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.

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  • With iMessage, you can add someone to a group text message if there are three or more people in the group and everyone is using an Apple device. To remove someone, you need four or more people in the group.

  • You can’t add or remove people in group SMS/MMS messages and you can't add or remove someone if anyone in the group uses a non-Apple device. Learn the difference between iMessage and SMS/MMS messages.

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. Tap the gray arrow icon to the right of the contacts, then tap Add ContactAdd Contact .

  4. Type the contact that you want to add, then tap Done.

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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. Tap the gray arrow icon to the right of the contacts, then swipe left over the name of the person you want to remove.

  4. Tap Remove, then tap Done.

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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 by default since someone is using a non-Apple device.

  • 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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