The simplest way to forward a text on iPhone

To forward a single text message, open the Messages app, find the conversation, and press and hold the message you want to forward. A menu will appear with options including More. Tap More, then tap the forward arrow icon (it looks like an arrow pointing right in a box) at the bottom right of the screen. Select the contact or conversation you want to send it to, then tap Send.

This works for text messages, photos, and other media sent through iMessage or SMS. The message appears in the recipient's conversation exactly as it was in the original — they'll see who sent it originally and when.

If you want to forward multiple messages at once, tap More after pressing and holding the first message, then tap each additional message you want to include. All selected messages will forward together in the order they appeared.

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 before forwarding by tapping each one after you tap More.
  • Forwarded messages show the original sender's name and timestamp, so the recipient knows where the message came from.
  • This method works for text, photos, videos, and other attachments sent through iMessage or SMS.

Forwarding an entire conversation

If you want to share an entire conversation rather than individual messages, you'll need to forward messages in groups. There's no single button to forward a whole thread at once, so select the messages you want using the method above — press and hold the first one, tap More, then tap each additional message.

For very long conversations, this can take time. A faster option is to take a screenshot of the conversation and send that as an image instead, though the recipient will see it as a photo rather than as individual forwarded messages.

What happens when you forward a message

When you forward a message, the recipient sees the original sender's name and the date and time it was sent. They don't see your name as the forwarder — it appears as if the original sender is sharing it with them directly. This is true whether you're forwarding to another iPhone user, an Android user, or a group chat.

If the original message contained an attachment like a photo or video, that attachment forwards along with the text. The quality and file size remain the same as the original.

Forwarding messages between iMessage and SMS

Messages sent through iMessage (Apple's encrypted messaging service, shown in blue) and regular SMS text messages (shown in green) both forward the same way. The forwarding process doesn't change based on which type of message you're sending.

However, if you forward an iMessage to someone who doesn't have an iPhone, it converts to SMS when it reaches them. The content stays the same, but it no longer has iMessage's encryption or read receipts.

Forwarding messages to groups or multiple people

After you tap the forward arrow, you can choose to send the message to a group chat or to multiple individual contacts. Tap each person or group you want to send it to — the app will show a checkmark next to each selected recipient. Then tap Send and the message goes to all of them at once.

Each recipient receives the message in their own conversation with you, not in a shared thread. If you want to send it to a group chat instead, select the group name from your conversation list rather than individual contacts.

If the forward button doesn't appear

The forward option only works on messages you've already received. You cannot forward a message you sent yourself. If you're trying to forward a message and the forward arrow doesn't appear, make sure you're pressing and holding a message from someone else, not one of your own outgoing messages.

On older iOS versions (before iOS 13), the forward option may not be available. If you're running an older version of iOS, you can still share the content by copying the message text and pasting it into a new message, or by taking a screenshot.

Forwarding messages with Siri or shortcuts

You can create a custom Shortcut to forward messages more quickly if you forward the same types of messages regularly. Open the Shortcuts app, create a new shortcut, and add the "Send Message" action. You can set it to send to a specific contact or ask you to choose a recipient each time.

This is most useful if you regularly forward messages to the same person or group. For occasional forwarding, the built-in method through the Messages app is faster and requires no setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I forward a message to see that I forwarded it?

No. They see the original sender's name and the original date the message was sent. There's no indication that you forwarded it — it appears as if the original sender is sharing it directly with them.

What if I forward a message that contains a photo or video?

The attachment forwards along with the message at its original quality. The recipient sees both the text and the media file, just as it appeared in your conversation.

Can I forward a message to someone who has an Android phone?

Yes. The message forwards the same way, though if it was originally an iMessage, it converts to a regular text message when it reaches an Android device. The content stays the same.

Is there a way to forward all messages from one person at once?

Not with a single tap. You have to select messages individually using the More button, then tap each message you want to include. For very long conversations, taking a screenshot and sending it as a photo is faster.

What if I accidentally forward a message to the wrong person?

Once a message is sent, you cannot unsend it or delete it from the recipient's phone. Your only option is to send them a follow-up message explaining the mistake. On newer iOS versions, you can delete or edit messages you sent within a short window, but this only works for messages you composed yourself, not forwarded ones.