Open Messages and start a new conversation

Group texting on iPhone starts in the Messages app, which comes built into every iPhone. Tap the Messages icon on your home screen — it looks like a speech bubble. Then tap the pencil-and-paper icon in the top right corner to create a new message.

A text field will appear that says "To:". This is where you add the people you want to text. You can type a contact's name, phone number, or email address. As you type, your iPhone will show matching contacts below the field.

Add multiple recipients to create the group

Tap each person you want to include. Their name will appear as a rounded box below the "To:" field. You can add as many people as you want — there is no limit to group size, though very large groups can be slow to load.

You can also tap the plus icon next to the "To:" field to open your full contacts list and select people from there. This is faster if you are adding many people at once. Once you have added everyone, tap in the message field and type what you want to say.

Key Takeaways

  • Start a new message in the Messages app and type or select multiple names in the "To:" field to create a group text.
  • Group texts sent as SMS go to each person individually unless you enable iMessage, which creates a true group conversation.
  • You can name a group conversation by opening it, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting "Edit Name and Photo".
  • Everyone in a group text can see replies from all other members, and you can add or remove people from an existing group at any time.
  • If someone in your group does not have iMessage, the group will send as regular text messages instead of the blue iMessage bubbles.

Understand the difference between SMS groups and iMessage groups

When you send a text to multiple people, iPhone handles it two different ways depending on what kind of messaging service each person uses. If everyone has iMessage — Apple's messaging service for iPhone, iPad, and Mac — the conversation appears as a true group chat with blue bubbles. Everyone can see all replies in one thread, and you can see when people are typing.

If even one person in the group does not have iMessage, the entire conversation switches to SMS (regular text messaging) and appears with green bubbles. In an SMS group, each person receives your message separately, and their replies come back to you individually rather than in a shared thread. This means you will see multiple separate text chains instead of one group conversation.

Name your group and customize settings

Once you have sent at least one message to your group, you can give it a name. Open the group conversation, then tap the group name or photo at the very top of the screen. Tap "Edit Name and Photo" and type the name you want. This name only appears on your phone — it does not change what other people see.

In the same menu, you can also turn off notifications for the group, mute it so you do not see alerts, or leave the conversation entirely. If you tap "Leave this Conversation," you will no longer receive messages from that group, but the conversation history stays on your phone.

Add or remove people from an existing group

You can change who is in a group text at any time. Open the group conversation, tap the group name at the top, and tap "Edit Name and Photo." Scroll down to see the list of people in the group. Tap the plus icon to add someone new, or tap the red minus icon next to a name to remove them.

When you add someone to an existing group, they will not see the old messages — they will only see messages sent after they join. When you remove someone, they will not receive any more messages from the group, but they can still see the conversation history on their own phone.

Troubleshoot common group text problems

If your group text is showing green bubbles when you expected blue ones, at least one person does not have iMessage turned on. You can check by opening a one-on-one conversation with that person — if it shows a green bubble, they are using SMS. Ask them to check Settings > Messages and make sure iMessage is turned on, or they may be using an Android phone.

If someone says they are not receiving your group messages, make sure they are still in the group — open the conversation and tap the group name to check the member list. If they are listed but still not getting messages, have them restart their phone or turn iMessage off and back on. If the problem continues, they may need to contact their phone carrier about their text messaging service.

Send a group text to a contact group you have already created

If you have already set up a contact group in your Contacts app — for example, "Family" or "Work Team" — you can send a message to that entire group at once. Open Messages, tap the new message icon, and in the "To:" field, type the name of your contact group. Your iPhone will show it as an option. Tap it to add everyone in that group to your message.

This is faster than typing individual names if you send messages to the same set of people regularly. You can create or edit contact groups by opening the Contacts app, tapping "Groups" at the top left, and then tapping the plus icon to make a new group or selecting an existing one to add people to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a group text to people who have Android phones?

Yes. If you include Android users, the entire group will send as SMS text messages with green bubbles instead of iMessage. Everyone will still receive your messages, but the conversation will not show as a true group thread — each person will see your message as an individual text, and their replies will come to you separately.

What happens if I send a group text but one person's number is wrong?

The message will fail to send to that person only. You will see a red exclamation mark next to their name in the conversation. Tap it to resend, or tap the group name at the top and correct their phone number in the member list, then try sending again.

Can I unsend a message I sent to a group?

Yes, if everyone in the group has iOS 16 or newer. Press and hold the message, tap "Undo Send," and you have up to two minutes to remove it. If anyone in the group has an older iPhone, this feature will not work. You can also edit a message by pressing and holding it and tapping "Edit."

Do group texts cost more than regular texts?

No. Group texts count the same as individual texts toward your phone plan's messaging limit. If you have unlimited texting, group texts are included. If you have a limited number of texts per month, each message in a group counts as one text per recipient.

Why can I not add someone to my group text?

The most common reason is that their phone number or email address is not in your contacts. Make sure you have saved their contact information first. If they are already in your contacts but still will not add, try typing their full phone number instead of their name, or restart the Messages app and try again.