Group texts work differently on iPhone and Android, and the steps depend on which app you use

A group text is a conversation between three or more people in a single message thread. On iPhone, you create one through the Messages app by adding multiple contacts to a new message. On Android, the process is similar in most apps — Google Messages, Samsung Messages, and others all let you add people at the start or after the conversation begins. The main difference is that iMessage (Apple's system) handles group texts differently than standard SMS, which matters if your group mixes iPhone and Android users.

The fastest way is to open your messaging app, start a new message, and type or select multiple names before sending your first message. Most phones will automatically recognize this as a group conversation and keep all replies in one thread.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open Messages, tap the compose button, and add multiple contacts before typing your message.
  • On Android, open your default messaging app (Google Messages, Samsung Messages, or another), create a new conversation, and select multiple people.
  • If you use iMessage with a mix of iPhone and Android users, the group may fall back to standard SMS, which costs money on some plans and lacks read receipts.
  • You can add or remove people from an existing group text on both iPhone and Android, though the steps differ slightly by phone type.
  • Group texts with more than 20 people sometimes cause delivery delays or missing messages, especially on Android.

Creating 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 person's name, then tap their contact. Repeat for each person you want to add — you'll see their names stack up in the field. Once everyone is added, type your message and send.

If you want to name the group, send the first message, then tap the group conversation to open it. At the top, you'll see the names of everyone in the thread. Tap "Details" (the "i" icon), then tap "Group Name" and type a name. This name only appears on your phone and in the conversation — other people see it too, but they can change it on their end if they want.

You can add people to an existing group by opening the conversation, tapping Details, scrolling down, and tapping "Add Contact." You can also remove someone by tapping their name and selecting "Remove from Group," though this only works if you started the conversation or if it's an iMessage group (not a standard SMS group).

Creating a group text on Android

Open your default messaging app — this is usually Google Messages, Samsung Messages, or another app depending on your phone brand. Tap the compose button (usually a pencil icon or a plus sign). Select "New conversation" or "New message," then tap the field that says "To" or "Recipients." Search for and tap each person you want to add. Once all names are selected, type your message and send.

To name the group, open the conversation after sending the first message, then look for a menu option (usually three dots in the top right). Select "Group details" or "Conversation settings," then find the option to add a group name. Like iPhone, this name is visible to everyone but can be changed by other members on their own phones.

Adding or removing people works similarly: open the group, tap the menu, select "Group details," and look for "Add members" or "Remove members." Some Android apps let you do this before the first message is sent, while others require at least one message in the thread first.

What happens when iPhone and Android users are in the same group

If your group includes both iPhone and Android users, iMessage automatically switches the conversation to standard SMS (text messaging). This means the group loses features like read receipts (the "Delivered" and "Read" indicators), typing indicators (the "..." that shows someone is typing), and high-quality photo sharing. Messages may also take longer to arrive.

On some phone plans, SMS group texts count toward your monthly text limit or cost extra per message. Check your plan if you're concerned about this. If you want to keep all the iMessage features, you can use a third-party app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger instead — these work the same way on both iPhone and Android and don't rely on your phone's built-in messaging system.

Why some group texts fail or go missing

Group texts with more than 15 to 20 people sometimes have delivery problems, especially on Android. Messages may arrive out of order, take hours to show up, or not arrive at all. This happens because group SMS uses a less reliable system than one-on-one texts, and some carriers prioritize individual messages over group ones.

If a group text consistently fails, switch to an app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Google Messages (which uses internet instead of SMS when possible). These apps are more reliable for large groups because they send messages through the internet rather than through your carrier's text system. You can also ask people to leave and rejoin the group, which sometimes fixes delivery issues on Android.

Managing group text settings

On iPhone, you can mute a group text so notifications don't pop up every time someone sends a message. Open the conversation, tap Details, and toggle "Hide Alerts" on. The messages still arrive, but you won't hear a sound or see a badge on the Messages app icon.

On Android, the option is usually called "Mute notifications" or "Mute conversation." Open the group, tap the menu, and look for notification settings. You can usually choose to mute for 1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours, or indefinitely. Some Android phones also let you change the notification sound or vibration pattern for specific groups.

Both iPhone and Android let you leave a group text entirely. On iPhone, open the conversation, tap Details, scroll down, and tap "Leave this Conversation." On Android, open the group, tap the menu, and select "Leave group." Once you leave, you won't receive any more messages from that group, and other members will see that you've left.

Using group texts for work or events

Group texts work well for small teams or event planning, but they have limits. If you need to send the same message to many people without creating a conversation, most phones have a "broadcast list" or "distribution list" feature. On iPhone, this is called a "Contact Group" — create one in your Contacts app, then address a message to the group name. On Android, some phones have a similar feature, but it varies by manufacturer.

For larger groups or more formal communication, consider using an app designed for group messaging like Slack (for work teams), Discord (for communities), or a straightforward group chat in WhatsApp or Telegram. These apps keep conversations organized, let you search old messages, and don't clutter your regular text inbox.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a group text with someone who has blocked me?

No. If someone has blocked your number, messages you send to a group that includes them will fail or won't be delivered to that person. They won't see the group text at all. If you need to include them, ask another group member to add them instead.

What's the difference between a group text and a group chat in an app?

A group text uses your phone's built-in messaging system and your carrier's network. A group chat in an app like WhatsApp or Telegram uses the internet instead. App-based chats are usually more reliable for large groups, support more features like file sharing and voice messages, and don't count toward your text message limit.

Why do some people not see my messages in a group text?

This usually happens if their phone number is wrong in your contacts, if they've left the group, or if there's a carrier or network issue. Ask them to confirm they received the message. If it's a recurring problem with one person, try removing and re-adding them to the group.

Can I schedule a group text to send later?

The built-in Messages app on iPhone and most Android phones doesn't support scheduled messages. However, Google Messages (on Android) and some third-party apps do. Open Google Messages, compose your group text, hold down the send button, and select "Schedule message" to pick a date and time.

Do group texts use more data than regular texts?

Standard SMS group texts don't use data — they use your carrier's text message system. However, if your group text falls back to MMS (multimedia messaging) because someone sent a photo or video, it may use a small amount of data depending on your plan. Apps like WhatsApp and Telegram use data or WiFi instead of SMS, so they don't count toward your text limit.