Need to get everyone into one text conversation? Start a group in Messages by adding at least two recipients and sending your first message. From there, you can name the conversation, add people, and sort out separate replies or messages that won't send.
Create your group in Messages
This starts a conversation addressed to everyone you include.
Open Messages on your iPhone.
Tap the Compose button.
Enter at least two recipients in the To field using contact names, phone numbers, or Apple Account addresses. Alternatively, select people with the Add Contact button.
Type your message.
Tap Send. That first message starts the conversation.
Give the conversation a name
For an iMessage group, the iOS 26 interface offers a shared name and image, with availability varying by region.
- 1.Open your group conversation in Messages.
- 2.Tap the group icon at the top.
- 3.Tap Edit.
- 4.Select Edit Name & Photo.
- 5.Choose your group name and image options.
Check which messaging service your group uses
Messages selects the service automatically based on recipients, settings, connectivity, and carrier support. Everyone must have iMessage enabled for an iMessage group. For an Apple-device group, turn on iMessage under Settings > Apps > Messages.
Select the phone numbers or email addresses you want to use under Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive.
For groups that include Android or other non-iMessage recipients, turn on RCS Messaging under Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging. RCS requires iOS 18 or later and a cellular plan with a carrier that supports RCS on iPhone. Availability varies by region and carrier.
Allow time for RCS activation before sending your group message.
Add someone to an existing group
You can expand an iMessage conversation that already contains you and at least two other people.
Open the group conversation in Messages.
Tap the group icon at the top.
Choose Add.
Enter the new recipients, or select them with the Add Contact button.
Tap Done.
If someone has not enabled iMessage, follow the onscreen instructions to start a new group. If you're starting from a one-to-one conversation, use Compose to create a new message addressed to everyone you want to include.
Keep replies in one conversation
Group MMS supports shared replies and photo or video attachments when your participants cannot all use iMessage or RCS.
Open Settings > Apps > Messages.
Turn on MMS Messaging if your carrier offers it. Apple also tells group MMS users to turn on Send as Text Message on this screen, and some carriers show a Group Messaging option instead. Which of these switches you see depends on your carrier and plan.
If none of these options appears, contact your carrier to find out whether your plan supports group MMS.
Open Messages.
Tap Compose.
Add multiple recipients in the To field.
Type your message.
Tap Send. If Messages uses group SMS instead, replies arrive individually and recipients cannot see one another's responses.
Retry a group message that won't send
A failed message with a red exclamation point gives you a retry option.
Tap the red exclamation point beside the failed message.
Select Try Again.
For automatic SMS fallback, turn on Send as Text Message under Settings > Apps > Messages. Carrier support determines the available fallback options. SMS does not guarantee a shared group discussion.
If Screen Time restricts group communication, select Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact or Everyone under Settings > Screen Time > Communication Limits > During Screen Time, according to who should be allowed to contact you. A parent or Screen Time administrator controls this setting when those restrictions are managed.
For restrictions during downtime, review Settings > Screen Time > Communication Limits > During Downtime separately.
If the conversation still fails, try starting a new group using Messages > Compose and the creation steps above. Apple also recommends deleting the faulty conversation and starting another as a troubleshooting option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create an iPhone group text with Phone Link on Windows?
No. Microsoft's Phone Link does not support creating group messages for an iPhone.
Can my workplace block group messaging on its iPhones?
Yes. Managed iPhones support restrictions on iMessage and RCS. Ask your organization's device administrator to review those restrictions.
Can I rejoin a group text after leaving it?
Someone in the group needs to add you back.
Do I need to download an app to create a group text?
No. You can create the group directly in Messages on your iPhone.