The basic answer: it depends on your app and who started the conversation

You cannot remove a person from a group text on every messaging app the same way. Some apps let any member remove anyone else. Others let only the group creator or administrator remove people. A few apps do not have a remove function at all — you have to delete the entire conversation and start a new one without that person.

The method also differs between iPhone and Android, and between built-in texting apps and third-party apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal. Before you try to remove someone, check whether your app actually has a remove feature. If it does not, you will need to create a new group instead.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone's built-in Messages app lets any group member remove anyone else, but Android's default SMS app often does not have this feature at all.
  • WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal all have remove functions, but only group admins can use them — the person who created the group or someone the creator promoted.
  • Removing someone from a group text does not delete past messages from that person; it only stops them from receiving new messages and sending new ones.
  • If your app has no remove button, the only option is to create a new group conversation and invite everyone except the person you want to exclude.

How to remove someone on iPhone Messages

Open the group conversation. Tap the group name or number at the very top of the screen. This opens the group details panel on the right side of your screen.

Scroll down until you see the list of people in the group. Find the person you want to remove and tap their name. A menu will appear with options including "Remove from Group". Tap that option. The person is now removed and will no longer see new messages in this conversation.

If you do not see a "Remove from Group" option, your conversation may not be a true group text — it might be a regular text thread with multiple people. In that case, you will need to create a new group conversation without that person.

How to remove someone on Android Messages

The built-in Messages app on most Android phones does not have a remove function for SMS or MMS group texts. If you are using the default Google Messages app or your phone's native texting app, you cannot remove a single person from the group.

Your only option is to start a new group conversation. Create a new message, add everyone you want in the group except the person you are removing, and continue the conversation there. You can copy and paste important information from the old group into the new one if needed.

If you are using a third-party app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal instead of your phone's default texting app, follow the instructions in the section below for that specific app.

How to remove someone from WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal

These apps work similarly, but you must be a group admin to remove someone. If you created the group, you are automatically an admin. If someone else created it, ask them to promote you to admin first, or ask them to remove the person for you.

On WhatsApp: Open the group chat. Tap the group name at the top. Scroll to the member list. Press and hold the person's name, then tap "Remove". They are now out of the group.

On Telegram: Open the group. Tap the group name at the top to see members. Find the person you want to remove. Tap their name, then tap "Remove from Group".

On Signal: Open the group conversation. Tap the group name at the top. Find the person in the member list. Tap their name, then tap "Remove from group".

In all three apps, the removed person will see that they have been removed and will not be able to send or receive messages in that group anymore. However, they can still see all the messages that were sent before they were removed.

What happens after you remove someone

The person you removed will no longer receive any new messages sent to the group. They also cannot send messages to the group anymore. However, they can still see all the old messages in the conversation — removing someone does not erase the chat history.

The other group members will see a notification that the person has been removed (on most apps). The removed person will also see a notification on their end saying they were removed from the group, though the exact wording depends on which app you are using.

If the person you removed was an admin in WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal, they lose admin status when removed. If you need to remove an admin, the group creator is the only person who can do it on most of these apps.

If your app does not have a remove button

Some older texting apps and some regional messaging services do not have a built-in remove function. If you have tried the steps above and cannot find a remove option, your app straightforward does not support it.

Create a new group conversation instead. Start a new message, add all the people you want except the person you are removing, and give the group a name if your app requires it. You can copy important information from the old conversation into the new one, or just start fresh.

Let the remaining group members know that you have created a new group and ask them to use that one going forward. You can leave the old group conversation open or delete it — either way, the person you wanted to remove will not be part of the new conversation.

Common mistakes that prevent removal

You are not an admin. On WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, only admins can remove people. If you did not create the group and were not promoted to admin, you cannot remove anyone. Ask the group creator to do it, or ask them to make you an admin first.

You are trying to remove yourself. Most apps do not let you remove yourself from a group — you have to leave the group instead. Look for a "Leave Group" option in the group details menu.

The conversation is not actually a group text. If you are texting multiple people but the app treats it as individual one-on-one conversations, there is no group to remove someone from. You would need to create an actual group conversation in an app that supports groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I removed see old messages in the group?

Yes. Removing someone only stops them from receiving new messages and sending new ones. All messages sent before the removal are still visible to them in their chat history. If you need to delete old messages, you will have to delete the entire conversation and start over with a new group.

What if I remove someone by mistake?

You can add them back by opening the group details and selecting "Add Members" or "Add Participant". On most apps, there is no limit to how many times you can add and remove the same person. Just invite them back into the group.

Can I remove someone without them knowing?

No. On WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and most other apps, the removed person receives a notification that they have been removed from the group. They will also notice they can no longer see new messages or send messages to that group.

What is the difference between removing someone and muting them?

Removing someone takes them out of the group entirely — they cannot see new messages or participate. Muting silences their notifications for you, but they remain in the group and can still send messages that you will see when you unmute. Muting is useful if someone is sending too many messages but you want them to stay in the conversation.

Can I remove someone from a group text on my computer?

It depends on the app. WhatsApp Web, Telegram Desktop, and Signal Desktop all let you remove group members if you are an admin. Open the group, find the member list, and look for a remove option next to each person's name. SMS group texts cannot be managed from a computer.