The fastest way to forward a text on iPhone
Open the Messages app, find the conversation with the text you want to forward, and press and hold the specific message until a menu appears. Tap More, then tap the forward arrow icon at the bottom right of the screen. Select the contact or conversation you want to send it to, then tap Send.
That entire process takes about ten seconds once you know where to look. The message arrives as a separate text, not as a screenshot or a quoted reply — the recipient sees the original message text exactly as it was written.
If you want to forward multiple messages at once, press and hold the first one, tap More, then tap the other messages you want to include. They all forward together in the same action.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold a single message in the Messages app, then tap More and the forward arrow to send it to another contact.
- You can select multiple messages before forwarding by tapping additional ones after you tap More.
- The forwarded message appears as a new text to the recipient, not as a screenshot or quoted reply.
- Forwarding works the same way whether you are sending to an individual contact or a group conversation.
Selecting multiple messages to forward at once
If the conversation contains several related messages you want to send together, you do not have to forward them one at a time. Open the conversation, press and hold the first message, and tap More. The message gets a checkmark.
Now tap each additional message you want to include. Each one will get a checkmark as well. Once you have selected all the messages you need, tap the forward arrow at the bottom right. Choose your recipient and tap Send. All the selected messages forward as a group.
This is useful when someone asks you to share a back-and-forth conversation or a series of related texts. Instead of forwarding five separate messages, you send them all at once and they arrive in order.
Forwarding to a group conversation instead of a single person
The forwarding process works exactly the same whether you are sending to one person or to a group chat. After you tap the forward arrow, your contacts list appears. Scroll to find the group conversation you want to send the message to, tap it, and then tap Send.
The message or messages arrive in that group chat just as they would in a one-on-one conversation. Everyone in the group sees what you forwarded. This is a quick way to share something relevant to a group without having to retype it or explain it separately to each person.
What happens when you forward a message with photos or links
If the message you are forwarding contains a photo, video, or link, all of that content forwards along with the text. You do not have to do anything special — just follow the same steps as you would for a text-only message.
The photo or video arrives at full quality on the recipient's phone. Links remain clickable. If the original message was part of a longer conversation, only the specific message you selected forwards, not the entire thread around it.
Forwarding messages from group chats
You can forward messages from a group conversation to an individual, to another group, or to any contact in your phone. The process is identical to forwarding from a one-on-one chat. Press and hold the message, tap More, select the forward arrow, choose your recipient, and send.
The person or group receiving the forwarded message will see only that specific message, not the name of the group it came from or any context about the original conversation. If you want the recipient to understand where the message came from, you may need to add a note before sending.
When forwarding does not work or appears grayed out
In rare cases, the forward option may not appear or may be grayed out. This usually happens if you are trying to forward a message that was sent using a special feature like Tapback reactions (the emoji responses that appear below a message) or a message that was deleted and then recovered.
If forwarding is not available, try restarting the Messages app or restarting your iPhone. If the problem persists, take a screenshot of the message instead and send that to your recipient. It is not as clean as a true forward, but it accomplishes the same goal.
The difference between forwarding and other ways to share a message
Forwarding sends the exact message text to a new recipient as a fresh text message. Taking a screenshot and sending it creates an image file instead — the recipient sees a picture of the message rather than the message itself. Copying and pasting the text lets you edit or add to it before sending.
Forwarding is the cleanest option when you want to pass along exactly what someone said without any changes. Screenshots are useful when you want to preserve the visual appearance of the conversation, including timestamps or sender names. Copy and paste works best when you want to quote part of a message or add your own commentary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I forward a message to someone who is not in my contacts?
No. The forward function only lets you choose from contacts already in your phone. If you want to send the message to someone new, you can copy the text and paste it into a new message, or take a screenshot and send that instead.
Does the person I forward a message to know who originally sent it?
No. The forwarded message arrives as a new text from you, not from the original sender. The recipient sees only the message content, not who wrote it first. If you want them to know the source, you need to tell them in a separate message.
Can I forward a message that was sent to me weeks ago?
Yes. As long as the message is still in your Messages app, you can forward it no matter how old it is. Scroll back through the conversation to find it, then use the same press-and-hold method.
What if I forward a message by accident?
There is no undo button for forwarded messages. Once you tap Send, the message goes to the recipient. If you sent it to the wrong person, you will need to contact them and ask them to delete it, or send a follow-up message explaining the mistake.
Can I forward a message to an email address instead of a phone number?
No. The Messages app forward function only works with phone numbers and other iPhone users. To send a message to an email address, copy the text and paste it into an email instead.