The basic way to forward a text on any phone

To forward a text message, open the conversation, press and hold the message you want to forward, then tap the forward or share option. The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, but both let you send the message to a new contact or group in seconds.

You do not need any special app or permission to forward a text. It is a built-in feature on every modern phone. The message goes to the recipient as a regular text from you — they will see it as a new message, not as a forwarded one, unless your phone adds a label like "Fwd:" to the beginning.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open the message thread, press and hold the specific message, tap More, select additional messages if you want, then tap Forward.
  • On Android, open the message thread, press and hold the message, tap the three-dot menu, and select Forward or Share.
  • You can forward a single message or multiple messages at once by selecting them before you forward.
  • The forwarded message appears as a new text to the recipient, not as a quoted reply, so they see the original sender's name and the full text.

Forwarding a text on iPhone

Open the Messages app and find the conversation that contains the message you want to forward. Press and hold (or long-press) the specific message bubble until a menu appears with options like Copy, More, and Delete.

Tap More. This lets you select additional messages if you want to forward more than one at a time. Each message you tap will get a checkmark. Once you have selected all the messages you want, tap the forward arrow button in the bottom right corner of the screen.

A new message window opens with your selected message or messages already in the text field. Type the contact name or phone number in the "To:" field, then tap Send. The recipient will receive the message as a regular text from you.

Forwarding a text on Android

Open the Messages app (or your default texting app) and find the conversation with the message you want to forward. Press and hold the message bubble until it highlights and a menu appears at the top or bottom of the screen.

Look for a three-dot menu icon or an option labeled Forward or Share. Tap it. Some Android phones show a forward arrow icon instead. If you see the option to select multiple messages, tap each one you want to include before you forward.

A new message window opens with the text already filled in. Enter the recipient's name or phone number in the "To:" field and tap Send. The message will arrive as a regular text from you, just as it would on iPhone.

Forwarding multiple messages at once

Both iPhone and Android let you forward more than one message in a single action. After you press and hold the first message and enter selection mode, tap each additional message you want to include. You will see a checkmark or highlight on each selected message.

Once all your messages are selected, tap the forward button. All of them will appear in the new message window in the order they were sent. The recipient receives them as a single text block, not as separate messages.

This is useful if you want to forward a conversation snippet or a series of related messages without having to send them one at a time.

What happens when you forward a message

When you forward a text, the recipient sees the original message content exactly as it appeared. They will see the original sender's name at the top if it was a message from someone else, or they will see the message content if it was from you. Most phones add "Fwd:" to the beginning of the message so the recipient knows it was forwarded rather than sent directly.

The forwarded message is a copy, not a link. The recipient cannot see the original conversation thread or any messages that came before or after the one you forwarded. They only see the text you selected.

Forwarding does not notify the original sender that their message was shared with someone else. It is a private action between you and the person you forward to.

Forwarding texts to email or other apps

On both iPhone and Android, you can forward a text to places other than another phone number. When you tap the forward or share option, you may see choices like Email, Notes, or other apps installed on your phone.

On iPhone, after you select More and choose your messages, look for a share icon (usually three dots connected by lines) instead of just the forward arrow. This opens a menu with email, Notes, and other options.

On Android, the three-dot menu often shows Share as a separate option from Forward. Tapping Share may give you choices like Gmail, Drive, or messaging apps. This is useful if you want to save a text message to email or store it somewhere other than your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward a text to multiple people at once?

No, you can only forward to one contact or group at a time. If you want to send the same message to multiple people, you will need to forward it separately to each person or group. Some phones let you create a group message, but forwarding itself is a one-recipient action.

Does the original sender know I forwarded their message?

No. Forwarding a text is private — the original sender will not be notified that you shared their message with someone else. There is no read receipt or notification sent to them.

What if I want to forward a message but edit it first?

You can copy the message text, paste it into a new message, and edit it before you send. Press and hold the message, tap Copy, then open a new message and paste. This way you can change the wording or add context before sending.

Can I forward picture messages or videos?

Yes. The same forward process works for photos, videos, and other media. Press and hold the message containing the image or video, select forward, and send it to your chosen contact. The media will be included in the forwarded message.

Why is my forwarded message showing "Fwd:" at the beginning?

Your phone automatically adds "Fwd:" to show the recipient that the message was forwarded rather than sent directly by you. This is a standard feature on most phones. You cannot remove it, but it helps the recipient understand the message origin.