What group texting is and where to find it

A group text is a single conversation where you send one message to multiple people at once, and everyone in the group can see replies from everyone else. On most phones, you create a group text the same way you start a regular text — by opening your messaging app and choosing multiple contacts instead of one.

The exact steps depend on whether you use iPhone (which calls this iMessage or group SMS) or Android (which uses your default messaging app, usually Google Messages or Samsung Messages). Both let you name the group, add or remove people later, and mute notifications if the conversation gets busy.

Group texts work over regular cellular networks, so you do not need Wi-Fi or a special app — though some phones offer richer features if everyone in the group uses the same platform (like iMessage on iPhone, or RCS on Android).

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open Messages, tap the compose button, and add multiple contacts to create an iMessage group that works best when everyone has an iPhone.
  • On Android, open your messaging app (Google Messages or Samsung Messages), start a new conversation, and select multiple contacts to create a group SMS or RCS chat.
  • You can name the group, change the photo, add or remove members, and mute notifications from within the conversation at any time.
  • Group texts sent over cellular networks (SMS) work on any phone, but group iMessage and RCS offer read receipts, typing indicators, and better formatting only when all members use compatible phones.

Setting up a group text on iPhone

Open the Messages app and tap the compose button (the pencil-and-paper icon in the top right). In the "To:" field, type or search for the first contact you want to add. As you type their name, their contact card appears — tap it to select them. Repeat this for each person you want in the group. You can add up to 100 people, though groups larger than 20 often become hard to follow.

Once you have selected everyone, type your message in the text field at the bottom and tap Send. The conversation will automatically become a group chat. If everyone in the group has an iPhone and iMessage turned on, the group will use iMessage (blue bubbles) and show read receipts and typing indicators. If even one person has an Android phone or iMessage turned off, the group will fall back to SMS (green bubbles) and lose those features.

To name your group, open the conversation, scroll to the top, and tap the group name area (which initially shows the names of all members). Tap "Edit Name and Photo," type a name, and tap Done. You can also add a group photo by tapping the camera icon.

Setting up a group text on Android

Open your default messaging app. If you are not sure which one you use, look for an app called Google Messages, Samsung Messages, or Messages (the exact name varies by phone maker). Tap the button to start a new conversation — usually a pencil icon or a plus sign. Select "New conversation" or "New group" if that option appears separately.

Tap the field that says "To," "Recipients," or "Add contacts," then search for and tap each person you want to add. Most Android phones let you add up to 100 people. Once you have selected everyone, type your message and send it. The group will use RCS (a newer texting standard with read receipts and typing indicators) if your phone supports it and all members do too. Otherwise, it will use regular SMS.

To name the group, open the conversation and look for a group info icon — usually three dots in the top right, or a group icon at the top of the screen. Tap it, then select "Edit group" or "Group settings." Type a name and save. You can also add a group photo from this menu.

Adding and removing people after you create the group

On iPhone, open the group conversation, scroll to the top, and tap the group name. Tap "Edit Name and Photo" or "Add Contact." Tap the plus icon to add new members, or swipe left on a member's name and tap "Remove" to take them out. Changes take effect immediately, and everyone in the group is notified when someone joins or leaves.

On Android, open the group conversation and tap the group info icon (usually three dots or a group icon at the top). Select "Edit group" or "Group settings," then look for an option to add or remove members. Tap the plus icon to add people, or tap and hold a member's name to remove them. Save your changes, and the group updates for everyone.

Muting notifications and managing a busy group

If a group text sends too many notifications, you can silence it without leaving. On iPhone, swipe left on the conversation in your message list and tap the speaker-with-a-slash icon to mute it. On Android, long-press the conversation and tap the bell icon or "Mute notifications."

You can usually choose how long to mute the group — options often include one hour, eight hours, 24 hours, or indefinitely. The conversation stays in your inbox and you can still read and send messages; you just will not get alerts every time someone replies. To unmute, repeat the same steps and select "Unmute" or turn notifications back on.

Why some group texts look different on different phones

If your group includes both iPhone and Android users, you may notice that some people see blue bubbles and others see green ones. Blue bubbles mean iMessage (iPhone-to-iPhone), while green bubbles mean SMS or MMS (standard texting). When a group is mixed, the whole group drops to SMS or MMS, which means no read receipts, no typing indicators, and sometimes lower image quality.

Android phones can use RCS (Rich Communication Services), which offers features similar to iMessage — read receipts, typing indicators, and better image quality. However, RCS only works if both the sender and receiver have it turned on and their carriers support it. If you want the best experience in a mixed group, ask everyone to turn on RCS if their phone supports it, or stick to a third-party app like WhatsApp or Telegram where everyone uses the same platform.

Troubleshooting common group text problems

If someone is not receiving messages in a group, first check that their number or contact information is correct. Ask them to restart their phone and check their message settings to make sure they have not accidentally blocked the group or turned off notifications. On iPhone, go to Settings > Messages and make sure iMessage is on. On Android, open your messaging app settings and check that notifications are enabled.

If the group keeps converting from iMessage to SMS, it usually means one member does not have iMessage on or is using an Android phone. You can either ask that person to turn on iMessage (if they have an iPhone), or accept that the group will use SMS. If you want to keep iMessage features, you can create a separate iMessage group without that person and use a different app (like WhatsApp) to include them in a separate conversation.

If messages are not sending at all, check that you have a cellular signal or Wi-Fi connection. On iPhone, make sure iMessage is on if you want to send over Wi-Fi; SMS requires cellular service. On Android, check your default messaging app in Settings and make sure it has permission to send messages. If the problem persists, restart your phone and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a group text without creating a group?

Yes. You can send the same message to multiple people individually by typing it once and sending it separately to each person. However, they will not see each other's replies — each person will only see your message and their own response to you. A true group text, where everyone sees everyone else's messages, requires creating a group conversation as described above.

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

The new person will only see messages sent after they join the group. They will not see the conversation history from before they were added. Some third-party apps like WhatsApp let you share the history manually, but standard SMS and iMessage groups do not.

Can I remove myself from a group text without deleting the whole conversation?

On iPhone, open the group, tap the group name at the top, and select "Leave this Conversation." On Android, open the group info and look for a "Leave group" option. Once you leave, you will no longer receive messages from that group, but the conversation will stay in your message list so you can read past messages.

Do group texts cost extra money?

No. Group SMS texts count toward your regular text message limit, just like individual texts. If you have unlimited texting, group texts are included. iMessage and RCS group texts use data instead of SMS, so they do not count against text limits at all.

Why do some people see my group text as individual messages?

This usually happens when you send an SMS group text to someone whose phone does not support group SMS, or whose carrier does not handle it properly. Some older phones or carriers break group SMS into individual messages. If this is a problem, ask that person to use a third-party app like WhatsApp or Telegram instead, where everyone uses the same platform.