Start a group text by opening Messages and tapping the compose button

To create a group text on iPhone, open the Messages app and tap the pencil-and-paper icon in the top-left corner (or swipe left and tap the plus sign, depending on your iOS version). This opens a new message window. Tap the "To:" field and start typing the names or phone numbers of the people you want to add. As you type, your contacts appear — tap each person you want to include. You can add as many people as you want, though group texts with more than 20 people sometimes become slow or unreliable.

Once you've added everyone, type your message in the text field at the bottom and tap the blue send arrow. The message goes to all recipients at once, and their replies come back to the same conversation thread so everyone can see what everyone else wrote.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Messages, tap the compose button, and add multiple contacts in the "To:" field to start a group text.
  • Group texts work over standard SMS or iMessage depending on whether all members have iPhones; mixed groups use SMS and may cost money if you don't have unlimited texting.
  • You can name your group text by opening it, swiping up from the bottom, and tapping "Details," then tapping the group name field.
  • Muting notifications for a group text lets you stay in the conversation without getting pinged for every message.
  • Leaving a group text removes you from future messages, but the conversation history stays on your phone.

The difference between iMessage groups and SMS groups

If everyone in your group has an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the group text uses iMessage — Apple's encrypted messaging system. iMessage groups show typing indicators (the three dots that appear when someone is typing), let you see read receipts if you've turned them on, and support features like reactions and replies to specific messages. iMessage groups also work over Wi-Fi if you don't have cell service.

If even one person in the group has an Android phone or an older device, the entire group converts to standard SMS texting. SMS groups don't show typing indicators or read receipts, and some phones may not display them as true group conversations. If you don't have unlimited texting, SMS group messages may count against your plan — check with your carrier about how they charge for group texts.

Name your group text so everyone knows what it's for

Open the group conversation, then swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the details panel. Tap "Details" at the top. You'll see the list of members and a field showing "Group Name" or a generic label. Tap that field and type a name — something like "Book Club" or "Weekend Plans." Tap "Done" to save it. Everyone in the group will see the name you chose.

On newer iOS versions, you can also add a group photo. In the same Details panel, tap the empty circle at the top and choose a photo from your library or take a new one. This makes the group easier to spot in your message list.

Control notifications so you're not overwhelmed

Group texts can generate a lot of notifications, especially if people are messaging frequently. To mute them without leaving the group, open the conversation, swipe up to see Details, and tap "Hide Alerts." This silences notifications for that group, but you can still read messages whenever you open the app. The conversation stays in your message list — it just won't ping you.

If you want to adjust notifications more precisely, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages and scroll down to find the group conversation listed. You can turn off sounds, badges, or banners for that specific group while keeping notifications on for other conversations.

Add or remove people from an existing group

Open the group conversation and swipe up to see Details. Tap "Edit" in the top-right corner. You'll see the list of members with a red minus sign next to each one. Tap the minus sign next to anyone you want to remove, then tap "Remove." To add new people, tap "Add Contact" at the top of the member list, then select who you want to add. Tap "Done" when you're finished.

Keep in mind that when you remove someone, they can still see the message history up to the point they were removed — you're not deleting their copy of the conversation. If you add someone new, they only see messages sent after they joined.

Leave a group text if you no longer want to be part of it

Open the group conversation, swipe up to see Details, and tap "Leave this Conversation." You'll be removed from the group, and you won't receive any new messages. However, all the old messages in that conversation stay on your phone — leaving doesn't delete your message history. The group can continue without you, and if someone adds you back later, you'll start receiving messages again.

If you want to delete the entire conversation from your phone (not just leave the group), swipe left on the conversation in your message list and tap the trash icon. This removes it from your inbox but doesn't affect the group itself or other members' phones.

Troubleshoot common group text problems

If someone's messages aren't showing up in the group, ask them to check that they haven't muted the conversation or turned off notifications. If they're on Android and the group converted to SMS, their phone may not display group texts the same way — they might see individual messages from each person instead of one thread. This is a limitation of SMS, not something you can fix on your end.

If the group text is slow or messages aren't sending, try closing the Messages app completely and reopening it. If you're on Wi-Fi and iMessage isn't working, switch to cellular data for a moment — sometimes iMessage gets stuck on a weak Wi-Fi connection. If the problem persists, restart your phone. For persistent issues with a specific group, try removing one person and adding them back, which sometimes resets the group's connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a group text to people who don't have my contact information?

Yes. You can type phone numbers or email addresses directly into the "To:" field instead of selecting from your contacts. The message will go to whoever receives that number or email, whether or not they're saved in your phone. They'll see it came from your number, but they won't automatically know your name unless you include it in the message.

What happens if I turn off read receipts for the whole phone?

If you disable read receipts in Settings > Messages, nobody in any of your conversations — including group texts — will see whether you've read their messages. Other people's read receipts will also be hidden from you. This setting applies to all your conversations at once; you can't turn it on for some groups and off for others.

Can I schedule a group text to send later?

Not directly through the Messages app on iPhone. You can type your message and hold your finger on the send button to see options, but scheduling isn't one of them. Some third-party apps offer scheduled texting, but they work through their own systems, not through your standard Messages app.

Why does my group text sometimes show as individual messages?

This usually means the group converted to SMS because at least one member doesn't have iMessage. Some Android phones and older devices don't support iMessage, so the entire group falls back to SMS. When that happens, the way messages display depends on your phone's settings — some phones show them as separate conversations, others keep them grouped.

Do group texts cost more if I don't have unlimited texting?

It depends on your carrier and your plan. Some carriers count each group message as one message; others count it as one message per recipient. Check your carrier's website or call their customer service to understand how they charge for group SMS texts. iMessage groups don't use your text message allowance at all — they use data instead.