Send a group text message on your iPhone or iPad

The Messages app automatically chooses the type of message to send based on settings, network connection, and carrier plan. For example:

• If all of the recipients are using Apple devices and iMessage is turned on, then the group message is sent as an iMessage.
• If any of the receipients aren't using iMessage, then the message is sent as an MMS or SMS message.

Group iMessage

These messages appear in blue text bubbles. They go through Apple instead of your carrier, and are protected by end-to-end encryption. In a group iMessage, everyone can:

• Send and receive photos, videos, and audio messages
• See all responses from the group
• Send and receive message effects, like sketches, animations, bubble effects, and more
• Share their location with the group
• Collaborate on shared projects
• Give the group a name, add or remove people from the group, mute notifications, or leave the group

Group MMS

These messages appear in green text bubbles and go through your carrier instead of Apple. In a group MMS, everyone can:

• Send and receive photos and videos
• See all responses from the group
• Mute notifications

In a group MMS in iOS 17 or later, iMessage users can:

• Send tapbacks
• Use Messages effects
• Edit messages
• Reply to specific messages

Group SMS

These messages also appear in green text bubbles and go through your carrier. Group SMS messages don’t support multimedia attachments, like photos or videos. All responses in a group SMS are sent as individual text messages and the recipients can’t see the other responses from the group.

Learn how to forward SMS/MMS text messages across your devices, like from an iPad to a Mac.

Send a group text message

1. Open Messages and tap the Compose button .
2. Enter the names or tap the Add button to add people from your contacts.
3. Type your message, then tap the Send button .

To send a group MMS message on an iPhone, turn on MMS Messaging. Go to Settings > Messages and turn on MMS Messaging. If you don't see an option to turn on MMS Messaging, contact your carrier to see if your plan supports Group MMS Messaging.

With iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or later, photos, links, and other content that is sent within the group message will appear in the Shared with You section of the corresponding content apps. If you don't want to see the photos and other content in Shared with You, go to the group message, tap the group members at the top of the thread, then turn off Show in Shared with You.

Delete and block MMS group spam messages

In iOS 17 and later, you can delete and block an entire group MMS message. If you receive new messages in a group MMS message that you blocked, an unread messages count appears next to Recently Deleted on your list of filters.

To delete and block an MMS group message:

1. In an MMS group conversation, tap the group name or number of participants at the top to open the detailed view.
2. Tap Delete and Block this Conversation.

Do more with Messages

• Learn how to leave a group message, or add or remove someone from a group.
• Start a group FaceTime from Messages with a just a tap.