Forwarding a text is a built-in feature on every phone
You can forward a text message to another person directly from your phone without retyping it. The steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android, but both take less than a minute. The forwarded message arrives as a regular text from you, and the recipient sees the original message content — they do not see who sent it to you first.
Forwarding is useful when you need to share information quickly, pass along a confirmation code or appointment detail, or send someone a message you received. Unlike taking a screenshot, forwarding preserves the text as actual text that the recipient can copy, search, or forward again.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, open the message thread, press and hold the specific message, tap Forward, choose a contact, and send.
- On Android, open the message thread, press and hold the message, tap the forward icon (usually an arrow), select a contact, and send.
- You can forward a single message or multiple messages at once by selecting them before tapping forward.
- The forwarded message arrives as a text from you, not as a forwarded message that shows the original sender's name.
How to forward a text on iPhone
Open the Messages app and find the conversation containing the message you want to forward. Locate the specific message and press and hold it with your finger until a menu appears. You will see several options including Copy, Delete, and Forward — tap Forward.
A new message window opens with the text already filled in. The message shows exactly as it was, with no indication that it is forwarded. Tap the contact field at the top, search for or select the person you want to send it to, then tap Send. The message goes out as a regular text from your number.
If you want to forward multiple messages at once, press and hold the first message, then tap More. Tap each additional message you want to include — they will highlight with a checkmark. Tap Forward, choose your recipient, and send. All selected messages will be forwarded together in the order they appeared.
How to forward a text on Android
Open the Messages app (or whichever texting app you use — Google Messages, Samsung Messages, or another default app). Find the conversation with the message you want to forward. Press and hold the specific message until it highlights and a toolbar appears at the top of the screen.
Look for a forward icon in the toolbar — it usually looks like an arrow pointing right or a curved arrow. Tap it. A new message window opens with the text already included. Tap the recipient field, search for or select the contact you want to send it to, and tap Send.
To forward multiple messages, press and hold the first message, then tap each additional message you want to include. They will show a checkmark. Tap the forward icon, select your recipient, and send. The messages forward together in the order they appeared in the conversation.
What happens when you forward a message
The recipient receives the message as a regular text from you. They do not see a label saying "forwarded message" or the name of the person who originally sent it to you. The message content is exactly the same — same words, same formatting, same any links or numbers that were in the original.
If the original message contained a photo or video, most phones will forward the media along with the text. However, some older phones or messaging apps may not support media forwarding, in which case only the text portion goes through. If you are unsure whether the recipient will receive the media, you can always send it separately as a photo message.
Forwarding messages with photos or videos
On iPhone, the forward process works the same way whether the message contains text, a photo, a video, or all three. Press and hold the message, tap Forward, choose your recipient, and send. The entire message — text and media together — forwards as one.
On Android, the process is also the same. Press and hold the message, tap the forward icon, select your recipient, and send. Most Android phones will forward both the text and the media. If your phone does not support forwarding media through your messaging app, you may need to take a screenshot of the message instead, or send the photo separately.
When forwarding does not work
If you do not see a forward option when you press and hold a message, your messaging app may not support the feature. This is rare on modern phones, but it can happen with older Android devices or if you are using a third-party messaging app that does not include forwarding.
If forwarding is not available, your alternative is to take a screenshot of the message and send it as a photo, or to copy the text (press and hold, tap Copy), open a new message, paste it, and send. This takes a few extra steps but achieves the same result.
Some messages may also fail to forward if they contain special formatting, links that no longer work, or content from apps that do not integrate with your phone's messaging system. In these cases, copying and pasting the text into a new message is usually the most reliable option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person I forward a message to see who originally sent it?
No. When you forward a message, the recipient sees it as a text from you. There is no indication of who sent it to you originally. If you want them to know the source, you need to tell them separately.
What if I forward a message by accident?
On iPhone, you can undo a sent message within a few seconds by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and tapping Undo Send. On Android, this feature is available in Google Messages but not all messaging apps. If undo is not available, you will need to send a follow-up message explaining the mistake.
Can I forward a message to multiple people at once?
You can forward to one person per action, but you can repeat the process quickly for each recipient. Press and hold the message, tap Forward, choose the first person, send, then repeat with the next person. Some third-party messaging apps allow you to select multiple recipients in one forward action, but the standard messaging apps on iPhone and Android do not.
Does forwarding use my data or my text message plan?
Forwarding a text message counts as a regular outgoing text message, so it uses one message from your plan if you have a limited number of texts per month. If you have unlimited texting, forwarding has no impact on your plan.
Can I edit a message before I forward it?
On iPhone, the forward window shows the message text and you can edit it before sending — just tap in the message area and make changes. On Android, this depends on your messaging app. Google Messages allows editing, but some other apps do not. If you cannot edit in the forward window, copy the text instead, paste it into a new message, make your changes, and send.