What forwarding a text message means
Forwarding a text message means sending a message someone else wrote to you on to a different person. The original message appears in the conversation with the new recipient, usually marked to show it came from someone else. You are not retyping it — you are passing along the exact text, often with a note of your own attached.
This is different from copying and pasting, which requires you to manually select the text and create a new message. Forwarding is a built-in feature on phones that preserves the original message and shows who wrote it.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, open the message thread, press and hold the specific text you want to forward, tap "More", select additional messages if needed, then tap "Forward" and choose a contact.
- On Android, the steps vary by phone manufacturer and messaging app, but usually involve long-pressing a message and selecting a forward or share option from the menu.
- Forwarded messages show the original sender's name so the recipient knows where the text came from.
- You can forward a single message or multiple messages at once by selecting them before tapping forward.
How to forward a text on iPhone
Open the Messages app and find the conversation containing the text you want to forward. Press and hold (or long-press) on the specific message. A menu will appear with several options — tap "More" to enter selection mode.
In selection mode, you can tap other messages in the same conversation to select multiple texts at once. Each selected message will show a checkmark. Once you have chosen all the messages you want to forward, tap the forward arrow button (usually in the bottom right corner). A new message screen opens — select the contact or contacts you want to send the forwarded message to, add your own text if you want, and tap "Send".
How to forward a text on Android
The process on Android depends on which phone manufacturer made your device and which messaging app you use. On most Samsung phones using the default Messages app, open the conversation, press and hold the message you want to forward, and look for a "Forward" option in the menu that appears. Tap it, select your recipient, and send.
On Google Pixel phones or if you use Google Messages, the steps are similar: long-press the message, look for a forward or share icon, select your recipient, and send. If you use a third-party app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, the forward feature may work differently or may not exist at all — check the app's menu options by pressing and holding a message to see what choices appear.
Forwarding multiple messages at once
Both iPhone and Android let you select and forward several messages from the same conversation together. On iPhone, after you tap "More", continue tapping each message you want to include — they do not have to be consecutive. On Android, the process is similar: long-press the first message, then tap the others you want to add to the selection.
When you forward multiple messages, they arrive as a group in the recipient's phone, preserving the order they appeared in your original conversation. This is useful when you want to share a back-and-forth exchange or a series of related texts without having to forward them one at a time.
What the recipient sees when you forward
When someone receives a forwarded message, they see the original sender's name at the top, followed by the text. This makes it clear the message did not come directly from you — it came through you from someone else. If you add your own message before forwarding, your text appears separately.
The recipient cannot reply directly to the forwarded message as if it were a new conversation with the original sender. They are replying to you. If they want to respond to the original sender, they would need that person's contact information.
When forwarding does not work
Some messaging apps do not have a built-in forward feature. WhatsApp, for example, lets you forward messages, but Telegram's forward option works differently — it shows the original sender's name but marks the message as forwarded. Signal does not have a forward feature at all.
If the app you use does not support forwarding, you can still copy the text manually and send it as a new message, though the recipient will not see it marked as coming from someone else. Check your app's menu by long-pressing a message to see what options are available.
Forwarding text messages with photos or links
You can forward messages that contain photos, videos, or links the same way you forward plain text. The media or link travels with the message. On iPhone, the process is identical — select the message and tap forward. On Android, the same long-press method works.
Keep in mind that forwarding a photo or video uses data, just as sending a new message with that attachment would. If you are forwarding to someone on a limited data plan or a slow connection, they may need time for the media to read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I forward a text to multiple people at once?
Yes. After you tap forward on iPhone or Android, the contact selection screen lets you choose multiple recipients. Tap each person you want to send it to, then send. Each person receives the forwarded message separately — it does not create a group message.
Does the original sender know if I forward their message?
No. Forwarding does not send a notification to the person who wrote the original message. They have no way of knowing you shared their text with someone else unless you tell them.
What if I forward a message by accident?
On iPhone, you can undo a sent message if you act quickly — swipe up from the bottom of the screen when ready after sending and tap "Undo Send" (this works for a few seconds). On Android, the undo option depends on your messaging app. Most do not have this feature, so once sent, the message cannot be recalled.
Can I forward a text from someone who blocked me?
If you received the message before they blocked you, yes — you can still forward it. The block only prevents new messages from reaching you. Old messages in your conversation remain and can be forwarded normally.