The fastest way to message multiple people at once

Open Messages, tap the compose button (pencil and paper icon) in the top right, then type the names or phone numbers of everyone you want to include in the "To:" field. Separate each person with a comma, or tap the plus sign to add them from your contacts. Type your message and send — everyone receives it as a group conversation where replies show up in one thread.

The key difference from sending the same message to individuals separately is that a group message keeps all replies in one place. When someone responds, everyone in the group sees that response. This works over iMessage (for other iPhone, iPad, and Mac users) or SMS text message, depending on who is in the group and your phone plan.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the compose button in Messages, type multiple names or numbers separated by commas in the "To:" field, and send to create a group conversation.
  • Group messages over iMessage (blue bubbles) work best when everyone has an Apple device; SMS group texts (green bubbles) work with any phone but may have limits on group size.
  • You can add or remove people from an existing group message by opening the conversation, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting "Edit."
  • Muting a group conversation silences notifications without leaving it, so you stay in the thread but do not see alerts for every new message.

iMessage groups versus SMS group texts

When everyone in your group has an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, Messages uses iMessage by default, shown by blue message bubbles. iMessage groups support read receipts (you see when people have read your message), typing indicators, and reactions like hearts or thumbs up. These features work smoothly because all devices are on Apple's network.

If even one person in the group has an Android phone or uses a non-Apple device, the conversation switches to SMS (standard text message), shown by green bubbles. SMS group texts work on any phone, but they have fewer features — no read receipts, no typing indicators, and some carriers limit how many people can be in one SMS group. If your carrier has a limit and you exceed it, the message may not send to everyone or may split into separate conversations.

You cannot control which type is used — iPhone automatically chooses based on who is in the group. If you need all the features to work reliably, keep groups to iPhone users only.

Adding and removing people from an existing group

Open the group conversation, then tap the group name or photo at the very top of the screen. This opens the group details. Tap "Edit" in the top right corner. You will see a list of everyone in the group with a red minus sign next to each name. Tap the minus sign next to anyone you want to remove, then tap "Remove."

To add someone new, tap the plus sign at the top of that same screen, search for their name or number in your contacts, and tap their name to add them. Tap "Done" when you are finished. Everyone in the group will see a notification that someone was added or removed, so there is no way to do this silently.

Naming a group conversation

Open the group message, tap the group name or photo at the top, then tap "Edit." At the very top you will see a field that says "Group Name" — tap it and type a name. This name appears only in your Messages app and in the group conversation itself; it does not change anyone's contact name or affect how the group works.

If you do not name the group, iPhone displays the names of everyone in it instead. For groups with more than a few people, a custom name makes the conversation easier to find in your message list.

Muting notifications from a group without leaving it

If a group conversation is active and you do not want notifications for every message, open the conversation and swipe left on it (or long-press it). Tap the bell icon with a slash through it to mute notifications. You will still be in the group and can read and send messages, but you will not get alerts when new messages arrive.

To unmute, swipe left again and tap the bell icon without the slash. You can also customize how long the mute lasts — tap "Mute" instead of the bell icon, and choose "1 hour," "8 hours," "1 day," or "Forever." This is different from leaving the group entirely, which removes you from the conversation and stops you from seeing new messages.

Why some group messages fail to send

If you get an error when sending to a group, the most common cause is that one person's number or address is invalid or no longer active. Check that all numbers are formatted correctly and that any email addresses are spelled right. If someone recently switched phones or carriers, their old number might not work in the group anymore.

For SMS groups, your carrier may have a limit on group size — usually 20 to 30 people, though this varies. If you hit that limit, remove someone from the group or split it into two smaller groups. For iMessage groups, Apple does not enforce a hard limit, but very large groups (50+ people) can become slow or unreliable.

If the group uses iMessage and one person has an older device or has turned off iMessage in their settings, the entire group may switch to SMS. This can cause unexpected behavior or failed sends if your carrier does not support SMS groups of that size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a group message to people who are not in my contacts?

Yes. In the "To:" field, type the phone number or email address directly instead of selecting from contacts. You can mix contact names and typed numbers in the same group — just separate each one with a comma.

Do people know if I screenshot a group message?

No. iMessage does not notify people when you take a screenshot of a conversation, even in a group. The notification feature only works for photos and videos sent through the Messages app itself, not for entire conversations.

What happens if I leave a group message?

You stop receiving messages from that group and cannot send to it. On your end, the conversation stays in your message list but shows no new activity. Everyone else in the group will see a notification that you left. You cannot rejoin — someone else has to add you back.

Can I unsend a message in a group?

Yes, if everyone in the group has iOS 16 or later. Tap and hold the message, tap "Undo Send," and it disappears from everyone's phones within 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, the message cannot be unsent. This works in both iMessage and SMS groups.

Why are my group messages green instead of blue?

At least one person in the group does not have iMessage enabled or is using a non-Apple device. The entire group converts to SMS when this happens. To get blue bubbles back, remove that person or create a new group with only iPhone users.