Create a group text by adding multiple people to one message

A group text on iPhone is a single conversation with more than one person. Everyone in the group sees all the messages and replies. You start one by opening the Messages app, tapping the compose button (the pencil-and-paper icon), and typing the names or phone numbers of the people you want to include. iPhone automatically turns it into a group text once you add more than one person.

The process takes about 30 seconds. You don't need to do anything special to "create" a group — just address a message to multiple people and send it. That conversation then stays in your Messages app as a group thread, and anyone can reply to keep the conversation going.

Key Takeaways

  • Start a group text by opening Messages, tapping the compose button, and typing multiple names or phone numbers in the "To:" field.
  • You can add people by typing their name (if they're in your contacts), their phone number, or their email address.
  • Once you send the first message to multiple people, iPhone saves that group conversation automatically.
  • You can add or remove people from an existing group text by opening the conversation and tapping the group name at the top.
  • Group texts work over regular SMS/MMS or iMessage depending on whether all members have iMessage turned on.

Step-by-step: Starting a new group text

Step 1: Open the Messages app and look for the compose button in the top-right corner — it looks like a pencil writing on paper. Tap it.

Step 2: Tap the "To:" field at the top of the screen. This is where you type the names or numbers of people you want to message.

Step 3: Type the first person's name. If they're saved in your contacts, their name will appear as a suggestion. Tap their name to add them. If they're not in your contacts, type their full phone number or email address instead.

Step 4: Add more people by typing a comma or tapping the space bar after the first name, then typing the next person's name or number. Repeat until you've added everyone you want in the group.

Step 5: Tap in the message field (the box at the bottom that says "iMessage") and type your message.

Step 6: Tap the send button (the arrow icon on the right side of the message field). Once you send, the group text is created and saved in your Messages app.

Adding or removing people from an existing group text

Open the group conversation you want to change. At the very top of the screen, you'll see the names of everyone in the group. Tap on those names or the word "Details" next to them.

A panel will slide up from the bottom showing all the members. To add someone new, tap "Add Contact" and type their name or number. To remove someone, swipe left on their name and tap "Remove." Once you make the change, everyone in the group will see a notification that the person was added or removed.

Note: If you remove yourself from a group text, you'll stop receiving messages from that conversation. You can't remove other people unless you started the group or everyone in it is using iMessage (not regular text messages).

The difference between iMessage groups and regular text groups

If everyone in your group has iMessage turned on (which is automatic on iPhones), the group text will use iMessage. These conversations show up with a blue bubble, let you see when people are typing, and let you unsend or edit messages. You also have more control — you can remove people and change the group name.

If even one person in the group doesn't have iMessage or is using an Android phone, the entire conversation switches to regular SMS/MMS text messaging. These show up with green bubbles. You can't unsend messages, you can't see typing indicators, and you have fewer options for managing the group. The group still works the same way — everyone sees all messages — but with fewer features.

To check which type of group you're in, open the conversation and look at the message bubbles. Blue means iMessage. Green means regular text.

Naming your group text

If your group is using iMessage (blue bubbles), you can give it a custom name instead of just seeing a list of people's names at the top. Open the group conversation, tap "Details" at the top right, then tap the group name. Type a new name — something like "Book Club" or "Weekend Plans" — and tap "Done."

If your group is using regular text messages (green bubbles), you won't have the option to name it. The conversation will just show the names of everyone in it.

Troubleshooting: Why your group text isn't working

The message won't send: Make sure you've added at least two people to the "To:" field. If you've only typed one name, it's a regular one-on-one message, not a group text. Also check that you have cellular service or Wi-Fi turned on.

People say they're not getting your messages: If the group is using regular text messages (green bubbles), some carriers have limits on group text size. Try removing one person and sending again. If it works, your carrier may have a limit. You can also try switching to iMessage by making sure everyone in the group has an iPhone with iMessage turned on in Settings > Messages.

You can't remove someone from the group: This usually means the group is using regular text messages, not iMessage. You can't manage regular text groups the same way. Your only option is to start a new group without that person.

The group name won't save: Group naming only works with iMessage (blue bubbles). If your group is using regular text messages, you'll need to switch everyone to iMessage first, or just remember the group by the people in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone to a group text after I've already sent messages?

Yes. Open the group conversation, tap "Details" at the top, and tap "Add Contact." The new person will see all future messages, but they won't see the messages that were sent before you added them to the group.

What happens if I text a group from an Android phone?

You can't use the iPhone Messages app from an Android phone, but you can send a text to multiple people at once using your Android phone's default messaging app. The experience will be different — it may not work as a true group conversation depending on your phone and carrier.

Can I make a group text with just phone numbers, or do people have to be in my contacts?

You can type phone numbers directly into the "To:" field without having those people saved in your contacts. Just type the full number with the area code. They'll still receive the message and can reply normally.

Why do some group texts show as green and others as blue?

Blue means everyone in the group has iMessage. Green means at least one person doesn't have iMessage or is using Android. Your carrier and their phone type determine which one you get. You can't force it to be blue if someone in the group doesn't have iMessage.

Can I leave a group text without deleting the whole conversation?

If it's an iMessage group (blue bubbles), open the conversation, tap "Details," and tap "Leave this Conversation." You'll stop receiving messages. If it's a regular text group (green bubbles), you can't officially leave — you can only delete the conversation or mute notifications so you don't see new messages.