The fastest way to forward a text on iPhone
Open the Messages app, find the conversation with the text you want to forward, and press and hold the specific message. A menu will appear with several options — tap More. You can now select additional messages if you want to forward multiple texts at once. Once you've chosen what to send, tap the forward arrow button in the bottom right corner, select the contact or group you want to send it to, and tap Send.
The entire process takes about 10 seconds. The forwarded message appears as a separate text in the recipient's conversation thread, not as a screenshot or image — they'll see it formatted the same way you received it.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold a message in the Messages app, tap More, then tap the forward arrow to send it to another contact.
- You can select multiple messages at once by tapping additional texts after you tap More.
- Forwarded messages appear as regular text messages, not screenshots or images.
- If you want to forward an entire conversation thread rather than individual messages, you'll need to take a screenshot instead.
- The forward button only works with text messages — photos, videos, and links forward the same way but may take longer to send depending on file size.
Forwarding a single message versus multiple messages
A single message takes one action: press and hold, tap More, tap the forward arrow. If you want to forward several messages from the same conversation — say, a back-and-forth exchange — tap More first, then tap each additional message you want to include. They'll all forward together in the order they were sent.
There's no limit to how many messages you can select at once, but forwarding a very long chain may take a few seconds to process. The recipient will see each message as a separate text, preserving the original timestamps and order.
Forwarding to a group chat versus a single person
After you tap the forward arrow, you'll see your full contact list. You can tap any single contact to forward the message to them individually, or you can tap a group chat name to send it to everyone in that group at once. The message goes to the entire group, not just one person within it.
If you want to forward to multiple people but not as a group message, you'll need to repeat the process separately for each person. There's no way to select multiple individual contacts in a single forward action.
What happens when you forward a photo, video, or link
Photos and videos forward the same way as text — press and hold, tap More, select additional media if needed, tap the forward arrow, and choose your recipient. The image or video quality stays the same as the original. Sending a large video file may take longer depending on your internet connection.
Links forward as clickable text, not as a preview card. If someone sends you a link with a preview thumbnail, the forwarded version will just show the URL. The recipient can still tap it to open the link in their browser.
Forwarding an entire conversation thread
The forward feature only works for individual messages or selected groups of messages within a conversation. If you want to send an entire conversation thread to someone, you'll need to take a screenshot instead. Open the conversation, take a screenshot by pressing the side button and volume up button simultaneously (or home and top button on older iPhones), then send the screenshot through Messages.
Screenshots preserve the look of the conversation but don't include any messages that aren't visible on your screen. If the conversation is very long, you may need to take multiple screenshots to capture everything.
Undoing a forward or recalling a message
Once you tap Send, the message is delivered immediately and cannot be unsent or recalled on iPhone. There's no undo button for forwarded texts. If you need to correct something or let the recipient know you sent it by mistake, you'll have to send a follow-up message explaining.
If you realize you selected the wrong message before you tap Send, you can tap the X next to any selected message to deselect it, or tap Cancel to start over.
Why a message might not forward
Most messages forward without any problem, but a few situations can cause issues. If a message contains a very large file or a corrupted attachment, it may fail to send. If your internet connection drops during the forward, the message won't go through — you'll see an error and can try again.
Messages that were deleted from your phone cannot be forwarded. If you're trying to forward something and the forward button doesn't appear, try closing the Messages app completely and opening it again. If the problem persists, restart your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I forward a message to someone who doesn't have an iPhone?
Yes. Forwarded messages work the same way whether the recipient has an iPhone, Android phone, or any other device. The message appears as a regular text message on their phone, formatted the same way you received it.
Does the person I forward a message to know it was forwarded?
No. When you forward a message, the recipient sees it as a normal text from you. There's no indicator that it came from someone else originally. If you want them to know the source, you'll need to tell them in a separate message.
Can I forward a message from a group chat to a different group chat?
Yes. The forward button works the same way regardless of where the message came from. Select the message, tap More, tap the forward arrow, and choose the group chat you want to send it to.
What's the difference between forwarding and taking a screenshot?
Forwarding sends the actual message as a text, preserving formatting and allowing the recipient to copy or forward it again. A screenshot is an image of what's on your screen, which can't be edited or forwarded as a message. Screenshots are useful for entire conversations, but forwarding is faster for individual messages.
Can I forward a message I sent myself?
Yes. You can forward any message in any conversation, including ones you sent. Press and hold your own message, tap More, tap the forward arrow, and send it wherever you want.