How to Start, Name, and Leave a Group Text on iPhone

To create a group text on iPhone, open Messages, tap Compose, and add at least two recipients in the To field. Write your message and tap the upward-arrow Send button. Reopen that conversation when you want to message the same people again.

This works on iPhone 12, iPhone 15, and other iPhones running compatible iOS versions. The main steps below use iOS 26 and 27, with separate notes for iOS 18. Your software version and the group’s message type determine which controls appear.

Start a Group Text and Reuse It

1. Open Messages and return to the conversation list.
2. Tap Compose, the pencil-and-square button. On iOS 26 and 27, look near the bottom; on iOS 18, look at the top.
3. Tap To, enter a contact name or phone number, and select the correct suggestion. Repeat for each person. The plus button in this field lets you choose contacts instead. Use a reachable iMessage email address only when appropriate.
4. Check every recipient before writing anything private. Enter your message in the text field, then tap Send.
5. For the next update, open this same thread and type a new message. You do not need to rebuild the recipient list each time.

A reusable group thread is what people often mean by a text distribution list. It is a shared conversation, rather than an email-style BCC mailing list. If each recipient must receive a private, separate message, send individual conversations instead. Do not assume a group hides members or replies.

Check Whether the Group Uses iMessage, RCS, MMS, or SMS

Messages chooses the format using the recipients, connection, settings, and carrier support. Blue bubbles indicate iMessage; green bubbles can mean RCS, MMS, or SMS. Green does not by itself identify which one is in use.

• Group iMessage: everyone uses iMessage on an Apple device. Group members can see the shared replies.
• Group MMS: carrier picture messaging supports shared text and photo replies.
• Group SMS: replies arrive as individual texts; recipients do not see the other replies. It does not support photo or video attachments.
• Group RCS: supports features such as higher-resolution media and read receipts. On iPhone, it requires iOS 18 or later and a supported carrier plan.

Apple documents these differences in its group-text guide and message-type explanation. Our blue and green bubbles guide explains the relevant settings. Carrier messaging and cellular-data charges depend on your plan.

Name an iMessage Group

For Apple’s group-name feature, use an iMessage conversation with at least three people total. An ordinary two-person chat and an SMS/MMS group do not have the same naming option.

1. Open the conversation and tap the group icon at the top.
2. On iOS 26 or 27, tap Edit, then Edit Name & Photo. On iOS 18, tap Change Name and Photo directly below the group information.
3. Enter a useful name, choose an optional image, and tap Done to finish.

The name is visible to the iMessage group, so choose one appropriate for everyone. See Apple’s group-naming instructions for the version differences.

Add or Remove Group Members

Check the group first: adding a person to an existing iMessage group requires at least three current participants including you. Removing someone requires at least four participants, all using iMessage. Otherwise, create a new conversation with the desired recipients.

1. On iOS 26 or 27, open the group and tap its icon.
2. To add someone, tap Add, select or enter the new contact, then tap Done.
3. To remove someone, touch and hold their icon, choose Remove from Group, then confirm Remove.

On iOS 18: tap the group name, then the participant-count button. Use Add Contact to add a member, or swipe left on their name and tap Remove when eligible.

If someone does not use iMessage, follow the prompt to start a new group, or compose one yourself with the intended members. Removing someone from a chat does not necessarily remove their access to a separately shared project. Apple’s participant-management guide explains those limits.

Leave a Group or Silence Its Alerts

You can leave an iMessage group when it has at least three other people, for four total. Open it, tap the group icon, scroll to Leave This Conversation, and confirm. If the option is unavailable in a smaller or mixed group, use muting instead.

To mute, open the group details and turn on Hide Alerts. Messages still arrive. Turn it off to resume alerts. A muted thread shows a small icon in the list; see why there is a bell or moon next to a text message. You can also swipe left on the thread in the conversation list and tap the crossed-out bell. Our conversation-muting guide covers the controls; Apple explains leaving versus muting.

A mention may still notify someone depending on their settings. In an iMessage group, type @ followed by the person’s name and select the suggestion. They control mention alerts under Settings > Apps > Messages > Notify Me.

If a Group Text Will Not Send

• Check recipients: confirm each number or iMessage address, especially if one person changed phones or numbers.
• Check the message type: an iMessage group needs an internet connection. Carrier formats need the corresponding service on your plan.
• For an MMS alert: follow our MMS Messaging troubleshooting guide. On iOS 18 and later, Messages settings are under Settings > Apps > Messages. If a required carrier setting is absent, ask your carrier about support.
• For a large group: do not rely on a universal 10- or 25-person limit. Restrictions vary by message service and carrier; check your carrier’s limit if adding another recipient prevents sending.

For other everyday features, see the complete guide to text messaging on iPhone. The version-specific controls above follow Apple’s current group-conversation guide and its iOS 18 edition.