The fastest way to text multiple people at once

To send a group text on iPhone, open the Messages app, tap the pencil icon to start a new message, then add multiple contacts by typing their names or phone numbers. Type your message and hit send — everyone receives it in a single thread where you can all see each other's replies.

This works on any iPhone model running iOS 5 or later. The group text appears as a single conversation in your Messages app, and you can name the group, add or remove people, and mute notifications if the thread gets busy.

Key Takeaways

  • Start a group text by opening Messages, tapping the pencil icon, and adding multiple contacts before typing your message.
  • Everyone in the group sees all replies in one thread, and you can name the group by tapping the group name at the top of the conversation.
  • You can add or remove people from an existing group text by opening the conversation and tapping "Details" in the top right.
  • Group texts work over iMessage (for iPhone to iPhone) or SMS (for mixed iPhone and Android), though iMessage groups have more features.

Starting a new group text from scratch

Open the Messages app and tap the pencil-and-square icon in the top left corner. This opens a blank message screen. Tap the "To:" field and start typing the first person's name — their contact will appear as you type. Tap their name to add them.

Repeat this for each person you want to include. You can add up to 100 people in a single group text, though most groups are much smaller. Once you have added everyone, tap the message field at the bottom, type what you want to say, and tap the blue send arrow.

The message sends to everyone at once, and their replies appear in the same thread. If you are texting a mix of iPhone and Android users, the group will use standard SMS instead of iMessage, which means no read receipts or typing indicators.

Naming your group and managing members

To name a group text, open the conversation and tap "Details" in the top right corner. Tap the group name field at the top (it usually shows the names of everyone in the group) and type a custom name. Tap "Done" to save it.

From the same Details screen, you can add new people by tapping "Add Contact" or remove someone by swiping left on their name and tapping "Remove." If you remove yourself from a group, you will no longer receive messages from it, though you can still see the old conversation history.

You can also leave a group entirely by tapping "Leave This Conversation" at the bottom of the Details screen. This removes you from the thread, and the remaining members will see a notification that you have left.

iMessage groups versus SMS groups

If everyone in your group has an iPhone and iMessage is turned on, your group text uses iMessage. This means you get read receipts (small "Delivered" and "Read" indicators), typing bubbles that show when someone is composing a message, and the ability to react to messages with emoji.

If even one person in the group uses Android or has iMessage turned off, the entire group switches to SMS (standard text messaging). SMS groups do not show read receipts or typing indicators, and reactions do not work the same way. The group still functions normally — everyone still sees all messages in one thread — but you lose those extra features.

You can check which type of group you are in by looking at the message bubbles: blue bubbles mean iMessage, green bubbles mean SMS.

Muting notifications for a busy group

If a group text is sending you constant notifications, you can mute it without leaving the conversation. Open the group, swipe left on it in the Messages list, and tap the speaker-with-slash icon. This silences notifications for that thread.

Alternatively, open the group and tap "Details" in the top right, then toggle off "Show Notifications." You will still see new messages when you open the app, but you will not get alerts on your lock screen or hear a sound.

To unmute, swipe left on the group again and tap the speaker icon, or go back to Details and toggle notifications back on.

Sending a group text to contacts you already have saved

If you have a group of people you text regularly, you can create a contact group in your phone's Contacts app to make starting group texts faster. Open Contacts, tap "Groups" in the top left, then tap the plus icon to create a new group. Name it, tap "Add Contact," and select each person you want to include.

Once you have saved the group, you can start a new message in the Messages app, tap the "To:" field, and type the group name. The entire group will be added at once. This saves time if you send group texts to the same people regularly.

What happens when someone replies to a group text

When someone replies to a group text, their message appears in the same thread and everyone sees it. If it is an iMessage group, you will see their name above their message so you know who said what. In an SMS group, the sender's name appears at the top of their message.

If someone sends a message that is meant only for you, they can reply to your specific message by swiping left on it and tapping "Reply." This creates a smaller reply thread within the group, visible only to people who tap into it — though not all Android phones support this feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a group text to people who do not have my contact information?

Yes. You can type phone numbers or email addresses directly into the "To:" field instead of selecting from your contacts. They will receive the message, but they will not see it labeled as coming from a named group — it will appear as a regular text from your number.

What is the difference between a group text and a group chat?

A group text (or group SMS) sends the same message to multiple people, and replies come back to you individually. A group chat (iMessage group) is a shared thread where everyone sees all messages and replies in one place. iPhone uses the term "group text" for both, but iMessage groups have more features.

Why do some group texts show green bubbles instead of blue?

Green bubbles mean the group is using SMS instead of iMessage. This happens when at least one person in the group has an Android phone, does not have iMessage turned on, or is using a phone number that is not registered with Apple's iMessage service.

Can I unsend a message in a group text?

Yes, if everyone in the group has iOS 16 or later. Tap and hold the message, tap "Undo Send," and the message will be removed from the thread within two minutes of sending. If anyone in the group has an older iOS version, the unsend feature will not work.

What happens if I add someone to a group text after messages have already been sent?

The new person will only see messages sent after they were added. They will not see the conversation history from before they joined the group.