read" indicator under each message.

Why did my group text turn into individual messages?

This usually happens when someone with an Android phone or non-iMessage device was added to the group. The entire conversation converts from iMessage to SMS. If you remove that person and everyone else has iMessage, it will convert back to iMessage on the next message you send.