Open Messages and start a new conversation
To send a group message on iPhone, open the Messages app and tap the pencil-and-paper icon in the top-left corner (or tap "New Message" if you see it). This opens a blank message thread where you can add multiple people.
The "To:" field at the top is where you'll add recipients. Tap it and start typing the first person's name. As you type, your contacts will appear below — tap the name to add them. Repeat this for each person you want in the group.
You can add people one at a time, or paste multiple names separated by commas if you prefer. Once all recipients are added, type your message in the text field at the bottom and tap the send arrow.
Key Takeaways
- Group messages on iPhone are created by adding multiple recipients in the "To:" field before sending.
- You can add contacts by typing their name or phone number, or by pasting multiple names separated by commas.
- Group messages sent as SMS (text) appear as separate individual messages to each person, while iMessage group chats keep everyone in one thread.
- You can add or remove people from an existing iMessage group by opening the conversation and tapping the group name at the top.
- If some recipients don't have iMessage, the message may send as SMS instead, which changes how replies are organized.
The difference between SMS groups and iMessage groups
When you send a group message on iPhone, what actually happens depends on whether everyone has iMessage or not. If all recipients use iMessage (Apple's messaging service), the conversation stays as one group thread where everyone can see all replies. If even one person doesn't have iMessage, the message sends as a standard text message (SMS) instead.
With SMS group messages, each person's reply comes back to you individually — they don't see each other's responses, and you don't see one unified conversation. This is a limitation of SMS itself, not iPhone. If you need true group texting where everyone sees everything, all participants need iMessage, which means they need an Apple device or an iCloud account.
You can tell which type of message you're sending by looking at the send button. If it's blue, it's iMessage. If it's green, it's SMS. Before sending a large group message, check the color to understand how replies will be organized.
Add people to an existing group conversation
If you're already in an iMessage group chat and want to add someone new, open the conversation and tap the group name or the profile pictures at the top. This opens the group details screen.
Tap "Add Contact" and search for the person you want to add. Once you select them, they'll be added to the thread and can see the entire conversation history from that point forward. They won't see messages sent before they were added.
This feature only works with iMessage groups. If your group is using SMS, you'll need to start a new message thread with the additional person included.
Remove someone from a group message
To remove a person from an iMessage group, open the conversation and tap the group name at the top. Scroll down to see all members, find the person you want to remove, and tap the minus sign next to their name, then tap "Remove."
Once removed, that person will no longer receive new messages in the group, but they'll still see all the messages sent while they were a member. You cannot remove people from SMS group messages — you'd need to create a new group without them.
Mute notifications from a group chat
Group messages can generate a lot of notifications. To silence them without leaving the conversation, open the group chat and swipe left on the conversation in your message list, or tap and hold it. Tap the bell icon with a slash through it to mute notifications.
You can choose to mute for one hour, eight hours, one day, or indefinitely. The conversation stays in your inbox and you can still read it anytime — you just won't get alerts when new messages arrive. To unmute, swipe left again and tap the bell icon without the slash.
Name a group conversation
iMessage groups can have custom names to help you keep track of them. Open the group chat and tap the group name at the top. Tap "Enter a Group Name" and type what you want to call it — "Book Club," "Work Team," "Family," whatever makes sense.
Everyone in the group will see the name you choose. You can change it anytime by going back to the group details and tapping the name again. SMS groups cannot be named.
Send a group message with photos or videos
To include photos or videos in a group message, open a new message or existing group chat and tap the camera icon next to the text field. You can take a new photo or video on the spot, or tap the photo library icon to choose existing media from your phone.
Select as many photos or videos as you want, then tap "Send." They'll be included in the message to all group members. If the group is using SMS, very large videos may not send properly — iMessage handles media better than standard text messaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a group message to people who don't have iMessage?
Yes, but it will send as SMS instead of iMessage. Each person will receive the message individually, and their replies will come back to you separately rather than appearing in one group thread. Everyone will still get your message, but the group conversation experience won't work the same way.
What's the maximum number of people I can add to a group message?
iPhone doesn't have a strict limit, but practical limits exist. iMessage groups can handle dozens of people, though very large groups can become slow or difficult to manage. SMS groups work with any number of recipients, but the lack of a unified thread makes large SMS groups harder to follow.
Can I see who read my group message?
Yes, but only in iMessage groups. Open the conversation and swipe left on a specific message, then tap "Details." You'll see a list of who has read it and when. SMS messages don't have read receipts — you won't know if someone saw your text.
What happens if I leave a group chat?
In iMessage groups, you'll stop receiving new messages and the conversation will be removed from your inbox (though you can still find it in search). Other group members will see a notification that you left. In SMS groups, leaving isn't really an option — you'd need to mute notifications or delete the conversation instead.
Can I unsend a message in a group chat?
Yes, in iMessage groups on iOS 16 and later. Press and hold the message, tap "Undo Send," and it will be removed from everyone's view within two minutes of sending. SMS messages cannot be unsent. This feature only works if everyone in the group is on iOS 16 or newer.