Forwarding a text message depends on your phone type and what you want to do with it

The steps to forward a text message differ between iPhones and Android phones, and the method also depends on whether you want to send it to another person or save it elsewhere. On an iPhone, you hold down the message and tap "More", then select additional messages if needed, and hit "Forward". On Android, you long-press the message, tap the forward icon (usually an arrow), and choose your recipient. Some phones let you forward to email or cloud storage instead of just texting it to someone else.

Forwarding is useful when you need to share information quickly — a confirmation code, an address, a screenshot someone sent you — without retyping it. It preserves the original message exactly and shows the recipient that it came from someone else originally.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open the conversation, press and hold the message, tap "More" to select multiple messages if you want, then tap "Forward".
  • On Android, long-press the message, tap the forward or share icon, and select whether to send it as a text, email, or through another app.
  • You can forward a single message or select multiple messages at once before forwarding them together.
  • Forwarded messages show the recipient that the text came from someone else originally, not directly from you.

Forwarding a single text on iPhone

Open the Messages app and find the conversation containing the message you want to forward. Press and hold (or long-press) the specific message bubble until a menu appears with options. Tap "More" from that menu.

Once you tap "More", the message will have a checkmark next to it. Now tap the forward arrow button in the bottom right corner of the screen. Your phone will open a new message window where you can type the recipient's name or phone number, then hit "Send".

Forwarding multiple texts on iPhone

If you want to forward more than one message at once, start by pressing and holding the first message and tapping "More". Then tap any other messages in the same conversation that you want to include — each one will get a checkmark. Once you have selected all the messages you need, tap the forward arrow button.

A new message window opens with all selected messages stacked together. Type the recipient's phone number or name and send. The recipient will see all the forwarded messages in the order they were originally sent.

Forwarding a text on Android

Open the Messages app (or whatever texting app your phone uses — Samsung phones use Samsung Messages, others use Google Messages or a carrier app). Find the conversation with the message you want to forward. Long-press the message until it highlights and a menu appears at the top or bottom of the screen.

Look for a forward icon, which usually looks like an arrow pointing right or a curved arrow. Tap it. Your phone will show options for how to send it — you can text it to someone, email it, or send it through another app like WhatsApp or Gmail. Select your method and choose the recipient.

Forwarding multiple texts on Android

Long-press the first message you want to forward until it highlights. Then tap each additional message you want to include — they will all show checkmarks. Once you have selected all the messages, tap the forward icon at the top of the screen.

Choose how you want to send them (text, email, or another app) and select the recipient. The messages will be forwarded in the order they were sent, and the recipient will see them as a group.

Forwarding to email or other apps instead of text

Both iPhone and Android let you forward messages through channels other than SMS text. On iPhone, after you tap "Forward", you can swipe left on the message composition window to see options like Mail or Notes, or you can copy the message and paste it into an email or document manually.

On Android, the forward menu usually shows multiple options right away — text, email, Gmail, Drive, or whatever apps you have installed. Tap the one you want and complete the send. This is helpful if you want to keep a record in your email or save the message to a cloud service.

What the recipient sees when you forward a message

When you forward a text message to someone, they receive it as a regular text from you, but it will usually show that it was originally from someone else. On iPhone, the forwarded message typically appears with "Forwarded from [Original Sender]" at the top. On Android, this depends on your messaging app — some show the original sender's name, others just show it as a regular message from you.

The recipient can then forward it again to someone else, reply to it, or save it. There is no way to prevent a forwarded message from being forwarded again, so be mindful of what you share.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward a message to multiple people at once?

No — you forward to one recipient per action. If you need to send the same message to several people, you will need to forward it separately to each person, or copy the message text and paste it into a group chat or group text.

What happens if I forward a message with photos or links?

Photos and links forward along with the text. If the original message included an image or URL, the recipient will see it exactly as it appeared in the original message. The quality and functionality remain the same.

Can I forward a message I received weeks ago?

Yes. As long as the message is still in your conversation history and has not been deleted, you can forward it. Scroll back through the conversation to find the older message, then use the same forward process.

Is there a way to forward messages automatically?

Standard texting apps do not have automatic forwarding. Some third-party apps or business messaging platforms offer forwarding rules, but the built-in Messages app on iPhone and Android requires you to manually forward each message.

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

Unfortunately, you cannot unsend a text message on most phones once it has been delivered. Your best option is to send a follow-up message to the recipient explaining the mistake and asking them to disregard the previous message.