The basic way to forward a text on iPhone

Open the Messages app and find the conversation with the text you want to forward. Press and hold on the specific message — not the whole conversation, just that one message. A menu will pop up with several options. Tap More, then tap the forward arrow icon (it looks like an arrow pointing to the right) at the bottom right of the screen. Select the contact or group you want to send it to, then tap Send.

That's the standard path. It works whether the message is text, a photo, a link, or a mix of things. The forwarded message arrives as a separate text, not as part of the original conversation thread.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold a single message, tap More, then tap the forward arrow to send it to someone else.
  • You can forward one message at a time, or select multiple messages by tapping More and then tapping additional messages before forwarding.
  • Forwarded messages appear as new texts to the recipient, separate from any existing conversation you have with them.
  • The original sender's name does not automatically appear in a forwarded message, so the recipient may not know who originally wrote it.

Forwarding multiple messages at once

If you want to forward more than one message, the process is almost the same. Press and hold the first message you want to forward, then tap More. Now tap each additional message you want to include — a checkmark will appear next to each one you select. Once you have selected all the messages you want, tap the forward arrow at the bottom right, choose your recipient, and tap Send.

All the selected messages will be forwarded together as a group. They arrive in the order you selected them, so if you want them in a specific sequence, select them in that order.

What happens to the sender's information

When you forward a message, the recipient sees the text itself, but not automatically who originally sent it. If the original message was from a contact in your phone, their name does not travel with the forward. The recipient just sees the words.

If you want the person you are forwarding to know who wrote the original message, you can type a note before sending — something like "Sarah sent me this" — or you can copy the message, paste it into a new text, and add context yourself. The forward feature is just the shortcut; it does not add that layer for you.

Forwarding photos, links, and other media

The same forward process works for photos, videos, links, and voice messages. Press and hold the item, tap More, select any other items you want to include, tap the forward arrow, and send. Photos and videos forward at their original quality, and links stay clickable.

If you are forwarding a long conversation with mixed content — text, photos, and links together — selecting them all and forwarding keeps them grouped. The recipient will see them in the same order you selected them.

When forwarding does not work the way you expect

Some messages cannot be forwarded. If a message was sent using end-to-end encryption (which happens in iMessage between two Apple devices, or in certain third-party apps), the forward option may be grayed out or missing entirely. This is a security feature — the sender's encryption settings prevent the message from being passed along.

If you see no forward arrow option at all, check whether the message is from iMessage (blue bubble) or SMS (green bubble). Occasionally, very old messages or messages from certain apps do not support forwarding. In those cases, you can still copy the text manually and paste it into a new message.

The difference between forwarding and copying

Forwarding sends the message as-is to a new recipient. Copying lets you edit it first. To copy instead, press and hold the message and tap Copy, then open a new message, paste the text, make any changes you want, and send it yourself.

Use forwarding when you want to pass something along exactly as it is. Use copying when you want to add your own words, remove part of it, or combine it with other text before sending. Both are quick, but they serve different purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the original sender know I forwarded their message?

No. iPhone does not notify the original sender when you forward their message. The forward is between you and whoever you send it to. The original sender has no way of knowing unless the person you forwarded it to tells them or shows them the message.

Can I forward a message to multiple people at once?

You can forward to one person or one group at a time. If you want to send the same message to several different people, you will need to repeat the forward process for each recipient. Select the message, tap forward, choose the first person, send, then repeat for the next person.

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 realize you forwarded something you did not mean to, you can send a follow-up message asking them to disregard it, but you cannot recall the original forward.

Can I forward messages from group chats?

Yes. Press and hold any message in a group chat and forward it the same way you would a one-on-one message. The recipient will receive it as a standalone message, not as part of the group conversation. The group chat context does not come with it.