Add and remove people in group text messages on your iPhone or iPad

Learn how to add and remove people in group text messages on your iPhone or iPad.

You can only add someone to a group message if they use an Apple device and the group message already includes three or more people. You can only remove someone if the group has four or more people and everyone uses an Apple device.

How to add someone to a group text message

  1. Tap the group message that you want to add someone to.

  2. Tap the group icons at the top of the thread.

  3. In the list of contacts, tap Add .

    To add a contact to your iMessage group chat, tap the Add button on your group page.
  4. Type the contact that you want to add, then tap the Done button.

How to remove someone from a group text message

  1. Tap the group message that has the contact you want to remove.

  2. Tap the group icons at the top of the thread.

  3. In the list of contacts, tap and hold the person you want to remove.

  4. Tap Remove from Group, then tap Remove.

    On the group page for your group message, tap and hold a contact to show the Remove from Group option.

If you invite others in your group message to collaborate on a project, those contacts may still have access to the project after you remove them from the group message. Apps that host the shared project usually control access.

Want to remove yourself from a group text message? Learn how to mute the notifications from a group text or leave the conversation in the Messages app.

If you can't add or remove someone in a group message

  • You can only remove someone if the group has four or more people, and everyone is using an Apple device, like an iPhone or iPad.

  • You can only add someone to a group message if they're using an Apple device. If you want to add someone to a group message but they're using a non-Apple device, you need to create a new group message. That message will use SMS/MMS/RCS by default since someone is using a non-Apple device. Learn the difference between iMessage and SMS/MMS/RCS messages.

  • You can only add someone to a group message that already includes three or more people. You can't add someone to a messages conversation that you're already having with just one other person.

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