Create a group text by adding multiple contacts to a single message
To start a group text on iPhone, open the Messages app, tap the pencil icon in the top-left corner to create a new message, then add the names or phone numbers of the people you want to include. Type your message and send — everyone receives it as part of the same conversation thread. All replies go to the same group, so the whole group sees what each person writes.
The process takes about 30 seconds. You don't need to do anything special beforehand, and you don't need the other people's permission to start a group. Once you send that first message, the group conversation exists and everyone in it can see the full history from that point forward.
Key Takeaways
- Open Messages, tap the pencil icon, add multiple contacts, type your message, and send to create a group text instantly.
- You can add up to 32 people to a single group text on iPhone.
- Give your group a name by opening the group conversation, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting "Edit Name and Photo."
- Anyone in the group can add new people or remove themselves, but only you can remove other members from a group you started.
- Group texts work over regular SMS if everyone uses iPhone, or over iMessage if all members have Apple devices — mixed groups use SMS.
Step-by-step: Starting your first group text
Open the Messages app on your home screen. In the top-left corner, you'll see a pencil icon inside a square — tap it. A new blank message window opens.
At the top where it says "To:", tap that field and start typing the first person's name. As you type, your contacts appear below. Tap the contact you want to add. Repeat this for each person you want in the group. You can add them by name if they're in your contacts, or type their phone number directly.
Once you've added everyone, tap in the message field at the bottom and type what you want to say. Tap the send button (the arrow on the right side of the message field). The message goes to everyone at once, and the group conversation is created.
Naming your group so everyone knows who's in it
By default, group texts show the names of all members at the top. If you want to give the group a shorter name — like "Book Club" or "Work Lunch Planning" — you can do that after the first message is sent.
Open the group conversation, then tap the group name or the list of members at the very top of the screen. A menu appears with options. Tap "Edit Name and Photo." Type the name you want, and you can also add a group emoji or photo if you like. Tap "Done" to save. Everyone in the group sees the new name immediately.
Only the person who started the group can change the group name. If someone else tries to edit it, they'll see a "Details" option instead, but not an edit option.
Adding people to a group text that already exists
Open the group conversation you want to add someone to. Tap the group name at the top. Tap "Edit Name and Photo" or just tap the "+" icon if you see one. Select "Add Contact" and choose the person you want to add, or type their phone number.
The new person sees the entire conversation history from the moment they're added forward. They don't see messages that were sent before they joined. Everyone in the group gets a notification that a new person has been added.
Removing yourself or leaving a group text
If you want to stop receiving messages from a group, open the conversation and tap the group name at the top. Scroll down and tap "Leave this Conversation." You'll no longer receive any messages from that group, and your name disappears from the member list for everyone else.
Once you leave, you can't rejoin unless someone adds you back. If you started the group, leaving doesn't delete it for other members — the group continues without you.
What happens when group members have different phone types
If everyone in your group has an iPhone and uses iMessage, the group text uses Apple's iMessage service. These conversations appear with a blue bubble and support features like reactions (thumbs up, heart, etc.) and typing indicators.
If even one person in the group uses Android or doesn't have iMessage turned on, the entire group conversation switches to standard SMS text messaging. The bubbles turn green, and some features like reactions won't work. This is automatic — you don't have to do anything. The group still functions the same way; it just uses a different underlying service.
Muting notifications from a group you're in but don't want to hear from constantly
If a group text is active and you're getting a lot of notifications, you can silence it without leaving. Open the group conversation, swipe left on it (or long-press it), and tap the speaker icon with a slash through it. You'll still see messages when you open Messages, but you won't get notifications on your lock screen or hear a sound.
To turn notifications back on, swipe left again and tap the speaker icon without the slash. You can also customize notifications for a specific group by tapping the group name at the top, scrolling down, and choosing "Notifications" to set custom alert sounds or vibration patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a group text to people who don't have my contact information?
Yes. You can type phone numbers directly into the "To:" field instead of selecting from your contacts. They'll receive the message as a regular text from your phone number, and they can reply to the group even if they don't have you saved in their phone.
What's the difference between a group text and a group chat?
A group text is what you create in the Messages app by adding multiple recipients to one message. A group chat is the same thing — the terms are used interchangeably on iPhone. Both refer to a single conversation thread with multiple people.
Can I remove someone from a group text I started?
Yes, but only if everyone in the group has an iPhone with iMessage. Open the group, tap the group name at the top, tap "Edit Name and Photo," and tap the minus sign next to the person's name. If anyone uses Android or SMS, you won't see a remove option — you'd need to start a new group without that person.
Do people know when I read their message in a group text?
Only if the group is using iMessage (all iPhones). You'll see "Delivered" and "Read" receipts below messages. If the group uses SMS because someone has Android, read receipts don't work — people only see "Delivered."
What happens if I accidentally add the wrong person to a group?
If you haven't sent the message yet, tap the "X" next to their name in the "To:" field before sending. If you've already sent it, you can remove them by opening the group, tapping the group name, and using the minus sign next to their name (iMessage groups only). For SMS groups, you'd need to start a new group without them.