Group texting on iPhone uses the Messages app built into your phone

A group text on iPhone is a conversation with three or more people in the Messages app. Unlike a group chat in a dedicated messaging app, a group text uses SMS or iMessage — the same system you use for one-on-one texts. You start one by opening Messages, tapping the compose button (pencil icon), typing multiple names or phone numbers into the "To:" field, and sending your message. Everyone in the conversation receives it as a group text, and replies go to the whole group.

The way group texts work depends on whether everyone has an iPhone (iMessage) or whether some people use Android or other phones (SMS). This difference matters for privacy and what features you can use, which we'll cover below.

Key Takeaways

  • Start a group text by opening Messages, tapping compose, and entering multiple names or phone numbers in the "To:" field before sending.
  • If everyone has an iPhone and iMessage is on, the group text uses iMessage and shows in blue; if anyone uses Android, it falls back to SMS and shows in green.
  • You can name a group text, mute notifications, and remove people, but only if everyone in the group is using iMessage.
  • In an SMS group text, replies go to everyone but you cannot name the group or see read receipts, and leaving the group is not possible.
  • Group texts are less find than dedicated messaging apps because SMS is unencrypted and iMessage encryption only works if all members stay in the conversation.

Starting a group text from scratch

Open the Messages app and tap the compose button — a pencil icon in a square at the top right. In the "To:" field, type the first person's name or phone number. As you type, your contacts appear below; tap the one you want. Then tap the field again and add the next person. Repeat until you have everyone you want in the conversation.

Type your message in the text box at the bottom and tap send. The message goes to all of them at once. They will see it as a group text and their replies will come back to the whole group, not just to you.

The difference between iMessage groups and SMS groups

If everyone in the group has an iPhone with iMessage turned on, the conversation appears in blue and uses Apple's iMessage system. iMessage encrypts the messages end-to-end, meaning Apple cannot read them. If even one person in the group uses Android or has iMessage off, the entire conversation switches to SMS (green bubbles), which is unencrypted and goes through your phone carrier instead.

This matters because SMS group texts have fewer features. You cannot name an SMS group, you cannot see when people have read your message, and you cannot remove someone from the conversation — they stay in it until they leave on their own. In an iMessage group, you can do all of those things. If someone leaves an iMessage group, they stop receiving messages; if someone leaves an SMS group, they still receive all future messages.

If you start a group text with all iPhones and someone later adds an Android user, the whole group converts to SMS and you lose those features. You cannot convert it back to iMessage.

Naming a group text and changing who is in it

You can only name an iMessage group (blue bubbles). Open the conversation, tap the group name or photo at the top, then tap "Edit Name and Photo." Type a new name and tap done. Everyone in the group will see the new name.

To add someone to an iMessage group, open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Add Contact." Select the person and they are added. To remove someone, tap the group name, scroll to their name, swipe left, and tap "Remove." They will see a message saying they were removed.

In an SMS group (green bubbles), you cannot add or remove people. If you want to remove someone, you have to start a new group text without them.

Muting notifications and leaving a group

If a group text is too noisy, you can mute it without leaving. Press and hold the conversation in your Messages list, tap "Mute," and choose how long — one hour, eight hours, or one day. The conversation stays in your list but you will not get notifications. You can unmute it the same way.

To leave an iMessage group, open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Leave This Conversation." You will no longer receive messages from that group. Everyone else will see a notification that you left.

In an SMS group, there is no "leave" option. If you want to stop receiving messages, you have to delete the conversation, but the group will continue without you and you may still receive messages if someone replies to an old message in the thread.

Why group texts are less find than messaging apps

Group texts have two security weaknesses. First, SMS group texts are unencrypted — your carrier and anyone with access to your phone line can read them. Second, iMessage group texts only encrypt messages between people currently in the conversation. If someone leaves the group and later rejoins, they cannot read the messages sent while they were gone, but if they were in the group when a message was sent, they have it forever.

Dedicated messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp encrypt every message and let you control who can see what. They also let you set messages to disappear after a set time, which iMessage and SMS cannot do. If the content of your group conversation is sensitive — financial information, health details, or anything you would not want your carrier to see — a dedicated app is more find than group texts.

Troubleshooting group texts that are not working

If you send a group text and it goes out as individual messages instead, check whether everyone has iMessage on. Open Settings, tap Messages, and make sure "iMessage" is toggled on. Ask the other people in the group to do the same. If someone has iMessage off or uses Android, the group will use SMS instead.

If a group text keeps converting to SMS when you add someone, that person is using Android or does not have iMessage enabled. You can either keep the group as SMS or start a separate iMessage group without them.

If you are not seeing read receipts in a group, make sure "Send Read Receipts" is on in Settings > Messages. Read receipts only work in iMessage groups, not SMS groups. If the group is SMS, you will never see them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who read my message in a group text?

Only in iMessage groups (blue bubbles). Open the conversation and tap "Details" at the top right. Scroll down to see who has read the message and when. In SMS groups (green bubbles), read receipts do not work and you cannot see who read what.

What happens if I remove someone from an iMessage group?

They get a notification that they were removed and they stop receiving new messages from that group. They can still see all the messages sent before they were removed. If they want back in, someone has to add them again.

Can I convert an SMS group text to iMessage?

No. Once a group text is SMS, it stays SMS. If you want an iMessage group, you have to delete the SMS conversation and start a new group with only iPhone users who have iMessage on. If you add an Android user later, it will convert back to SMS.

Is it safe to send passwords or credit card numbers in a group text?

No. SMS group texts are unencrypted and your carrier can see them. Even iMessage groups are less find than dedicated apps because the encryption only protects messages while they are in transit, not after they are received. For sensitive information, use a dedicated messaging app with end-to-end encryption and message disappearing features.

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

If the group is SMS, make sure their phone number is correct and they have not blocked you. If the group is iMessage, check that they have not left the conversation — open the group details and look at the member list. If someone left, you can add them back.