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How To Forward a Text Message on an iPhone (Step‑by‑Step Guide)

Forwarding a text message on an iPhone lets you quickly share information someone sent you—like an address, a code, or a funny photo—without retyping or downloading anything. It works with both SMS/MMS (green bubbles) and iMessage (blue bubbles), as long as you use Apple’s Messages app.

This guide walks through how message forwarding works on iPhone, how to do it step by step, and what can change depending on your device, iOS version, and the type of messages you’re forwarding.

What “Forwarding a Text” Means on iPhone

On an iPhone, forwarding a text message means:

  • You take an existing message (text, photo, video, or other attachment)
  • You send that same content to another person or a group
  • The new message does not show it was forwarded; it looks like a normal message from you

You’re not sharing your original conversation thread. You’re basically copying the content and sending it in a new message.

A few key points:

  • The original sender won’t be notified that you forwarded their message.
  • You can edit the text before sending (for plain text messages).
  • You can’t directly edit photos or videos in the forwarding step, but you can add extra text to your message or edit the media beforehand in Photos.

How To Forward a Text Message on iPhone (Current iOS)

These steps apply to most modern iPhones running recent versions of iOS (including iOS 16 and iOS 17). Some wording or icons may look slightly different on older versions, but the basic idea is the same.

Step 1: Open the Messages App

  1. Tap the Messages app icon on your Home Screen.
  2. Choose the conversation containing the message you want to forward.

Step 2: Find the Message You Want To Forward

Scroll through the conversation until you see the exact message bubble (text, photo, or video) you want to send on to someone else.

  • You can forward:
    • Text-only messages
    • Photos or videos
    • Links (websites, YouTube, etc.)
    • Contact cards
    • Location messages

Step 3: Open the Forward Menu

There are two common ways to get to the “Forward” option.

Method A: Long-Press on the Message

  1. Touch and hold the message bubble.
  2. A small menu appears (with options like Reply, Copy, More, etc.).
  3. Tap More….
  4. The message bubble now gets a blue checkmark circle beside it.

Method B: Edit Mode in a Conversation

If you want to forward several messages at once:

  1. Touch and hold any message bubble.
  2. Tap More….
  3. Now you’re in selection mode. Tap additional bubbles to select multiple messages. Each will show a blue checkmark.

Note: If your iOS version looks slightly different, you may still see “More…” or a similar option. The principle is the same: you select the message(s) first, then look for a Forward icon or option.

Step 4: Tap the Forward Icon

Once you’ve selected at least one message:

  1. Look at the bottom right of the screen.
  2. Tap the forward icon: usually a curved arrow pointing right.

This opens a new message window, with the selected content inserted into the text field.

  • If you forwarded multiple messages, they’ll appear together in that text field, in order.
  • For photos or videos, you’ll see them attached above the text field.

Step 5: Choose Who To Send It To

In the new message screen:

  1. Tap the To: field at the top.
  2. Start typing a contact name, phone number, or email address (for iMessage).
  3. Tap the contact you want from the suggestions.

You can forward to one person or a group (by adding multiple recipients in the To: field).

  • If all recipients use iMessage and have it enabled, the message bubble appears blue.
  • If the message is going as SMS/MMS, it appears green.

Step 6: Edit (Optional) and Send

Before sending, you can:

  • Add more text above or below the forwarded content
  • Delete some of the text (if it’s plain text) to shorten it
  • Add emoji, reactions, or extra context

When you’re ready:

  1. Tap the send button (upward arrow in a blue circle or similar icon, depending on iOS).
  2. The forwarded message sends just like any other text.

How To Forward Photos, Videos, and Attachments

Forwarding media (like pictures or videos) works almost the same way as forwarding a text.

From Within Messages

  1. Open the Messages app and go to the conversation.
  2. Find the photo/video/attachment you want to forward.
  3. Touch and hold the media bubble.
  4. Tap More… in the menu.
  5. Make sure the item you want is selected (blue checkmark).
  6. Tap the forward arrow at the bottom.
  7. Choose the recipient in the To: field.
  8. Add optional text, then send.

From the Photos App (Alternative)

Sometimes forwarding via Photos is easier, especially if:

  • You want to send the same image to several people
  • The photo or video is already saved to your device
  1. Open the Photos app.
  2. Find and open the photo or video.
  3. Tap the Share icon (square with an upward arrow).
  4. Choose Messages.
  5. Enter the recipient.
  6. Add text if you want, then tap Send.

This doesn’t technically use the “forward” tag in Messages, but the effect is the same: you’re sending that photo or video via text/iMessage.

Message Forwarding vs. Text Message Forwarding to Email or Other Devices

“Forwarding a text” on iPhone can mean a couple of slightly different things, and your needs determine which option fits best.

Option 1: Forward a Single Message to Someone Else

  • Use case: Share one message or a few messages with another person.
  • Method: Long-press → More… → Forward → choose contact.
  • Result: Just that content is sent in a new conversation.

