What a group text is and how to create one

A group text is a single message conversation that includes three or more people at once. When you send a message to a group text, everyone in that conversation sees it — not just one person. On iPhone, you create a group text by opening the Messages app, starting a new message, and adding multiple phone numbers or contact names before you type anything.

The simplest way is to tap the pencil-and-paper icon in the Messages app (top right on newer iPhones, or top left on older ones), then tap the plus sign to add recipients. Type or tap each person's name or number, and they appear in a row at the top. Once you have everyone you want, tap in the message field and type your message. When you hit send, that message goes to all of them at once, and their replies come back to the same conversation thread.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Messages, tap the compose button (pencil icon), and add three or more contacts before typing your first message.
  • Everyone in the group sees all replies, so the conversation stays in one thread instead of separate one-on-one chats.
  • You can name the group by tapping the group name at the top of the conversation and selecting "Edit Name and Photo".
  • Group texts work over regular text messaging (SMS) or iMessage depending on who is in the group and what network they use.

The difference between iMessage groups and SMS groups

If everyone in your group has an iPhone and iMessage is turned on, the group text uses iMessage — Apple's encrypted messaging system. These messages send over data or WiFi, not your phone plan's text allowance. iMessage groups show a blue bubble around the conversation and let you add or remove people, name the group, and see when people are typing.

If even one person in the group has an Android phone or does not have iMessage turned on, the group becomes an SMS group text instead. SMS groups send over your carrier's text network, use your text plan, and show in a green bubble. You cannot name SMS groups or remove people — you can only mute notifications or leave the conversation entirely. The iPhone will tell you which type you are using by the color of the message bubble.

Step-by-step: Creating your first group text

Open the Messages app and look for the compose button. On iPhone 14 and newer, it is a pencil-and-paper icon in the top right corner. On older iPhones, it is in the top left. Tap it once.

You will see a field that says "To:" with a plus sign next to it. Tap in that field or tap the plus sign. Start typing the first person's name — their contact will appear as a suggestion. Tap their name to add them. Repeat this for each person you want in the group. You need at least three people total (including yourself) for it to be a group text.

Once everyone is added, tap in the message field at the bottom and type your message. You will see all the recipients listed at the top of the screen. Tap the send button (arrow icon) to send the message to everyone at once. The conversation will now appear in your Messages list as a group thread with all the names showing.

Naming a group text and changing who is in it

If your group text is an iMessage (blue bubble), you can name it and change who is in it. Open the group conversation, then tap the group name or photo at the very top of the screen. Tap "Edit Name and Photo" to give the group a custom name — something like "Book Club" or "Weekend Plans". You can also add a photo or emoji to represent the group.

To add someone new to an iMessage group, open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, and tap "Add Contact". To remove someone, tap their name in that same menu and select "Remove from Group". These changes only work in iMessage groups. If your group is SMS (green bubble), you cannot change the name or remove people — you can only leave the conversation yourself.

Why your group text might show as individual messages

Sometimes when you send a message to multiple people, it does not create a group thread — instead, you see separate one-on-one conversations with each person. This usually happens because you sent individual messages instead of creating a group text first. The fix is to start over: create a new group text with all three people at once, rather than sending the same message to each person separately.

Another reason is that one person in the group does not have iMessage turned on and your phone defaulted to SMS. In that case, the group text may not work the way you expect. Check the message bubble color — if it is green, you are using SMS and some features like naming the group will not be available.

Muting notifications from a group text

If a group text is sending too many notifications, you can mute it without leaving the conversation. Open the group, swipe left on it (or long-press it), and tap "Mute". You can choose to mute it for one hour, eight hours, or until you turn notifications back on. The messages will still arrive and stay in the conversation — you just will not get alerts for them.

If you want to stop seeing the group text entirely, you can leave it. Open the group, tap the group name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Leave This Conversation". You will no longer receive messages from that group, and the conversation will disappear from your Messages list. The other people in the group will see a notification that you left.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone to a group text after I have already started it?

Yes, but only if it is an iMessage group (blue bubble). Open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, and tap "Add Contact". If it is an SMS group (green bubble), you cannot add people — you would need to start a new group text with everyone you want included.

What happens if I send a message to three people but it does not create a group text?

You likely sent three separate one-on-one messages instead of one group message. To fix it, create a new message, add all three people in the "To:" field before typing anything, then send. That creates a true group thread where everyone sees each other's replies.

Why can I not name my group text?

Your group text is probably SMS (green bubble) instead of iMessage (blue bubble). SMS groups cannot be named. This happens when at least one person in the group uses Android or has iMessage turned off. Only iMessage groups let you set a custom name.

Do group texts cost extra on my phone plan?

iMessage groups send over data or WiFi, so they do not use your text allowance. SMS groups use regular text messages, so they count toward your plan's text limit — one message to a group of five people counts as five texts.

Can I see when people are typing in a group text?

Yes, but only in iMessage groups. You will see "Name is typing..." at the bottom of the conversation. This feature does not work in SMS groups.