What a group text is and how to start one

A group text is a single message conversation with more than one person, where everyone in the group sees all replies. On iPhone, you start one by opening the Messages app, tapping the pencil icon in the top left corner, and typing the names or phone numbers of the people you want to include. You can add between 2 and 32 people to a single group text.

Once you type the first message and send it, that group conversation stays in your Messages list. Everyone you added gets the message at the same time, and when they reply, their response shows up in the same thread where everyone can see it. This is different from sending the same message to multiple people separately — in a group text, it's one conversation, not several individual ones.

Key Takeaways

  • Start a group text by opening Messages, tapping the pencil icon, typing names or numbers, and sending a message to all of them at once.
  • Everyone in the group sees all messages and replies, so conversations happen in one thread instead of separate chats.
  • You can add or remove people from an existing group text by opening the conversation and tapping the group name at the top.
  • Group texts work over regular text messaging (SMS) or iMessage depending on who is in the group and what network they use.
  • If a group text stops working or people say they are not getting messages, it is usually because someone has an Android phone or a carrier issue.

The difference between SMS group texts and iMessage group texts

iPhone handles group texts two different ways depending on who you are texting. If everyone in the group has an iPhone and iMessage turned on, the conversation uses iMessage, which sends messages over data or Wi-Fi instead of through your carrier. These show up with a blue message bubble. iMessage group texts let you see when people are typing, react to messages with emoji, and send higher-quality photos.

If even one person in the group has an Android phone or does not have iMessage turned on, the entire conversation switches to SMS (regular text messaging), which sends through your carrier. These show up with a green message bubble. SMS group texts are simpler — no typing indicators, no reactions, no fancy features — but they work on any phone. Your iPhone automatically picks the right method based on who is in the group.

How to add or remove people from a group text

To change who is in a group text, open the conversation and tap the group name or the circle with faces at the very top of the screen. You will see a list of everyone in the group. Tap "Add Contact" to bring in more people, or swipe left on someone's name and tap the trash icon to remove them. The group text updates when ready — new people see the conversation from that point forward, and removed people stop getting messages.

Keep in mind that if you remove someone from an iMessage group, they will see a notification that they were removed. If you add someone to a group that was previously SMS-only, the whole conversation may switch to iMessage if that person has an iPhone with iMessage on. These changes happen automatically, so you do not have to do anything extra.

Naming a group text so everyone knows who they are talking to

By default, a group text shows the names of everyone in it at the top of the screen. If you want a shorter or custom name instead, open the group conversation, tap the group name at the top, and then tap "Enter a Group Name." Type whatever you want — "Book Club," "Work Team," "Cousins" — and tap "Done." This name shows up for everyone in the group, not just you.

Naming a group is especially useful when you have many people in one conversation or when the group has a specific purpose. The name appears in your Messages list too, so you can spot the conversation faster. You can change the name anytime by going back to that same screen.

Why a group text might not be working

If people are not getting your messages or you are not seeing theirs, the most common reason is a mix of iMessage and non-iMessage users. When this happens, some phones may not receive all messages, especially if someone's iMessage is turned off or they have an Android phone. Ask the group whether everyone is getting messages, and if not, check whether everyone has an iPhone with iMessage on.

Another reason is that someone's phone number or contact information changed. If you added someone by their old number and they switched carriers or got a new phone, they might not be in the group anymore even though their name still appears. You can fix this by removing them and adding them back with their current number. If the whole group stops working, try turning iMessage off and back on in Settings > Messages > iMessage, or restart your phone.

How to leave a group text

To leave a group text, open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Leave This Conversation." You will no longer see messages from that group, and the conversation disappears from your Messages list. The other people in the group will see a notification that you left.

Once you leave, you cannot rejoin on your own — someone else in the group has to add you back. If you just want to mute notifications from a group without leaving it, you can swipe left on the conversation in your Messages list and tap the bell icon to silence alerts.

Muting notifications and customizing how group texts alert you

Group texts can send a lot of notifications, especially if many people are replying. To mute a group without leaving it, go to your Messages list, swipe left on the group conversation, and tap the bell icon. You will still see the messages when you open the app, but you will not get notifications on your lock screen or hear a sound.

If you want to customize notifications for just one group, open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, tap "Info," and then tap "Hide Alerts." This silences that group only — other conversations still send notifications normally. You can turn alerts back on the same way anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a group text to people who have Android phones?

Yes. When you add an Android user to a group, the conversation switches from iMessage to SMS. Everyone still gets the messages, but you lose iMessage features like typing indicators and emoji reactions. The group text works the same way — one conversation with everyone seeing all replies.

What happens if I add someone to a group text after messages have already been sent?

The new person joins the conversation and sees all messages sent after they were added. They do not see the old messages from before they joined. If you want them to know what was discussed earlier, you have to tell them or forward old messages to them separately.

Why do some people in my group text say they are not getting messages?

This usually happens when someone has iMessage turned off, their phone is on Do Not Disturb, or they have an Android phone that is not receiving SMS properly. Ask them to check their iMessage setting in Settings > Messages > iMessage, or have them restart their phone. If they have Android, the issue might be with their carrier or texting app.

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

Only in iMessage group texts where everyone has an iPhone with iMessage on. You will see a line that says "Name is typing..." at the bottom of the screen. If even one person in the group uses SMS or Android, typing indicators do not work for anyone.

How many people can I add to a group text?

You can add up to 32 people to a single group text on iPhone. If you need to message more than that, you would have to create separate groups or send individual messages.