Option 2: Forward Texts to Another Apple Device (Continuity)

If you use multiple Apple devices (like a Mac, iPad, or another iPhone), you can set up Text Message Forwarding so your SMS messages appear on your other devices.

This is different from forwarding a single message. It’s more like syncing all your texts.

You’ll find this in:

  • Settings → Messages → Text Message Forwarding

From there, you can allow specific devices (like your Mac or iPad) to send and receive SMS messages using your iPhone’s phone number.

Option 3: Manually Forward a Text to Email

iOS doesn’t have a one-tap “forward as email” button in Messages, but you can still do it:

  1. Forward the message as usual, but:
    • In the To: field, enter an email address instead of a phone number.
  2. Or:
    • Long-press the text → Copy
    • Open Mail (or another email app)
    • Paste the text into a new email

In both cases, you’re not technically “forwarding” in the SMS sense, but practically, you’re sending the text’s content to email.

Variables That Affect How Text Forwarding Works on iPhone

Forwarding messages is simple on the surface, but a few variables can change the experience.

1. iOS Version and Interface Changes

Apple’s iOS version can affect:

  • What the forward icon looks like
  • Whether you see More… or another label
  • Where certain options appear on the screen

Older phones or devices that haven’t updated iOS in a while may:

  • Show slightly different menus
  • Have a different look for icons and buttons

The core actions—long-press, select message, forward—remain similar across versions, though.

2. Message Type: iMessage vs. SMS/MMS

On iPhone, you’re dealing with two main message types:

TypeBubble ColorUses Data/Wi‑FiUses Carrier SMS/MMSAffects Forwarding?
iMessageBlueYesNoSame steps; can be larger
SMS/MMSGreenNoYesSubject to carrier limits

Forwarding works the same way for both, but:

  • MMS (media messages) may be limited by your carrier plan.
  • Large videos or multiple photos may compress or fail on weak connections.
  • iMessage can often handle larger attachments more smoothly over Wi‑Fi or mobile data.

3. Your Carrier Plan and Network

Your cell plan and signal strength can affect:

  • Whether MMS (pictures, group texts) can be sent at all
  • The size limits for forwarding media
  • How fast a forwarded message gets delivered

If you can’t forward certain messages, it might be limited by:

  • Your carrier settings
  • A weak signal
  • MMS being disabled in Settings → Messages

4. Device Storage and Media Handling

If your iPhone is very low on storage:

  • Saving or forwarding large videos or many images might fail.
  • Your phone may need to optimize or compress media more aggressively.

Text-only forwards are usually unaffected by storage, but attachments are.

5. Privacy Settings and Content Type

Forwarding content also brushes up against privacy choices:

  • Sensitive texts or media may not be something you want to forward at all.
  • Some messages (like codes or alerts) are meant to be private or one-time use.

The Messages app itself doesn’t restrict you from forwarding content based on privacy, but your own judgment typically does.

Different User Profiles, Different Forwarding Habits

How people use text forwarding can look very different depending on their setup and habits.

The Casual User

  • Mainly forwards:
    • Funny texts or memes
    • Photos from friends
  • Often forwards to:
    • A small circle of family or close friends
  • Less concerned with:
    • Whether it’s iMessage or SMS
    • Advanced settings like Text Message Forwarding or Continuity

For this person, the basic long-press → More… → Forward flow is usually enough.

The Power User With Multiple Apple Devices

  • Owns an iPhone, iPad, and maybe a Mac
  • Often enables Text Message Forwarding so SMS shows across devices
  • May:
    • Start forwarding a message on one device and continue the conversation on another
    • Copy from Messages on Mac and paste into email, documents, or notes

For them, forwarding is part of a bigger workflow of moving information between apps and devices.

The Business or Support User

  • Receives a lot of:
    • Codes
    • Addresses
    • Client messages
  • Might regularly forward:
    • Info from clients to team members
    • Screenshots or message logs to email or project tools

They may rely on:

  • Copy/paste into other apps
  • Forwarding multiple messages to summarize a conversation

Here, things like message type, security policies, and screenshot vs. forward choices matter more.

The Privacy‑Conscious User

  • Thinks carefully before forwarding:
    • Personal photos
    • Confessions or private chats
  • May:
    • Prefer summaries instead of exact forwards
    • Blur or crop screenshots before sharing

For them, knowing that the other person can’t see the original thread, but only the forwarded content, is important—but not always sufficient.

Where Your Own Setup Becomes the Missing Piece

The basic mechanics of how to forward a text message on an iPhone are the same for everyone: select the message, tap More…, hit the forward arrow, choose a recipient, and send.

What changes is how smoothly it works and how you should use it, based on:

  • The iOS version and visual layout on your specific iPhone
  • Whether your messages are mostly iMessage or SMS/MMS
  • Your carrier’s limits on media, group messaging, and international texts
  • How many Apple devices you have signed in with the same Apple ID
  • How strongly you care about privacy and what you’re comfortable forwarding

Once you understand the mechanics, the remaining question is how message forwarding fits into your day-to-day use: which messages you choose to pass along, which devices you use to do it, and how cautious or flexible you want to be with the content you share.