Open the conversation and tap Details to add someone

To add a person to an existing group text on iPhone, open the conversation thread, then tap the group name or the circle of profile pictures at the top of the screen. This opens the Details panel. Scroll down and tap Add Contact, then select the person you want to add from your contacts. They will be added to the thread when ready, and everyone in the group will see a notification that they joined.

If you do not see an Add Contact button, the conversation may be a one-on-one text rather than a group. You can convert it to a group by tapping the + icon next to the message field and selecting a contact, but this creates a new thread rather than adding someone to the existing one.

The person you add will see the entire conversation history once they join. They can read all previous messages in that thread, so there is no need to catch them up separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the group name or profile pictures at the top of a group text, then scroll to Add Contact to add someone to an existing conversation.
  • The new person will see all previous messages in the thread once they join the group.
  • Everyone in the group receives a notification when a new person is added.
  • You can only add people to group texts; one-on-one conversations cannot have members added without creating a new thread.
  • Group texts work over SMS and iMessage depending on your settings, but the add process is the same for both.

What happens when you add someone to a group text

When you tap Add Contact and select a person, that person receives a notification that they have been added to the group. On their iPhone, the conversation will appear in their Messages app with all previous messages visible. They can start responding when ready.

All other members of the group see a system message in the thread saying "[Your Name] added [New Person's Name]." This message appears in the conversation history so everyone knows when someone joined and who added them.

If the group text is using iMessage (the blue message bubbles), the new person must have an Apple device or an iCloud account to receive messages as iMessage. If the group is using SMS (green bubbles), the new person will receive texts normally on any phone.

Removing someone from a group text

To remove a person from a group text, open the Details panel the same way you added them. Scroll down to see the list of members, then swipe left on the person's name. A red Remove button will appear. Tap it to remove them from the group.

The removed person will no longer receive new messages in that thread, but they will still see all the messages they received before being removed. Everyone else in the group will see a notification that the person was removed.

You can only remove people from a group text if you created the group or if you are using iMessage. SMS group texts do not allow removal in the same way — you may need to create a new group without that person instead.

Naming your group text

Group texts can have a custom name instead of just showing the members' names. Open the Details panel and tap the group name at the top (it may say "Group Conversation" or show the members' names). Tap Enter a Group Name and type what you want to call the group. Tap Done to save it.

A custom name makes it easier to find the conversation later and helps everyone know what the group is for. You can change the name at any time by following the same steps.

Turning off notifications for a group text

If a group text is sending too many notifications, you can mute it without leaving the conversation. Open the Details panel, scroll down, and toggle off Hide Alerts or Mute (the exact wording depends on your iOS version). You will still receive messages, but your phone will not buzz or light up for each one.

You can also set a custom notification sound for a group so you can tell it apart from other conversations. In the Details panel, tap Notification Sound and choose a different sound from the list.

Group texts versus group chats in iMessage

A group text sent over SMS works differently than a group conversation in iMessage. With SMS group texts, replies sometimes go only to you instead of to the whole group, depending on the recipient's phone settings. iMessage groups always send replies to everyone.

If everyone in your group has an iPhone or uses iMessage, the conversation will use iMessage by default (blue bubbles). If even one person has an Android phone or does not use iMessage, the entire conversation switches to SMS (green bubbles). You cannot force a conversation to stay in iMessage if one member cannot receive iMessage.

When you add someone to a group, their device type determines whether the group stays in iMessage or switches to SMS. Adding an Android user to an iMessage group will convert the entire group to SMS.

Troubleshooting: Why you cannot add someone

If the Add Contact button does not appear, check whether the conversation is actually a group. One-on-one texts do not have an add option. To start a group with that person and someone else, create a new message and add both contacts.

If you are trying to add someone but the button is grayed out or missing, restart your iPhone and try again. Sometimes the Messages app needs to refresh to show all options.

If the person you want to add is not in your contacts, you can still add them by typing their phone number or email address in the Add Contact field. They will receive the message once you send it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone to a one-on-one text without creating a new conversation?

No. One-on-one texts cannot have members added. You must create a new group message with all the people you want to include. The original two-person conversation will remain separate.

Will the new person see messages sent before they were added?

Yes. When someone joins a group text, they can see all previous messages in that thread. There is no way to hide earlier messages from new members.

What is the maximum number of people in a group text?

iPhone does not have a strict limit, but group texts with very large numbers of people (over 100) may become slow or unreliable. Most people keep groups under 20 members for practical reasons.

If I remove someone from a group, can they still see the old messages?

Yes. Removing someone stops them from receiving new messages, but they keep all the messages they received before being removed. You cannot delete their access to past conversations.

Does adding someone to a group text cost extra?

No. Group texts use your regular text message plan or iMessage data, just like one-on-one texts. Adding more people does not change the cost.