How to Create a Group Text on iPhone

Last updated on October 27th, 2026 at 03:06 pm

Yes, you can create a group text on your iPhone. Open Messages, tap the Compose button (the pencil and paper icon), type the names or numbers of two or more people in the To field, write your message and tap Send. If everyone has an Apple device, it becomes a group iMessage with blue bubbles. If anyone uses Android, it’s sent as an RCS or MMS group text with green bubbles.

Applies to: iPhone with iOS 18 or iOS 26, and iPad. Older versions work the same way, but RCS needs iOS 18 or later.

How to start a group text

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap the Compose button in the top-right corner.
3. In the To field, start typing a contact’s name or phone number and tap the right match. Or tap the Add (+) button to pick people from your contacts.
4. Add everyone else the same way.
5. Type your message in the text field at the bottom.
6. Tap the Send arrow.

The conversation appears in your Messages list with everyone’s names. Anyone who replies sends their message to the whole group.

Which kind of group text you’re sending

Messages picks the type automatically, based on who’s in the group and your settings:

• Group iMessage (blue): everyone uses an iPhone, iPad or Mac with iMessage on. Messages are encrypted, and you can name the group, add and remove people, and leave.
• Group RCS (green): at least one person uses Android, you have iOS 18 or later, and your carrier supports RCS. You get high-quality photos and videos, typing indicators and read receipts.
• Group MMS (green): a mixed group without RCS. Photos and videos work, but in lower quality.
• Group SMS (green): text only. Each person’s reply comes to you as a separate one-to-one text, and they can’t see each other’s replies.

Turn on the settings group texts need

1. Open Settings > Apps > Messages. On iOS 17 and earlier, it’s Settings > Messages.
2. Turn on iMessage.
3. Turn on MMS Messaging. Without it, group texts with Android users go out as separate SMS messages.
4. Turn on RCS Messaging, if you see it, under Text Messaging.

If MMS Messaging doesn’t appear, your carrier or plan doesn’t support group MMS. Contact your carrier. If your group texts show an extra bold Subject line when you type, you can turn off the subject field in Messages settings in the same section.

Name a group iMessage

1. Open the group conversation.
2. Tap the group icons at the top of the screen.
3. Tap Edit next to the group photo, or Change Name and Photo on older versions.
4. Type a name, choose a photo or emoji if you like, and tap Done. If autocorrect keeps changing a nickname or inside joke in the group name, add that word to your iPhone dictionary so it stays as you typed it.

Everyone in the group sees the new name. Green-bubble groups can’t be named for everyone.

Add or remove people

You can do this only in a group iMessage where everyone uses an Apple device.

• Add someone: tap the group icons at the top, tap Add under the list of people, enter their name and tap Done. The group needs at least three people already.
• Remove someone: tap the group icons, touch and hold the person’s name, and tap Remove from Group. The group needs at least four people.

To include someone with an Android phone, start a new group text with everyone in it.

Leave or mute a group text

• Leave: open the group, tap the group icons and tap Leave this Conversation. This works in group iMessages with at least three other people.
• Mute: if you can’t leave, turn on Hide Alerts in the same place, or swipe left on the conversation in your Messages list and tap the bell icon. You’ll still get the messages, but no notifications.

Troubleshooting

The group text went out as separate messages

MMS Messaging is off, so your iPhone sent individual SMS texts. Turn it on in Messages settings and send again.

Someone isn’t getting the group messages

If they recently switched from an iPhone to Android, their number may still be registered with iMessage. They can deregister it on Apple’s website. Also check that your iPhone has a cellular connection, because MMS and RCS need mobile data or a carrier connection. If the person still has an iPhone, ask them to check that iMessage is turned on in their Messages settings.

“Leave this Conversation” is greyed out

The group has fewer than four people in total, or it’s a green-bubble group. Mute it instead.

Photos in the group look blurry

The group is using MMS, which compresses photos. Turn on RCS Messaging if your carrier supports it, or share photos through a shared album.

Frequently asked questions

How many people can be in a group text on iPhone?

Group iMessages support up to 32 people. The limit for green-bubble groups depends on your carrier.

Can I send a group text from my iPad or Mac?

Group iMessages, yes. To send green-bubble group texts from them, turn on Text Message Forwarding on your iPhone in Settings > Apps > Messages.

Can I share a contact in a group text?

Yes. The full steps are in sharing a contact by text message on the iPhone.

Related: what Delivered means on iPhone and whether someone knows you blocked them.