Groups let you send one message to multiple people at once

A group on your iPhone is a conversation with multiple people in one thread. You can create a group through the Messages app, add or remove people from it, and name it so you know who's in it. Groups work with text messages, iMessage, or a mix of both, depending on who you're messaging and what their phones support.

The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you're using an iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, or newer. If you're using an older iPhone, the steps are nearly identical.

Key Takeaways

  • You create a group by opening Messages, tapping the compose button, and adding multiple contacts to a single conversation.
  • You can name your group anything you want, and the name appears at the top of the conversation for everyone in it.
  • You can add or remove people from an existing group by opening the group, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting "Edit Group".
  • If someone in the group has an Android phone, the group will use standard text messaging instead of iMessage, which may affect features like read receipts and typing indicators.
  • You can mute notifications from a group without leaving it, so you see messages only when you open the app.

Create a new group message in three steps

Open the Messages app on your home screen. Tap the pencil-and-paper icon in the top right corner to start a new message. This button is labeled "New Message" when you hover over it.

In the "To:" field, type or tap the first person's name, then tap their contact when it appears. After you add the first person, the field stays active — type the next person's name and tap them when they appear. Keep going until you've added everyone you want in the group. You need at least two other people (three total including yourself) for it to be a group.

Type your message in the text box at the bottom and tap the send button (the arrow). The conversation is now a group, and everyone will see that it includes multiple people.

Name your group so everyone knows who's in it

Open the group conversation. Tap the group name or the small circle with initials at the very top of the screen. This opens the group details page.

Tap "Edit Group" near the top. You'll see a text field that says "Group Name" — tap it and type whatever you want to call the group. You could use "Work Team", "Book Club", "Cousins", or anything else that makes sense to you. Everyone in the group will see this name.

Tap "Done" in the top right. The group name is now set and appears at the top of the conversation for all members.

Add or remove people from an existing group

Open the group conversation you want to change. Tap the group name at the top of the screen to open the group details.

To add someone: Tap "Edit Group", then tap the plus sign next to "Add Contact". Type or tap the person's name, then tap "Done" when you're finished adding people.

To remove someone: Tap "Edit Group", then tap the minus sign (or swipe left on a name) next to the person you want to remove. Tap "Remove" to confirm. That person will no longer receive messages sent to the group, and they'll see a notification that they were removed.

Turn off notifications without leaving the group

If a group is active and you're getting too many notifications, you can silence it without actually leaving. Open the group conversation, swipe left on the group name in your message list, and tap the speaker icon with a slash through it. The group stays in your Messages app, but you won't get notifications when new messages arrive.

To turn notifications back on, swipe left on the group again and tap the speaker icon (without the slash). You'll start getting notifications again.

If you want to leave the group entirely instead, open the group, tap the group name at the top, tap "Edit Group", scroll down, and tap "Leave This Group". You'll be removed and won't see any future messages.

What happens when someone has an Android phone in your group

If one person in your group uses an Android phone, the entire group switches from iMessage to standard text messaging. This means you lose features like read receipts (the "Delivered" and "Read" status), typing indicators (the three dots that show someone is typing), and the ability to see if someone liked or reacted to a message with an emoji.

The group still works perfectly fine — everyone gets the messages and can reply. But the experience is more basic. If this bothers you, you can create a separate iMessage group with just your iPhone-using contacts, or use a different app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger that works the same way on both phones.

Troubleshooting groups that aren't working

If you create a group and it doesn't show up as a group (it looks like a one-on-one conversation instead), you probably only added one other person. Groups need at least three people total. Add one more contact and it will convert to a group automatically.

If you can't add someone to a group, check that their contact information is saved in your Contacts app with a phone number or email address. If you're trying to add them via iMessage, make sure you have their Apple ID email address correct. If the person isn't showing up when you type their name, try opening Contacts, finding them manually, and copying their phone number or email, then pasting it into the Messages "To:" field.

If messages aren't sending to the group, make sure you have an active internet connection (for iMessage) or cellular service (for text messages). Try closing the Messages app completely and opening it again. If one person in the group isn't receiving messages, ask them to check their phone's storage — a full storage can sometimes block incoming messages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change a group name after I create it?

Yes. Open the group, tap the group name at the top, tap "Edit Group", tap the group name field, type the new name, and tap "Done". Everyone in the group will see the new name immediately.

What's the maximum number of people I can add to a group?

There's no hard limit, but groups with more than 20 or 30 people can become slow or unreliable. For very large groups, consider using an app like WhatsApp or Telegram instead.

If I leave a group, can I rejoin it later?

No. Once you leave a group, you won't receive any more messages from it. Someone else in the group would need to add you back manually by opening the group, tapping "Edit Group", and selecting "Add Contact".

Do I need Wi-Fi to send group messages?

Not if you're using standard text messages — you only need cellular service. If you're using iMessage (which happens automatically when everyone has an iPhone), you need either Wi-Fi or cellular data. iMessage won't work on Wi-Fi calling alone.

Can I see who has read my group message?

Only if everyone in the group has an iPhone and you're using iMessage. If even one person has an Android phone, read receipts won't work. To check, open the group, tap the group name at the top, and look for "Send Read Receipts" — if it's off or grayed out, someone in the group doesn't support it.