A group text on iPhone is a single message thread that includes three or more people
When you send a message to multiple people at once on iPhone, they all see each other's replies in the same conversation. This is different from sending the same message to each person separately — everyone in the group can read what everyone else writes, and the thread stays organized in one place on your phone.
Group texts work through the Messages app, which comes built into every iPhone. You do not need to read anything or sign up for a service. The mechanics are straightforward: you pick the people, type your message, and send it. What matters to understand is that group texts behave differently depending on whether your phone is using iMessage (Apple's encrypted messaging system) or SMS (the standard text message protocol), and that difference affects who can see what and how replies appear.
Key Takeaways
- Open Messages, tap the compose button (pencil and paper icon), then type or search for the names of the people you want to include.
- If all participants use iMessage, the group text will be blue and support read receipts, typing indicators, and reactions to individual messages.
- If even one person uses Android or has iMessage turned off, the group text will be green and work as a standard SMS group text with fewer features.
- You can name a group text by opening it, swiping up from the bottom, tapping the group name at the top, and entering a custom name.
- Anyone in the group can add or remove people after the conversation starts, and everyone will see that change happen in the thread.
The step-by-step process to start a new group text
Open the Messages app on your iPhone. In the bottom right corner, tap the compose button — it looks like a pencil writing on a piece of paper. A new blank message screen will open.
At the top, you will see a field that says "To:" with a blinking cursor. Start typing the name or phone number of the first person you want to include. As you type, your contacts will appear below the field. Tap each person's name to add them. Repeat this for every person you want in the group. You can add as many people as you want, though most group texts work best with three to eight people.
Once you have added everyone, tap in the message field at the bottom and type what you want to say. Then tap the send button (the arrow pointing up and to the right). The message will go to all of them at once, and their replies will appear in the same thread.
Why iMessage and SMS group texts look and work differently
If everyone in your group uses an iPhone with iMessage turned on, the group text will appear with a blue background. Blue group texts support features like read receipts (you can see when people have read your message), typing indicators (you see the three dots when someone is typing), and reactions (you can add emoji reactions to individual messages by long-pressing them).
If even one person in the group uses Android, has an older iPhone, or has iMessage turned off, the entire group text will switch to green and become an SMS group text. Green group texts do not support read receipts, typing indicators, or reactions. Replies still appear in order, but the experience is more basic. You will not know when someone has read your message or when they are typing.
This is not a choice you make — it happens automatically based on who is in the group. If you add someone to a blue group text and they do not have iMessage, the whole conversation will turn green.
How to name a group text so people know what it is about
By default, group texts show the names of everyone in them at the top of the conversation. If you have a group of eight people, that takes up a lot of space. You can give the group a custom name instead.
Open the group text you want to name. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen — a menu will appear. At the very top, you will see the current group name (usually just the list of people). Tap on it. A screen will open that says "Enter a group name." Type whatever you want — "Book Club," "Work Lunch Planning," "Roommates," anything that makes sense to you. Tap "Done" and the name will save. Everyone in the group will see the new name at the top of the conversation.
Adding or removing people after the group text has started
You do not have to decide on the final list of people before you send the first message. You can add or remove people at any time while the conversation is active.
To add someone, open the group text, swipe up from the bottom, and tap the group name at the top. Tap "Add Contact" and search for the person you want to add. Tap their name and they will be added to the group. Everyone in the conversation will see a message that says "[Your Name] added [New Person's Name]" so there is no confusion about when someone joined.
To remove someone, open the same menu, find their name in the list, swipe left across it, and tap "Remove." Again, everyone will see a notification that the person was removed. You can only remove people from groups you started, though in some cases group members can remove themselves.
What happens if someone does not have an iPhone
If you add someone with an Android phone to a group text, the group will convert to SMS and lose the blue iMessage features. The Android user will receive all the messages and can reply, but they will not see read receipts or typing indicators, and reactions will not work the same way.
From the Android user's perspective, they are in a standard group text. They can read everything, reply to everything, and see when other people reply. The experience is just less polished than it would be in an all-iPhone group.
If you want to keep a blue iMessage group and also include an Android user, you have two options: create a separate iMessage group without them, or use a different app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger that works across both iPhone and Android.
Troubleshooting: why a group text might not be working
If you try to create a group text and it does not send, the most common reason is that one of the phone numbers or email addresses is wrong. Double-check that you typed each contact correctly. If you added someone by searching their name, make sure you tapped the right person — sometimes multiple contacts have similar names.
If the group text sends but replies are not showing up in the group, check whether it converted to SMS. If it did, and one person is using Android, their replies might be delayed or might not include all the features you expect. This is normal and not a sign something is broken.
If you cannot add someone to a group, they may have blocked you, or their phone number may not be in your contacts correctly. Try adding them by their full phone number instead of their name, or ask them to confirm their number is correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a group text with just two people?
Technically yes, but iPhone treats a two-person conversation as a regular one-on-one text, not a group text. It will not have a group name field or the ability to add people later in the same way. If you want a true group text, you need at least three people.
Do I need WiFi to send a group text?
No. If you are using iMessage, you need either WiFi or cellular data. If the group converts to SMS, you just need a cellular connection and a text message plan. You do not need WiFi for either one.
Can I send a group text to people who do not have my contact information?
Yes. You can add anyone by their phone number or email address, even if they have never texted you before. They will receive the message and can reply. They do not need to have you saved in their contacts.
What if I want to leave a group text?
Open the group text, swipe up from the bottom, tap the group name, and scroll down to find "Leave this Conversation." Tap it and you will be removed. Everyone in the group will see that you left. You can still read old messages in the conversation, but you will not receive new ones.
Can I unsend a message in a group text?
Yes, but only if everyone in the group has iOS 16 or newer. Press and hold the message you want to unsend, tap "Undo Send," and it will disappear from everyone's phones within two minutes. If anyone has an older iPhone or uses Android, the unsend feature will not work.