How to Add Someone to a Group Text on iPhone

To add someone to a group text on an iPhone, open the group conversation in Messages, tap the group icons at the top, tap Add, enter the person’s name, phone number or email, and tap Done. It works only in a blue-bubble iMessage group that already has at least three people, including you, and the new person must use an Apple device.

These steps are for iPhones running iOS 27 and iOS 26, and the same steps work on an iPad. iOS 18 and earlier versions, including the iOS 11 this page was first written for, use slightly different labels, covered in their own section below. There’s also a section for Messages on a Mac.

Check the Group Before You Start

Apple’s article Add and remove people in group text messages lists the conditions. You can add someone only when all of these are true:

• The conversation is already a group. It has you plus at least two other people. A one-on-one chat can’t become a group; you start a new conversation instead.
• It’s an iMessage group. Every message bubble is blue. Messages sends a group as iMessage only when everyone has an Apple device with iMessage turned on.
• The new person uses an Apple device with iMessage. You can’t add an Android phone user, even by phone number.

Apple’s Send a group text message article explains how the group type changes what you can do:

Group type	Bubble color	Can you add or remove people?
Group iMessage	Blue	Yes, if the size limits are met
Group RCS	Green	No, start a new group
Group MMS	Green	No, start a new group
Group SMS	Green	No, start a new group

Green bubbles mean at least one person isn’t on iMessage, often because they use an Android phone. RCS, MMS and SMS groups go through your carrier, and their membership is fixed once the group starts.

Add a Person to a Group Text (iOS 26 and iOS 27)

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap the group conversation you want to add someone to. The conversation opens.
3. Tap the group icons (the row of small profile pictures) at the top of the screen. The group details screen opens with a list of members.
4. Tap Add. A To field appears.

5. Type the person’s name, phone number or the email address they use with iMessage. To choose from your contacts instead, tap the Add button (the plus sign) in the To field. A name that turns blue can receive iMessage; a green name means that person can’t be added to this group.
6. Repeat step 5 for anyone else you want to add, then tap Done.

The new person now appears in the member list, and the conversation shows a note that they were added. Everyone in the group, including the new person, sees new messages from this point on. Apple’s group conversations guide covers the details screen and its other options.

Earlier messages aren’t shared with the new member, so forward the important text messages to them if they need the background.

Add Someone on iOS 18 and Earlier

The group details screen looks different on older versions of iOS, but the rules are the same.

1. Open the group conversation in Messages.
2. Tap the group icons or group name at the top.
3. Tap the arrow or the participant count next to the names to show the full member list.
4. Tap Add Contact.
5. Enter the person’s name, number or email, then tap Done.

If you don’t see these labels, update your iPhone in Settings > General > Software Update and use the iOS 26 steps above.

Add Someone to a Group From a Mac

Messages on a Mac can add people to the same iMessage group, and the change shows up on your iPhone.

1. Open Messages and select the group conversation.
2. Click the group icon or name at the top of the conversation to open its details.
3. Choose Add Member.
4. Enter the person’s contact information and press Return.

Apple’s Mac guide on managing a group conversation notes that you can’t add anyone to a conversation with only one other person.

To acknowledge a group message without adding another text to the thread, you can like a message on iPhone with a thumbs-up.

Why You Can’t Add Someone

If Add is missing or nothing happens, one of these is usually the reason:

• It’s only you and one other person. Apple requires at least three people in total. Start a new group with everyone instead (steps below).
• The bubbles are green. At least one member isn’t using iMessage, so the group runs over RCS, MMS or SMS. You may see a message such as “Contacts can only be added to a new MMS group with the same members.” Tap it or follow the onscreen prompt to start a new group.
• The new person doesn’t use an Apple device. Apple’s steps don’t allow adding an Android user to an existing group. Create a new group message that includes them; it will use RCS, MMS or SMS.
• The new person’s iMessage is off. If their name turns green when you type it, they may have iMessage turned off or may be using a different phone number or Apple Account. Ask them to check Settings > Apps > Messages on their iPhone.
• Your own iMessage is off or offline. Group changes need an internet connection. If the switch is off, turn on iMessage on iPhone.

Start a New Group That Includes Everyone

When the existing group can’t take a new member, a new group is the fix. Your old conversation stays in your list, so you don’t lose any messages.

1. In Messages, tap the Compose button (the pencil and paper icon) at the top.
2. In the To field, enter every person from the old group plus the new person.
3. Type a message and tap the Send button (the upward arrow).

If anyone in the new group uses an Android phone, the group is sent through your carrier as RCS, MMS or SMS. For green group texts to work, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and make sure MMS Messaging and Group Messaging are on. If a green group won’t send, fix “MMS Messaging needs to be enabled”.

To give the new group a name so it’s easy to find, follow the steps to start, name, and leave a group text on iPhone.

How to Remove Someone From a Group Text

You can remove someone only if the group has four or more people and everyone uses an Apple device.

1. Open the group conversation in Messages.
2. Tap the group icons at the top.
3. Touch and hold the person you want to remove.
4. Tap Remove from Group, then tap Remove.

The person is removed and no longer receives new messages in the group. On iOS 18 and earlier, open the member list, swipe left on the person’s name and tap Remove. If you shared a project with the group, such as a note or a file for collaboration, people you remove may keep access to it, because the app hosting the project controls who can open it.

Check It Worked or Undo It

To confirm, tap the group icons again and look for the person in the member list. To reverse an addition, remove the person using the steps above. That works only when the group still has four or more members after the addition. In a smaller group, start a new group with the people you want instead.

Group Text Questions