Forwarding a text means sending someone else's message to a third person
When you forward a text message, you take a message someone sent you and send it to someone else. The forwarded message includes the original text, and on most phones it shows who originally sent it. You are not creating a new message — you are passing along an existing one.
This is different from copying the text and pasting it into a new message, though the result looks similar to the person who receives it. Forwarding is faster and keeps the original sender's name visible, so the recipient knows where the message came from.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, open the message thread, press and hold the specific message you want to forward, then tap "More" and select the forward arrow icon.
- On Android, open the message thread, long-press the message, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Forward" from the options.
- The forwarded message will show the original sender's name so the recipient knows who wrote it.
- You can forward a single message or multiple messages at once by selecting them before forwarding.
How to forward a text on iPhone
Open the Messages app and find the conversation containing the message you want to forward. Locate the specific message and press and hold it with your finger until a menu appears with several options.
Tap "More" at the bottom of the menu. This will let you select additional messages if you want to forward more than one at a time. Once you have selected the message or messages you want, look for the forward arrow icon — it looks like an arrow pointing to the right and is usually in the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap it.
A new message window will open. Type the name or phone number of the person you want to send the forwarded message to, then tap "Send". The message will arrive in their inbox with the original sender's name attached.
How to forward a text on Android
Open your default messaging app (usually called Messages, SMS, or your carrier's app) and find the conversation with the message you want to forward. Press and hold the specific message until it is highlighted or a menu appears.
Look for a three-dot menu icon (sometimes called a "more" menu) and tap it. From the options that appear, select "Forward". If you do not see a forward option, your messaging app may not support forwarding — in that case, you can copy the message text and paste it into a new message instead.
A new message window will open with the original message text ready to send. Enter the phone number or contact name of the person you want to forward it to, then tap "Send".
What happens when you forward a message
The person who receives the forwarded message will see the original text plus the name of the person who originally sent it. On iPhone, it usually appears with "From:" followed by the sender's name. On Android, the format varies depending on which messaging app you use, but the original sender is typically identified.
The original sender does not get notified that you forwarded their message. They will not see any record of it on their end. Only the person you forward it to will receive it.
When forwarding a text might not work
Some messaging apps do not have a built-in forward feature. If you use WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or another third-party messaging service, the forward button may look different or work differently than it does in your standard text messaging app.
If you cannot find a forward option, the simplest workaround is to select and copy the message text, then paste it into a new message to the person you want to send it to. You can also take a screenshot of the message and send that as an image, though this is slower and uses more data.
Forwarding multiple messages at once
Both iPhone and Android let you forward more than one message in a single action. On iPhone, after you press and hold the first message and tap "More", you can tap other messages in the same conversation to select them all. A number will appear on each selected message showing how many you have chosen.
On Android, the process is similar — long-press the first message, then tap additional messages to select multiple ones. Once you have selected all the messages you want, tap the forward option and choose your recipient.
When you forward multiple messages, they will arrive as a group in the order they were sent originally, so the recipient can see the full conversation thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the person I forward a message to know it was forwarded?
Yes, they will see the original sender's name attached to the message. On most phones, it will say "From:" followed by the person who originally sent it. This makes it clear the message came from someone else, not directly from you.
Can I forward a message to multiple people at once?
No, you have to forward to one person at a time. After you tap the forward button, you enter one phone number or contact. If you want the same message to go to several people, you will need to repeat the forward process for each person.
What if I do not see a forward option in my messaging app?
Not all messaging apps have a forward feature. If yours does not, copy the message text by pressing and holding it, select "Copy", then open a new message and paste it. You can also take a screenshot and send that as an image instead.
Will the original sender know I forwarded their message?
No, the original sender will not be notified. They will not see any record that you forwarded their message to someone else. Only you and the person you forward it to will know it happened.