Forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to other devices

With the Text Message Forwarding feature of your iPhone, the SMS/MMS messages that you send and receive on your iPhone can appear on your Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro as well, so you can continue the conversation from the device you want.

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Automatically forward messages

To automatically forward SMS/MMS messages to one or more of your other devices, the other device must be signed in with the same Apple ID as your iPhone, and your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Set up Messages in iCloud, which includes Text Message Forwarding

When you set up Messages in iCloud on your devices, your entire messages history is kept up to date across those devices, even when you set up a new device. This includes messages sent or received with SMS/MMS (in green bubbles) or iMessage. You don't need to set up Text Message Forwarding separately, because that feature is built into Messages in iCloud.

Set up Messages in iCloud

Or set up Text Message Forwarding separately

If you're not using Messages in iCloud, or SMS/MMS messages aren't forwarding as expected:

  1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages.

  2. Tap Text Message Forwarding. (If you don't see it, turn iMessage off and back on, then tap Send & Receive and sign in again.)

  3. Tap to turn on each device that you want to allow to send and receive SMS/MMS messages from this iPhone.

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  4. If you select a device that isn't using two-factor authentication for Apple ID, a verification code appears on each of your other devices: enter that code on your iPhone.

If you don't see one or more of your other devices in Text Message Forwarding settings:

  • iPad: Go to Settings > Messages and make sure that iMessage is turned on. Tap Send & Receive, then make sure that the Apple ID shown at the bottom of this screen is the same as on your iPhone. If it isn't, tap it to sign out, then sign in with the correct Apple ID.

  • Mac: Open the Messages app. From the menu bar, choose Messages > Settings (or Preferences). Click iMessage and make sure that the Apple ID shown in this window is the same as on your iPhone. If it isn't, click Sign Out, then sign in with the correct Apple ID.

  • Apple Vision Pro: Go to Settings > Apps > Messages and make sure that iMessage is turned on. Tap Send & Receive, then make sure that the Apple ID shown at the bottom of this screen is the same as on your iPhone. If it isn't, tap it to sign out, then sign in with the correct Apple ID.

Manually forward messages

Whether or not you have Messages in iCloud or Text Message Forwarding turned on, you can manually forward messages that you select to other devices.

Forward and share messages on iPhone

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