Group texting on iPhone uses the Messages app to send one message to multiple people at once
A group text on iPhone is a single conversation thread where you can message multiple people together. When you send a message to a group, everyone in that group sees the same thread and can reply to it. This is different from sending the same message to people individually — in a group text, all replies appear in one place, and everyone can see what everyone else wrote.
The process takes about 30 seconds and works the same way whether you're starting a new group or adding people to an existing conversation. You'll use the Messages app that comes built into your iPhone.
Key Takeaways
- Open Messages, tap the pencil icon to start a new message, then type or select multiple contact names before typing your message.
- You can add people to an existing group text by opening the conversation, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting "Add Contact".
- Group texts work best when everyone has iMessage turned on, but you can still send group texts to Android users — the message will be sent as SMS instead.
- You can name your group text, mute notifications, or leave the conversation entirely from the group details screen.
- If a group text converts to SMS (green bubbles instead of blue), it means at least one person doesn't have iMessage and the message is being sent as a standard text.
How to start a new group text from scratch
Open the Messages app on your home screen. Tap the pencil-and-paper icon in the top right corner to create a new message. This opens a blank message screen with a field that says "To:" at the top.
Type the first person's name or phone number in the "To:" field. As you type, your contacts will appear below — tap the person you want to add. Their name will appear as a blue bubble in the "To:" field. Repeat this for each person you want to add to the group. You can add as many people as you want, though groups with more than 10 people can sometimes be slower to load.
Once you've added everyone, tap in the message box at the bottom and type your message. Tap the blue send arrow to send it to the entire group. The conversation will now appear in your Messages list as a group thread with all the names showing at the top.
Adding people to an existing group text
Open the group conversation you want to add someone to. Tap the group name or the small circle with initials at the very top of the screen. This opens the group details page showing everyone currently in the conversation.
Scroll down and tap "Add Contact". Type the name or phone number of the person you want to add, then tap their name when it appears. That person will now be added to the group and will see all future messages. They will not see the message history from before they were added.
If you try to add someone and their name doesn't appear, they may not be in your contacts. In that case, type their full phone number instead and tap the phone number option that appears.
Naming your group text and changing settings
To give your group a custom name instead of seeing everyone's names listed, open the group conversation and tap the group name at the top. Tap "Edit Group Name" and type a new name — something like "Book Club" or "Weekend Plans". Tap "Done" to save it.
From this same group details screen, you can also mute notifications so the group doesn't send you alerts every time someone messages. Tap "Hide Alerts" to turn off notifications for this group. You can turn them back on anytime by tapping "Show Alerts".
If you want to leave the group entirely, scroll to the bottom of the group details screen and tap "Leave This Conversation". You'll be removed from the group and won't receive any more messages from it. The conversation will stay in your Messages list, but you won't be able to send or receive new messages in it.
What happens when Android users are in your group text
If you add someone with an Android phone to a group text, the message bubbles will turn green instead of blue. This means the group has switched from iMessage (Apple's messaging system) to standard SMS texting. The conversation still works the same way — everyone can still see all the messages in one thread — but it's being sent through your phone carrier instead of through Apple's servers.
Green bubbles don't mean anything is wrong. It just means at least one person in the group doesn't have iMessage. Some features like typing indicators (the "..." that shows someone is typing) may not work the same way with Android users, but messages will still send and receive normally.
If you want to keep a group as iMessage only (blue bubbles), you'll need to make sure everyone in it has an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with iMessage turned on. You can check if someone has iMessage by looking at whether their name appears in blue or green when you start typing a message to them individually.
Fixing common group text problems
If you send a message to a group and it doesn't go through, first check that you have a data connection or cellular service. Group texts over iMessage need either WiFi or cellular data. If you're on WiFi, try turning WiFi off and back on. If you're using cellular, make sure you have signal bars showing at the top of your screen.
If one person in the group isn't receiving messages, ask them to check that iMessage is turned on. Go to Settings, tap Messages, and make sure "iMessage" is toggled on. If it's off, turn it on and wait a few seconds for it to activate. If the problem continues, that person may need to restart their phone.
If the group text keeps converting to SMS (green bubbles) when you want it to stay as iMessage (blue bubbles), it usually means one person's iMessage isn't working. You can try removing that person and re-adding them, or ask them to restart their phone and turn iMessage off and back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who read my group text message?
Yes, but only if everyone in the group has iMessage turned on and read receipts enabled. Tap the group conversation, then tap the group name at the top. Look for "Send Read Receipts" — if it's on, you'll see "Delivered" and "Read" under each message. If someone has read receipts turned off, you'll only see "Delivered".
What's the difference between a group text and a group chat?
On iPhone, they're the same thing — both use the Messages app and work the same way. Some people use "group chat" to mean a conversation with more than three people, but technically they all work identically. The only difference is whether everyone has iMessage (blue bubbles) or at least one person uses SMS (green bubbles).
Can I remove someone from a group text?
Yes. Open the group conversation, tap the group name at the top, then tap "Edit Group Name". Swipe left on the person's name you want to remove and tap the red delete button. That person will be removed and won't see any messages sent after that point.
Why does my group text keep showing as "Not Delivered"?
This usually means at least one person in the group doesn't have iMessage working or doesn't have a data connection. Try waiting a few minutes and sending again. If it keeps failing, ask the group if anyone is having phone or internet problems. You can also try removing and re-adding that person to the group.
Can I send a group text to people who aren't in my contacts?
Yes. When you create a new message and tap the "To:" field, you can type a phone number directly instead of selecting a contact name. Type each person's phone number as a separate entry in the "To:" field, separated by commas or by tapping between entries.