Creating a group text on iPhone takes three steps: open Messages, tap the compose button, add multiple contacts, and send your first message

A group text lets you send one message to several people at once instead of typing the same thing over and over. On iPhone, this is built into the Messages app — you do not need any extra apps or settings. Everyone in the group sees all replies, so conversations stay in one thread instead of scattered across separate chats.

The group stays active as long as someone sends a message to it. You can add people later, remove people, change the group name, and turn off notifications if the conversation gets too busy. This guide walks you through creating a group text from the start.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Messages, tap the pencil icon to start a new message, then add two or more contacts to create a group text.
  • Type your message and send it — the group is now created and will appear in your Messages list.
  • You can change the group name, add or remove people, and mute notifications after the group is set up.
  • Group texts work over cellular and Wi-Fi, but all members must have iMessage or standard text messaging enabled.
  • If someone leaves the group or turns off iMessage, they will still receive messages but cannot see group changes.

Open Messages and start a new conversation

Tap the Messages app on your home screen. It is the green icon with a white speech bubble. Once the app opens, look for the pencil-and-paper icon in the top right corner of the screen and tap it. This opens the compose screen where you build a new message.

You will see a blank message window with a field that says "To:" at the top. This is where you add the people you want to text. Do not type a message yet — first you need to add at least two contacts to make it a group.

Add contacts to your group text

Tap the "To:" field and start typing the first person's name. As you type, iPhone shows matching contacts from your address book. Tap the name when it appears. Repeat this for each person you want to add — type their name and tap it when it shows up.

You can add as many people as you want, but most group texts work best with 3 to 10 people. If you add too many, the conversation can become hard to follow. Each name appears as a small tag in the "To:" field. If you add someone by mistake, tap the X on their name tag to remove them.

Send your first message to create the group

Once you have added at least two people, tap in the message field at the bottom and type what you want to say. Keep the first message short — something like "Hey everyone, I created this group to plan our weekend" works well. Then tap the send button (the arrow icon) to send the message.

The moment you send that first message, the group text is created. It will now appear in your Messages list as a conversation with all the names or a group name (if you set one). Everyone you added will receive the message and can start replying.

Name your group text

After the group is created, you can give it a name instead of seeing a list of everyone's names at the top. Open the group conversation, then tap the group name or the circle with initials at the very top of the screen. This opens the group details.

Tap "Enter a Group Name" and type what you want to call it — for example, "Weekend Plans" or "Book Club." Tap "Done" when you are finished. The new name appears at the top of the conversation for everyone in the group.

Add or remove people after the group is created

To add someone new, open the group conversation and tap the group name or initials at the top. Scroll down and tap "Add Contact." Type the person's name and tap it when it appears. They will be added to the group and can see all future messages, but they will not see the conversation history from before they joined.

To remove someone, open the group details the same way, find their name in the list, swipe left on it, and tap "Remove." That person will no longer receive new messages from the group. They will not be notified that they were removed, but they will notice they stop getting messages.

Mute notifications or leave the group

If a group text gets too busy and you are tired of notifications, open the conversation and swipe left on the group name in your Messages list. Tap the speaker icon with a slash through it to mute notifications. You will still see messages when you open the app, but your phone will not buzz or chime for new ones.

If you want to leave the group entirely, open the group details and scroll to the bottom. Tap "Leave This Conversation." You will be removed from the group and will not receive any more messages. The group will stay active for everyone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a group text and a group iMessage?

A group iMessage uses Apple's iMessage service and works over Wi-Fi or cellular data. A group text uses standard SMS and works through your phone plan. iPhone automatically uses iMessage if everyone has it turned on, and falls back to SMS if someone does not. You do not have to choose — iPhone handles it for you.

Can I see who read my message in a group text?

Only if everyone in the group is using iMessage. With iMessage, you will see "Delivered" and "Read" receipts below each message. If even one person is using standard SMS, read receipts do not work for the whole group. You can turn off read receipts for yourself in Settings > Messages > Send Read Receipts.

What happens if someone does not have iMessage?

The group text still works. iPhone sends messages through standard SMS to anyone without iMessage, and iMessage to everyone else. The person without iMessage will receive all messages and can reply, but they will not see group name changes or be notified when someone joins or leaves.

Can I send a group text from my Mac or iPad?

Yes, if you have the same Apple ID signed in on all your devices. Open Messages on your Mac or iPad, create a new message, and add multiple contacts the same way. The group will sync across all your devices, and you can send and receive messages from any of them.

How do I know if someone left the group?

You will see a notification in the conversation that says "[Name] left this conversation." After that, messages you send will not reach them. If they rejoin later, you will see another notification. On standard SMS groups, you will not get a notification — you will just notice they stopped replying.