Create a group text by starting a new message with multiple people

On iPhone, you create a group text by opening the Messages app, tapping the pencil icon to start a new message, and adding more than one person to the recipient field. Type the names or phone numbers of everyone you want in the group, separated by commas. Once you send the first message, that group conversation stays in your message list and everyone can see replies from all participants.

The group text works immediately — there is no separate setup step or confirmation needed. When someone replies, their message appears in the same thread with everyone else's responses. If you add someone to an existing group text later, they will see all future messages but not the conversation history from before they joined.

Key Takeaways

  • Start a group text by tapping the pencil icon in Messages, typing multiple names or numbers in the recipient field, and sending your first message.
  • You can name your group text by opening it, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting "Edit Name and Photo" — this name appears only on your phone and theirs.
  • Remove someone from a group by opening the conversation, tapping the group name, scrolling to their name, and tapping "Remove" — they will see a notification that they were removed.
  • Turn off notifications for a specific group by swiping left on the conversation in your message list and tapping the bell icon to mute it.
  • Group texts work over regular SMS if everyone in the group uses Android or basic phones, but switch to iMessage (blue bubbles) if all participants have iPhones.

Name your group text so everyone knows what it is for

Naming a group text makes it easier to find later and tells everyone what the conversation is about. Open the group text, tap the group name or photo at the very top of the screen, then tap "Edit Name and Photo." Type a name like "Book Club" or "Weekend Plans" and tap "Done."

The name you give the group appears on everyone's phone in that conversation thread. If you do not name it, iPhone shows the names of all participants at the top instead. You can change the name anytime by going back to that same menu — the new name updates for everyone in the group.

Add or remove people from an existing group text

To add someone to a group text that is already going, open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, then tap "Add Contact." Search for the person's name and tap their entry. They will be added to the group immediately, and everyone will see a message saying they joined.

To remove someone, open the group text, tap the group name, scroll down to find their name, and tap "Remove." They will get a notification that they were removed from the group. You can only remove people if you started the group or if the group has fewer than four people — on larger groups, only the original creator can remove members.

Customize notifications so group texts do not interrupt you

If a group text is too active and you want fewer notifications, swipe left on the conversation in your message list and tap the bell icon with a line through it. This mutes notifications from that group without leaving the conversation — you can still read and send messages, but you will not get alerts when new ones arrive.

To unmute it later, swipe left again and tap the bell icon without the line. You can also tap and hold on the conversation, select "Notify Me," and choose "Urgent" to get alerts only for messages that mention your name, or "Off" to silence it completely.

Understand the difference between iMessage groups and SMS groups

If everyone in your group has an iPhone, your group text uses iMessage and appears with blue bubbles. iMessage groups let you name the conversation, add or remove people, and see when someone is typing. If even one person in the group uses Android or a basic phone, the group switches to SMS (green bubbles) and loses these features — you cannot name it, remove people, or see typing indicators.

You cannot control which type of group you get — it depends on the phones your contacts use. If you need group features like naming and removing members, make sure everyone uses iPhone. If someone switches to Android, the group will downgrade to SMS automatically.

Leave a group text if you no longer want to receive messages

Open the group text, tap the group name at the top, scroll to the bottom, and tap "Leave This Conversation." You will be removed from the group and will not receive any more messages from it. Everyone in the group will see a notification that you left.

Once you leave, you cannot rejoin on your own — someone in the group would have to add you back. If you just want to stop getting notifications without leaving, use the mute option instead (swipe left on the conversation and tap the bell icon).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a group text with people who have Android phones?

Yes, but the group will use SMS instead of iMessage and will not have naming, typing indicators, or the ability to remove members. Everyone will still see all messages and replies, but the features are more limited than an all-iPhone group.

What happens if I add someone to a group text after messages have already been sent?

The new person joins the conversation immediately and can see all future messages, but they will not see any messages sent before they were added. They will see a notification that they were added to the group.

Can I delete a group text conversation without leaving the group?

Yes. Swipe left on the group in your message list and tap "Delete." This removes it from your message list, but you are still in the group and will receive new messages. If someone sends a message, the group will reappear in your list.

Why can I not remove someone from my group text?

You can only remove people from iMessage groups (blue bubbles) with fewer than four members. If your group has four or more people or uses SMS (green bubbles), the remove option will not appear. Only the person who created the group can remove members in larger groups.

How do I know if a group text is using iMessage or SMS?

Look at the message bubbles. Blue bubbles mean iMessage, and green bubbles mean SMS. You can also open the group, tap the group name, and look for the "Edit Name and Photo" option — it only appears in iMessage groups.