How to Create a Group Text on Your Phone

The basics: what you need to know before you start

A group text is a single conversation that includes three or more people. When you send a message to the group, everyone in it receives the same message at once. On most phones, you create a group text the same way you start a regular text — by opening your messaging app and selecting multiple contacts instead of one.

The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, and which messaging app you use. The built-in apps — Apple Messages on iPhone and Google Messages on Android — are the most common, but WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and other apps work similarly. This guide covers the standard built-in options on both platforms.

Key Takeaways

On iPhone, open Messages, tap the compose button, and add multiple contacts to create a group text using iMessage or SMS.
On Android, open Google Messages or your default messaging app, tap the compose button, and select multiple contacts from your list.
Group texts sent over cellular networks (SMS) may not show read receipts or typing indicators, while iMessage and data-based apps do.
You can name a group text on most platforms, which helps everyone know what the conversation is about.
Leaving a group text works differently depending on your phone type — iPhone users may see a "Leave this Conversation" option, while Android users typically just mute or archive the chat.

Creating a group text on iPhone

Open the Messages app and tap the compose button in the top right corner (it looks like a pencil and paper). A text field labeled "To:" appears at the top. Tap it and start typing the first person's name. As you type, matching contacts appear below — tap the one you want to add. Repeat this for each person you want to include.

Once you have added at least two other people (three total including you), type your message in the text field at the bottom and tap Send. The message goes out as an iMessage if all recipients have iPhones and iMessage is turned on. If even one person has an Android phone or iMessage is off, the message sends as a group SMS instead.

To name the group, open the conversation after you send the first message, tap "Details" in the top right, and look for the option to add a subject or name. Not all group texts have this option — it depends on whether you are using iMessage or SMS.

Creating a group text on Android

Open Google Messages (or your phone's default messaging app) and tap the compose button, usually a pencil icon or plus sign at the bottom right. Tap "New conversation" if that option appears. A field labeled "To" or "Recipients" opens at the top. Tap it and type the first contact's name, then tap their name when it appears in the list below.

Continue adding contacts one at a time. Once you have added at least two other people, type your message and tap Send. The message sends as an SMS group text by default, though some Android phones and messaging apps support RCS (Rich Communication Services), which offers features closer to iMessage.

To name the group, tap the three-dot menu at the top of the conversation after sending the first message and look for "Group details" or "Edit group." Not all Android messaging apps support group names, so this option may not appear.

The difference between iMessage, SMS, and data-based group texts

iMessage group texts (iPhone to iPhone) show when people are typing, display read receipts so you know who has seen your message, and let you react to messages with emojis. They work over Wi-Fi or cellular data. If even one person in the group uses Android or has iMessage turned off, the entire conversation drops to SMS.

SMS group texts (cellular network) work on any phone but do not show typing indicators or read receipts. Everyone receives the message, but you cannot see who has read it or when. SMS group texts are slower and may arrive out of order on some phones.

Data-based apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram work over Wi-Fi or data on any phone. They typically show typing indicators and read receipts, and they work the same way whether someone has an iPhone or Android phone. These apps require everyone to have the app installed.

Adding or removing people from an existing group text

On iPhone, open the group conversation, tap "Details" in the top right, and scroll down to see all members. Tap "Add Contact" to add someone new, or swipe left on a name and tap the trash icon to remove them. Not all group texts support this — SMS group texts may not have these options.

On Android, open the group conversation, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Group details" or "Manage members." Tap the plus icon to add someone or tap an existing member's name and select "Remove." Again, this depends on your messaging app and whether the group is SMS or RCS.

Muting or leaving a group text

If a group text is too noisy, you can mute it without leaving. On iPhone, swipe left on the conversation in your message list and tap the speaker icon with a line through it. On Android, long-press the conversation and tap the mute icon or look for a mute option in the menu.

To actually leave a group text on iPhone, open the conversation, tap "Details," scroll to the bottom, and tap "Leave this Conversation." This option only appears in iMessage group texts, not SMS. On Android, there is usually no formal "leave" option — you can archive or delete the conversation instead, though you will still receive messages if someone replies.

Troubleshooting common group text problems

If a group text is not working, the first thing to check is whether everyone has the right type of phone and app. If you are on iPhone and one person has Android, your iMessage group text will convert to SMS, which is slower and has fewer features. Ask that person to turn on iMessage if they have an iPhone, or consider switching to a data-based app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger if the group includes both iPhone and Android users.

If messages are arriving late or out of order, you are likely using SMS. SMS relies on cellular networks and can be slow, especially if someone has poor signal. Switching to iMessage (iPhone only) or a data-based app will usually fix this. If you are already using iMessage and messages are still slow, check that Wi-Fi or cellular data is turned on.

If you cannot see a "Leave this Conversation" option on iPhone, the group text is probably using SMS instead of iMessage. SMS group texts do not have a formal leave option — you can only delete or mute the conversation. If you delete it and someone sends a new message, the conversation will reappear in your message list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a group text with people who have different types of phones?

Yes, but the experience changes depending on the mix. If you mix iPhone and Android users in a standard group text, iMessage converts to SMS automatically. SMS works on any phone but is slower and lacks features like read receipts and typing indicators. For the best experience across different phone types, use WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or another data-based app instead.

What happens if I add someone to a group text after the conversation has started?

The new person receives all future messages but not the old ones. On iPhone, they can see the conversation history if you are using iMessage, but on Android or SMS, they typically only see messages sent after they joined. Some data-based apps like WhatsApp let you scroll back and see older messages after joining.

Why do some people in my group text not see my messages?

The most common reason is a mix of iPhone and Android users. If one person has iMessage off or uses Android, the group converts to SMS, which can be unreliable. Check that everyone's phone has cellular signal or Wi-Fi turned on. If the problem persists, ask the person who is not receiving messages to restart their phone and check that their messaging app is up to date.

Can I send a group text to people who do not have my contact saved?

Yes. When you create a group text, you can type phone numbers or email addresses instead of selecting from your contacts. The message will send to those numbers or addresses even if they are not saved in your phone. However, the recipient will see the message as coming from a number or email, not from your name, unless they have you saved.

Is there a limit to how many people I can add to a group text?

Most phones and messaging apps do not have a hard limit, but group texts with many people (20 or more) can become slow and hard to follow. If you need to reach a large group regularly, consider using a data-based app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, which handles large groups more smoothly than SMS.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.