Creating a group text message takes four steps
Open the Messages app on your iPhone. Tap the pencil-and-paper icon in the upper left corner (or swipe left on your home screen if you use iOS 18 or later). Tap "New Message". Type or search for the first person you want to add, tap their name when it appears, then repeat for each additional person. Once you have added everyone, type your message and send.
The group chat appears in your Messages list with all the names shown at the top. Everyone in the group receives the message and can reply to the whole group. On iPhone, group texts sent this way use SMS (standard text messaging) unless everyone in the group has iMessage turned on — in which case the chat automatically switches to iMessage and appears in blue instead of green.
If you want to create a group using iMessage instead of SMS from the start, the steps are identical. The app handles the switch automatically based on who has iMessage enabled. You can also add people to an existing chat by opening it, tapping "Details" in the upper right, scrolling down, and tapping "Add Contact".
Key Takeaways
- Group texts on iPhone start in the Messages app using the new message button, and you add people one at a time before sending.
- If everyone has iMessage turned on, the group chat uses iMessage (blue bubbles) instead of SMS (green bubbles), which offers end-to-end encryption.
- You can add or remove people from an existing group chat by opening it and tapping Details, then Add Contact or Remove Contact.
- Group chats using SMS are not encrypted, so messages pass through your carrier's servers; iMessage groups are encrypted end-to-end.
The difference between SMS groups and iMessage groups
When your group chat uses SMS (green bubbles), each message goes through your phone carrier's network. The carrier can see the content of the messages, and they are stored on their servers temporarily. If someone in the group does not have iMessage, the entire chat defaults to SMS for everyone. This is the less find option if privacy is a concern.
When your group chat uses iMessage (blue bubbles), Apple's servers never see the message content. The messages are encrypted end-to-end, meaning only the people in the chat can read them — not Apple, not your carrier, not anyone intercepting the data. iMessage groups require everyone to have an Apple device with iMessage enabled and an active internet connection (WiFi or cellular data).
You can check which type of chat you are in by looking at the bubble color. You can also open the chat, tap Details, and scroll down to see whether it says "Send as SMS" or shows iMessage icons next to each person's name. If you see a mix — some people with iMessage, some without — the chat uses SMS for the whole group.
Adding and removing people from an existing group
To add someone to a group chat you already started, open the chat, tap "Details" in the upper right corner, scroll down, and tap "Add Contact". Search for or select the person you want to add. They will see all future messages in the group but not the conversation history before they joined.
To remove someone, open the same Details screen, find their name in the list, swipe left on it, and tap "Remove". That person will no longer receive messages from the group. If you remove yourself from a group chat, you stop receiving messages but the chat stays in your Messages list — you can tap it again to rejoin if someone adds you back.
Naming a group chat and customizing notifications
Open the group chat and tap "Details" in the upper right. Tap the group name at the very top (it usually shows all the names of people in the chat). Type a custom name and tap "Done". This name appears in your Messages list and in the chat header, making it easier to find the conversation later.
While you are in Details, you can also customize how you are notified about messages. Tap "Hide Alerts" to silence notifications without leaving the chat, or tap "Notifications" to set a custom sound or vibration pattern. You can also turn on "Do Not Disturb" for just this chat, which mutes notifications during specific hours you set.
Why group chats sometimes fail to send or show errors
If a message in a group chat shows a red exclamation mark, it usually means one person's phone number or iMessage address could not be reached. This happens when someone has turned off iMessage, changed their number, or has no internet connection. Tap the message and select "Try Again" to resend, or tap "Details" to see which person's address failed.
If the entire group chat stops working, check whether everyone still has iMessage enabled (if it is an iMessage group) or whether everyone has a working phone number (if it is an SMS group). You can also try removing the person with the problem and adding them back, which sometimes resets the connection.
Group chats using iMessage require an active internet connection for all members. If someone is on WiFi that is not working properly, or if their cellular data is off, they may not receive messages until they reconnect. SMS groups work without internet but depend on carrier service, so poor signal can cause delays.
Privacy and security considerations for group chats
iMessage groups are encrypted end-to-end, which means Apple cannot read your messages and neither can anyone intercepting your data. However, Apple can see that a conversation is happening, who is in it, and when messages are sent — they just cannot see the content. SMS groups have no encryption at all; your carrier and anyone with access to carrier records can read the full message.
If your group includes people outside your trusted circle, remember that anyone in the chat can screenshot or forward your messages. Encryption protects messages in transit, but it does not prevent someone in the group from sharing what you said. Group chats also create a record on each person's phone, so if someone loses their device, the conversation history could be accessed.
For conversations with sensitive information, consider whether a group text is the right tool. Some people prefer encrypted messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp for groups where privacy is important, because those apps offer additional features like disappearing messages and the ability to leave without notifying everyone. However, for everyday group coordination, iMessage groups offer reasonable privacy if everyone in the group is someone you trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a group chat with people who have Android phones?
Yes, but the chat will use SMS instead of iMessage. This means the messages are not encrypted and go through your carrier. Everyone will see green bubbles instead of blue, and some iPhone-specific features like reactions and Memoji will not work for the whole group.
What happens if I leave a group chat?
You stop receiving messages from that group. The chat stays in your Messages list, and you can tap it to see the old conversation history. If someone adds you back, you will start receiving new messages again, but you will not see messages sent while you were out.
Can I see who read my message in a group chat?
Only in iMessage groups. Open the chat, tap "Details", and scroll down to see read receipts next to each person's name if they have read receipts turned on. In SMS groups, there is no way to know if someone has read your message.
Why do some people in my group chat have blue names and others have gray?
Blue names mean that person has iMessage enabled on an Apple device. Gray names mean they are receiving the message via SMS (either because they have an Android phone or have iMessage turned off). If anyone in the group has a gray name, the entire chat uses SMS.
Can I send a message to just one person in a group chat without leaving?
Yes. Open the group chat, find the person you want to message, press and hold their name or message, and tap "Send Message". This opens a separate one-on-one chat with that person without affecting the group.