What a group text is and how to start one
A group text (or group message) is a single conversation thread where you send one message to multiple people at once, and everyone in the group sees all 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 two or more people you want to include. When you send your first message, all those people receive it as part of the same thread — not as separate individual messages.
The difference between a group text and sending the same message to people separately is that in a group text, everyone can see what everyone else wrote. If you send a message to Alice, Bob, and Carol individually, each of them gets a message that looks like it came from just you. In a group text, all three see each other's names and can reply to the whole group at once.
Group texts work over regular text messaging (SMS) or iMessage, depending on who is in the group and what devices they use. If everyone in the group has an iPhone and iMessage turned on, the thread will be blue and use iMessage features. If even one person has an Android phone or iMessage is off, the thread turns green and uses standard text messaging instead.
Key Takeaways
- Start a group text by opening Messages, tapping the pencil icon, and selecting two or more contacts before typing your message.
- Blue group texts use iMessage and work only between iPhones; green group texts use standard SMS and work with any phone.
- 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 when a group becomes very active.
- Group texts sent over SMS (green) may not show read receipts or typing indicators, even if iMessage is on for other conversations.
Step-by-step: creating your first group text
Open the Messages app on your home screen. In the bottom right, you will see four icons; tap the one that looks like a pencil and paper (the "compose" button). A new message screen will open with a blank "To:" field at the top.
Tap the "To:" field and start typing the first person's name. As you type, your contacts will appear below; tap the name when you see it. That person's name will appear as a small rounded box in the "To:" field. Repeat this for the second person, the third person, and anyone else you want in the group. You need at least two other people to make a group text (so three people total including you).
Once you have selected everyone, tap in the message box at the bottom and type what you want to say. Tap the blue send arrow. Your message will go to all of them in a single thread, and their replies will all appear in the same conversation.
Adding and removing people after the group text starts
You can add someone to an existing group text at any time. Open the conversation, then tap the group name or the row of profile pictures at the very top of the thread. A details screen will open showing everyone in the group. Tap "Add Contact" (or the plus sign, depending on your iPhone model), search for the person you want to add, and tap their name. They will be added to the group and will see all future messages, but they will not see the message history from before they joined.
To remove someone, open the same details screen, tap "Edit" in the top right corner, then tap the red minus sign next to the person's name. Tap "Remove" to confirm. That person will no longer receive messages sent to the group, and the group will be notified that they were removed.
If you are the one who started the group text, you can remove anyone. If someone else started it, you can only remove yourself by tapping "Leave this Conversation" at the bottom of the details screen. Once you leave, you will not receive any more messages from that group.
The difference between iMessage groups (blue) and SMS groups (green)
When all members of a group text have iPhones with iMessage turned on, the conversation appears with a blue send button and blue message bubbles. These groups support read receipts (you see when people have read your message), typing indicators (you see the three dots when someone is typing), and higher-quality photo and video sharing. You can also react to messages with emoji and use other iMessage-only features.
If even one person in the group has an Android phone or has iMessage turned off, the thread turns green and uses standard SMS text messaging instead. Green groups do not show read receipts or typing indicators, and photos may be compressed. The person with the Android phone will receive the group text as a regular text message, and when they reply, their message appears in the same thread on your iPhone.
You cannot convert a green group to blue by removing the Android user, because the thread itself is already set to SMS mode. If you want an iMessage-only group, you would need to start a new conversation with only iPhone users.
Muting notifications without leaving the group
Group texts can become very active, especially if many people are replying quickly. If you want to stay in the conversation but do not want notifications every time someone sends a message, you can mute the thread. Open the group text, swipe left on the conversation (or tap and hold it), and tap "Mute." You can choose to mute for one hour, eight hours, or one day. After that time, notifications will turn back on automatically.
While a conversation is muted, you will not see a badge with a number on the Messages app icon, and you will not hear notification sounds. You can still read and send messages in the group whenever you want — muting only stops the alerts. To unmute before the time is up, swipe left again and tap "Unmute."
Naming your group text
By default, a group text shows the names of everyone in it at the top. If the group is large or the names are long, this can be hard to read. You can give the group a custom name instead. Open the conversation, tap the group name or profile pictures at the top, then tap "Enter a Group Name" (or tap "Edit" and then the group name field). Type whatever you want — "Book Club," "Work Team," "Hiking Trip" — and tap "Done." Everyone in the group will see the custom name you chose.
You can change the group name at any time by going back to the same screen and tapping the name again. Only the person who started the group can change the name in some cases, depending on whether it is an iMessage group or SMS group, but usually any member can edit it.
Troubleshooting common group text problems
If someone says they did not receive a message you sent to the group, check whether the thread is blue or green. If it is green (SMS), the message may have failed to send to that one person while reaching others. Look for a small red exclamation mark next to the message; if you see one, tap it and choose "Try Again." If the thread is blue (iMessage) and one person is not seeing messages, they may have iMessage turned off or may have left the group without telling you.
If you cannot add someone to a group text, make sure you have their contact saved in your phone with their full name or phone number. If they are saved but still will not appear when you search, try restarting the Messages app or restarting your iPhone. If a group text keeps turning green when you thought it was iMessage, one member may have disabled iMessage or switched to Android.
If you are receiving group texts but did not ask to be added, you can leave the conversation by opening it, tapping the group name at the top, scrolling down, and tapping "Leave this Conversation." You will not receive any more messages from that group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a group text to people who do not have iMessage?
Yes. When you add someone without iMessage to a group, the entire thread switches to SMS (green). Everyone in the group, including iPhone users, will send and receive messages as regular text messages. Read receipts and typing indicators will not work, but the group text will still function normally.
Do people see the full message history when I add them to an existing group?
No. When you add someone to a group text, they only see messages sent after they joined. They cannot see what was said before they were added, even if you tell them about it later.
What happens if I leave a group text?
You will stop receiving messages from that group. The other members will see a notification that you left. You can rejoin only if someone adds you back to the group, which will start a new thread with messages from that point forward.
Can I unsend a message in a group text?
Yes, but only in iMessage groups (blue threads). Tap and hold the message, then tap "Undo Send." In SMS groups (green), you cannot unsend — you can only send a follow-up message saying you made a mistake.
Why does my group text keep turning green?
This usually means one member has iMessage turned off, switched to Android, or does not have a working internet connection. Check with the group to see who might have changed their settings. If you want the group to stay blue, you would need to remove anyone without iMessage and start a new group with only iPhone users.