Send a group text directly from the Messages app

The fastest way to send a group text on Android is through your phone's built-in Messages app (sometimes called SMS or the default messaging app). Open Messages, tap the pencil or compose icon, then add multiple contacts to the recipient field. Type your message and send — everyone receives it as a group conversation where replies appear in one thread.

The exact steps depend on which Messages app your phone uses. Samsung phones come with Samsung Messages, Google Pixel phones use Google Messages, and other Android phones may have a different default app. All work the same way: create a new message, add multiple people, and send.

One important thing to know: group texts sent through the Messages app use standard SMS or MMS (multimedia messaging service). This means the message goes through your carrier, not the internet. If you have a limited texting plan, group texts may count against your message limit depending on your carrier.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your Messages app, tap compose, add multiple contacts, type your message, and tap send to create a group text that appears in one conversation thread.
  • Group texts sent through the Messages app use SMS or MMS and go through your carrier, so they may count against your texting plan.
  • If a group text fails to send, check that all recipients have working phone numbers and that you have an active data or cellular connection.
  • WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger let you create group chats that use internet instead of SMS, which is useful if some group members are outside your country or you want to avoid carrier charges.

Step-by-step: Creating a group text in Google Messages

If your Android phone uses Google Messages (the default on Pixel phones and many others), follow these steps. Open the Messages app and look for a pencil icon or a button labeled "Start chat" at the bottom of the screen. Tap it to create a new message.

In the recipient field, type or paste the first contact's name or phone number. As you type, your contacts appear in a dropdown list — tap the person you want to add. After you add the first person, the recipient field stays active. Type the second contact's name or number and add them the same way. Repeat until everyone is added.

Once all recipients are in the field, tap in the message box and type what you want to say. Tap the send button (usually a paper airplane icon). The message goes out to everyone at once, and replies from group members appear in the same conversation thread so you can see the full back-and-forth.

Step-by-step: Creating a group text in Samsung Messages

Samsung phones use Samsung Messages by default. Open the app and tap the pencil icon or the "Create message" button. In the "To" field, type the first contact's name or phone number. When the contact appears in the dropdown, tap it to add them.

The "To" field remains active after you add the first person. Type the next contact's name or number and tap to add them. Continue adding everyone you want in the group. You can also tap a plus icon next to the "To" field on some Samsung phones to open your contacts list and select multiple people at once.

After everyone is added, tap in the message field and type your message. Tap send. The message goes to all recipients, and their replies come back in one group conversation thread.

What to do if your group text won't send

If you get an error message or the text does not go through, first check that you have an active cellular or data connection. Swipe down from the top of your screen to see your signal strength and connection status. If you have no signal, move to an area with better coverage and try again.

Next, verify that all phone numbers in the group are correct. A single wrong digit will cause the entire message to fail on some carriers. Open the message, tap and hold it, and look for an option to "Edit" or "View details" — this shows you exactly which numbers the message was sent to.

If one person's number is wrong, delete the message, create a new one, and add the correct number. If all numbers look correct but the message still will not send, try restarting your phone. This clears temporary connection issues that sometimes block outgoing messages.

Using internet-based apps for group messaging instead

If you want to avoid using your carrier's SMS or MMS service, you can send group messages through WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, or similar apps. These apps send messages over the internet instead of through your phone plan, so they do not count against texting limits and work the same way whether someone is across town or across the world.

To send a group message on WhatsApp, open the app, tap the message icon, and select "New group." Add contacts one by one, give the group a name, and tap create. Type your message in the group chat and send. Everyone in the group sees the message and can reply in the same thread.

The downside is that everyone in the group must have the same app installed. If you are texting people who do not use WhatsApp or Telegram, you will need to stick with the Messages app and SMS. But if your group all uses the same app, internet-based messaging is often more reliable and cheaper than carrier-based group texts.

Differences between SMS group texts and internet group chats

When you send a group text through the Messages app, each person receives an SMS or MMS message. Some carriers deliver group texts as a single conversation thread on the recipient's phone, but others deliver them as individual messages. This means replies might not always appear in one thread on everyone's phone — some people might see individual back-and-forth messages instead.

Internet-based group chats on WhatsApp, Telegram, or Messenger always show as one conversation thread for everyone. Replies appear in order, and everyone sees the same thread. This is more reliable for group conversations where you need to follow a back-and-forth discussion.

SMS group texts also have a size limit — messages longer than 160 characters split into multiple texts, and adding pictures or videos converts the message to MMS, which uses more data and may cost more depending on your plan. Internet apps have no such limits and handle photos, videos, and long messages without extra charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone to a group text after I send the first message?

Not directly through the Messages app. You have to create a new group text with everyone you want to include. However, internet-based apps like WhatsApp and Telegram let you add people to an existing group chat at any time — just open the group, tap the group name, and select the option to add members.

Why do some people in my group text not see replies from others?

This usually happens because your carrier does not support true group messaging. Some carriers deliver group texts as individual messages to each person rather than as one conversation thread. The person still gets the message, but they see it as a separate text from each sender instead of one group conversation. Switching to WhatsApp or Telegram fixes this because those apps always show group messages as one thread.

Do group texts cost more than regular texts?

It depends on your carrier and plan. Some carriers count a group text as one message, while others count it as one message per recipient. Check your carrier's website or call customer service to find out how your plan handles group texts. Internet-based apps like WhatsApp and Telegram do not use your texting plan at all — they use data instead.

What happens if someone's phone is off when I send a group text?

The message still goes through to everyone else. When that person's phone turns back on, the message is delivered to them automatically. This works the same way as regular texts — the carrier holds the message until the phone is back online.

Can I send a group text to people with iPhones?

Yes. Android group texts sent through the Messages app work with iPhone users. However, if you are in a group text with both Android and iPhone users, the conversation may not display as a true group chat on iPhones — it might show as individual texts instead. This is a limitation of how iPhones handle SMS group messages from Android phones. Internet apps like WhatsApp work the same way on both Android and iPhone and avoid this problem.