What a group text is and how to create one
A group text is a single conversation thread where you send one message to multiple people at once, and everyone in the group can see each other's replies. On iPhone, you create one by opening the Messages app, tapping the pencil icon to start a new message, then typing or selecting the names of the people you want to include. Once you send that first message, the group is formed and stays together as a conversation.
The key difference from sending individual texts is that group members see the whole thread — they know who else is in the conversation and can read what everyone has written. This makes group texts useful for coordinating plans with friends, keeping family updated, or working through something with a team.
Key Takeaways
- Open Messages, tap the pencil icon, and add multiple contacts to create a group text that all members can see and reply to.
- You can name the group by tapping the group name at the top of the conversation after the first message is sent.
- Group texts work over regular text messaging (SMS) or iMessage depending on your phone plan and whether all members have iPhones.
- You can add or remove people from an existing group text by opening the conversation and tapping the group name at the top.
- Muting a group text stops notifications without leaving the conversation, which is useful if the group becomes very active.
Step-by-step: Creating your first group text
Start by opening the Messages app on your home screen. In the lower right corner, you'll see a pencil icon inside a square — tap that to begin a new message. A blank message window opens with a field that says "To:".
Type the first person's name or phone number in the "To:" field. As you type, your contacts appear below — tap the name you want to add. Then type the next person's name and add them the same way. Keep adding people until your group is complete. You can add as many people as you want, though groups with more than 10 or 15 people sometimes become harder to follow.
Once you've added everyone, tap in the message field at the bottom and type what you want to say. Hit send. The group text is now created and will appear in your Messages list as a conversation with all the names shown at the top.
Naming your group text
When you first create a group text, iPhone doesn't give it a custom name — it just shows the names of everyone in it. If you want to give it a shorter or more descriptive name, open the group conversation and tap the names at the very top of the screen.
A menu appears with options. Tap "Edit Name and Photo" (or just the group name, depending on your iOS version). You can now type a custom name like "Weekend Plans" or "Book Club" instead of seeing a list of names. You can also add a group emoji or photo if you want — tap the circle with the plus sign to choose one.
Once you've named it, tap "Done" and the new name appears at the top of the conversation. Everyone in the group will see the name you chose.
The difference between iMessage and SMS group texts
If everyone in your group has an iPhone and iMessage is turned on, your group text uses iMessage — Apple's encrypted messaging system. These messages are sent over data or WiFi, not through your cell phone plan, and you'll see them in blue bubbles.
If even one person in the group has an Android phone or doesn't have iMessage turned on, the entire group text switches to SMS (regular text messaging). These appear in green bubbles and use your text message plan. SMS group texts work the same way — everyone still sees all the replies — but they're not encrypted and they count against your texting limit if you have one.
You don't have to do anything to make this switch happen. iPhone detects who's in the group and automatically uses the right system. If someone leaves the group or turns off iMessage, the whole group may switch from blue to green.
Adding or removing people from an existing group
To add someone to a group text that's already started, open the conversation and tap the group name at the top. Tap "Edit Name and Photo" or look for an "Add Contact" option (the exact wording varies by iOS version). Type the new person's name and add them.
To remove someone, open the group, tap the names at the top, and look for the person you want to remove. Swipe left on their name or tap the minus sign next to it, then confirm. That person will no longer receive new messages in the group, and everyone else will see a notification that they've been removed.
You can only remove people from iMessage group texts. If the group is using SMS (green bubbles), you cannot remove individual members — you'd have to start a new group without that person.
Muting notifications without leaving the group
If a group text becomes very active and you're getting too many notifications, you can mute it without actually leaving the conversation. Swipe left on the group in your Messages list (or long-press it, depending on your iOS version) and tap "Mute". You'll still see the messages and can reply whenever you want, but you won't get a notification sound or badge every time someone writes.
To unmute it later, swipe left again and tap "Unmute". You can also customize notifications for a specific group by opening it, tapping the group name at the top, and choosing notification settings — you can turn off sounds, badges, or previews without muting the whole conversation.
Leaving a group text
If you want to leave a group text entirely, open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Leave This Conversation". You'll be removed from the group and won't see any new messages. Everyone else will see a notification that you've left.
Once you leave, you cannot rejoin on your own — someone in the group would have to add you back. This is different from muting, where you stay in the conversation but just don't get notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a group text with people who don't have iPhones?
Yes. If you add Android users or anyone without iMessage, the group automatically switches to SMS and works the same way. Everyone still sees all the messages and replies in one thread. The only limitation is that you cannot remove individual people from an SMS group — you'd have to start a new one.
What happens if I add someone to a group text after messages have already been sent?
The new person joins the conversation and can see all the messages that were sent before they were added. They're now part of the group and will receive all future messages. There's no way to hide the earlier conversation from them.
Why do my group texts sometimes show as individual conversations?
This usually happens if iMessage is off or if you're texting someone who doesn't have iMessage. Check Settings > Messages and make sure iMessage is turned on. If it's on but still happening, the other person may have iMessage disabled on their end, which forces the whole group to use SMS instead.
Can I schedule a group text to send later?
Not directly in the Messages app on iPhone. You can type the message, hold down the send button, and look for a "Send Later" option in newer iOS versions, but this feature is limited. For more control over scheduled messages, you'd need to use a third-party app from the App Store.
What's the maximum number of people I can add to a group text?
Technically there's no hard limit, but group texts with more than 20 or 30 people become difficult to follow and may slow down. Most people keep groups to 10 or fewer for practical reasons. Very large groups are usually better handled through a messaging app like WhatsApp or Slack.