The two ways to forward a text on Android
Android gives you two paths to forward a text message: through your default messaging app or by copying the message and pasting it into a new conversation. The method you choose depends on which app you use and whether you want to forward to one person or several at once.
The fastest route for most people is the built-in forward button in their messaging app. Google Messages (the default on most newer Android phones) and Samsung Messages both have a dedicated forward option. If your phone uses a different app, the steps may differ slightly, but the principle is the same: open the conversation, find the message, and look for a forward or share option.
If your app does not have a forward button, or if you need to send the same message to multiple people at once, copying and pasting works on every Android phone and every messaging app. It takes a few more taps, but it is reliable.
Key Takeaways
- Google Messages and Samsung Messages both have a dedicated forward button — press and hold the message, then tap the forward icon.
- Forwarding through your messaging app sends the message as a new text, not as a screenshot or quoted reply.
- If your app lacks a forward option, press and hold the message, tap copy, open a new conversation, and paste.
- When you forward a message that contains a link or code, the recipient sees the exact same text you received — so verify the content is safe before forwarding.
Forward a text in Google Messages
Open the conversation containing the message you want to forward. Press and hold the message until a menu appears with several options. Tap the forward arrow icon (it looks like an arrow pointing to the right and slightly upward). A new compose window opens with the message text already filled in.
Type the recipient's name or phone number in the "To" field, then tap send. The message goes out as a new text from you, not as a quote or screenshot. The recipient receives it exactly as you did.
If you need to forward the same message to multiple people, you can repeat these steps for each recipient, or you can type multiple phone numbers or names in the "To" field separated by commas or semicolons (depending on your phone's keyboard).
Forward a text in Samsung Messages
Open the conversation and press and hold the message you want to forward. A toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen. Look for the forward icon — it typically looks like an arrow or a share symbol. Tap it.
A new compose window opens with the message text ready to send. Enter the recipient's phone number or contact name and tap send. Like Google Messages, Samsung Messages sends the forwarded text as a new message from you.
Samsung Messages also allows you to select multiple messages at once if you want to forward several texts in the same conversation. Press and hold the first message, then tap the other messages you want to include. When you tap forward, all selected messages go into the compose window together.
Forward a text when your app has no forward button
Not all messaging apps include a dedicated forward feature. If yours does not, the copy-and-paste method works universally. Open the conversation and press and hold the message you want to forward until a menu appears. Tap "Copy" (the exact wording varies by app, but it is usually one of the first options).
Open a new conversation with the person you want to send it to, or start a new message by tapping the compose button. Press and hold in the message field and tap "Paste." The text appears in the compose window. Tap send.
This method works with any messaging app on Android, including WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and others. The downside is that you have to repeat the process for each recipient if you want to send the message to multiple people.
What happens when you forward a message with a link or code
When you forward a text that contains a link, phone number, or code (like a two-factor authentication code), the recipient receives the exact same text you did. This is important to understand because it means you are passing along whatever security risk the message carries.
If the original message was a phishing attempt or contained a malicious link, forwarding it sends that same link to the new recipient. Before you forward any message that asks you to click a link, verify that it came from a legitimate source — call the organization directly using a phone number you find yourself, do not use a number from the message itself.
Two-factor authentication codes are time-sensitive and usually expire within minutes. If you forward a code to someone else, it may no longer be valid by the time they receive it, depending on your network speed and their phone's clock.
Forward a conversation instead of a single message
If you want to share an entire conversation rather than one message, most Android messaging apps do not have a built-in option to forward the whole thread at once. Instead, you have two choices: forward individual messages one at a time, or take a screenshot of the conversation and send it as an image.
Screenshots preserve the appearance of the conversation but create an image file rather than text. The recipient cannot copy text from a screenshot as easily as they can from a forwarded message, and screenshots take up more storage space. Use screenshots when you need to show someone what the conversation looked like, including the sender's name and timestamp. Use individual message forwarding when you want to share just the important parts as text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the original sender know I forwarded their message?
No. Android messaging apps do not notify the original sender when you forward their message. The forwarded text appears as a new message from you to the recipient, with no indication of where it came from.
Can I forward a message I received from someone else, or does it have to be from a conversation I started?
You can forward any message in any conversation, whether you started it or someone else did. The forward function works the same way regardless of who sent the original message.
What if I forward a message and the recipient asks me where it came from?
When you forward a message, the recipient sees only the text content — they do not see the sender's name or the original timestamp. If they need to know who sent it or when, you will need to tell them separately.
Can I edit a message before I forward it?
Yes. After you tap forward and the message appears in the compose window, you can edit the text before sending. Delete or add words as needed, then tap send. The recipient receives your edited version, not the original.
Is forwarding a text message the same as forwarding an email?
The concept is the same — you are sending someone else's message to a new recipient — but the mechanics differ. Text forwarding sends the message as a new SMS or MMS, while email forwarding typically includes headers showing the original sender and date. Text messages do not include that metadata by default.