Open Messages and tap the compose button to start a group text

To create a group text on iPhone, open the Messages app and tap the pencil-and-paper icon in the top-left corner (or swipe left and tap the plus sign, depending on your iOS version). This opens a new message window. Type the names or phone numbers of the people you want to add — you can add as many as you want, though group texts with more than 20 people sometimes become slow or unreliable.

As you type each name, your phone will suggest contacts that match. Tap each person you want to include. You'll see their name appear as a small bubble below the search field. Once you've added everyone, tap the message field at the bottom and type your message, then tap the blue send arrow.

The group text will now appear in your Messages list with all the names shown at the top. Everyone in the group will see that it's a group conversation, and all replies will go to everyone in the thread.

Key Takeaways

  • Start a group text by opening Messages, tapping the compose button, and adding multiple contacts before typing your message.
  • Group texts work over regular text messaging (SMS) or iMessage depending on whether all members have iPhones — mixed groups may not support all features.
  • You can name your group by opening the conversation, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting "Edit Name and Photo."
  • Group members can mute notifications, leave the conversation, or turn off read receipts without affecting the group for others.

The difference between SMS group texts and iMessage groups

If everyone in your group has an iPhone, your group text will use iMessage by default — you'll see it labeled "iMessage" at the top of the conversation. iMessage groups let you name the group, add or remove people after creation, see when people are typing, and use reactions (like a thumbs-up or heart on a specific message).

If even one person in the group has an Android phone or a non-Apple device, the conversation will fall back to SMS (regular text messaging). SMS groups work, but they don't support naming, typing indicators, reactions, or the ability to remove someone from the conversation. Everyone will still see all the messages, but the experience is more basic.

You can tell which type you're using by looking at the message bubbles: iMessage bubbles are blue, and SMS bubbles are green. If your group starts as iMessage and someone adds an Android user, it will switch to green (SMS) automatically.

How to name your group and add a photo

To name an iMessage group, open the conversation and tap the group name or the circle of profile pictures at the very top. Tap "Edit Name and Photo." You'll see a text field where you can type a name — something like "Book Club" or "Weekend Plans." Below that is an option to add a group photo by tapping the camera icon.

You can choose a photo from your library, take a new one, or use an emoji. Once you've entered a name and chosen a photo (or left it blank), tap "Done." Everyone in the group will see the new name and photo when ready.

If your group is SMS (green bubbles), you won't see this option — SMS groups can't be named or have photos. The conversation will just show all the phone numbers or names of the people in it.

Adding or removing people from an existing group

To add someone to an iMessage group after you've created it, open the conversation and tap the group name at the top. Tap "Edit Name and Photo," then scroll down and tap "Add Contact." Search for and tap the person you want to add. They'll be added to the conversation, and everyone will see a message saying "[Name] was added to this conversation."

To remove someone, tap the group name, then tap "Edit Name and Photo," scroll down to see the list of members, and swipe left on the person's name. Tap the red minus icon. That person will be removed, and the group will see a notification that they've left.

With SMS groups, you can't add or remove people after the conversation starts. If you need to change the group, you'll have to create a new SMS conversation with the updated list of numbers.

Muting notifications and leaving a group

If a group text is sending too many notifications, you can mute it without leaving. Open the conversation, swipe left on it (or long-press it), and tap "Mute." You can choose to mute for one hour, one day, or one week. The messages will still arrive, but you won't get notifications. After the mute period ends, notifications turn back on automatically.

To leave a group entirely, open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Leave This Conversation." You'll be removed from the group, and everyone will see a message saying you've left. You can still see the old messages in your conversation history, but you won't receive new ones.

If you leave an SMS group, you can still see the conversation in your Messages list, but you won't receive new messages. You can't formally "leave" an SMS group the way you can with iMessage — you just stop responding.

Troubleshooting common group text problems

If someone's messages aren't showing up in a group, check whether they're using iMessage or SMS. If the group is iMessage and they're on Android, they won't receive messages the same way. Ask them to check their phone number or Apple ID in Settings — sometimes a contact is registered for iMessage but their device isn't set up correctly.

If the group keeps switching from blue (iMessage) to green (SMS), it usually means one member's iMessage is turned off or their device isn't connected to the internet. You can check this by opening Settings, going to Messages, and making sure "iMessage" is toggled on.

If you can't add someone to a group, they may have blocked you, or their contact information may not be saved correctly in your phone. Try adding them by their full phone number instead of their name. If a group text is very slow or messages are delayed, try closing the Messages app completely and reopening it — this often fixes temporary glitches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone to a group text after I've already sent the first message?

Yes, but only if it's an iMessage group (blue bubbles). Open the conversation, tap the group name at the top, tap "Edit Name and Photo," and tap "Add Contact." With SMS groups (green bubbles), you can't add people after the conversation starts — you'd need to create a new group.

What happens if I turn off read receipts in a group text?

Your read receipts will be off for all conversations, including group texts. Other people won't see the "Delivered" or "Read" status under your messages. You can turn this on or off in Settings under Messages — it applies to all your conversations at once, not just one group.

Why do some people's messages show up as green instead of blue in my group?

Green bubbles mean that person's message came through SMS instead of iMessage. This usually happens when someone is using Android or when their iMessage isn't working. The whole group conversation may switch to SMS if even one person can't use iMessage.

Can I see who read my message in a group text?

Only in iMessage groups. Tap and hold a message you sent, and you'll see a list of who has read it and when. SMS groups don't show read status — you'll only see "Delivered" or nothing at all.

What's the maximum number of people I can add to a group text?

Technically there's no hard limit, but group texts with more than 20 people often become slow or unreliable. If you need to reach a large group regularly, consider using a different app like WhatsApp or Slack instead.