The fastest way to forward a text

Open the Messages app and find the conversation with the text you want to forward. Press and hold the specific message (not the whole conversation) until a menu appears. Tap More, then tap the forward arrow icon at the bottom right of the screen. Select the contact or group you want to send it to, and tap Send.

That's the standard method, and it works whether you're forwarding a single message or multiple ones from the same conversation. The forwarded message will appear as a separate text in your recipient's inbox, not as part of the original thread.

If you don't see the forward arrow after tapping More, make sure you're running the latest version of iOS. Older versions of the Messages app don't include this feature, so check Settings > General > Software Update if you're stuck.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold a single message in the Messages app, tap More, then tap the forward arrow to send it to a different contact.
  • You can select multiple messages from the same conversation and forward them all at once by tapping More after selecting each one.
  • The forwarded message arrives as a new text, not as part of the original conversation thread.
  • If the forward arrow doesn't appear, update your iPhone to the latest iOS version through Settings > General > Software Update.

Forwarding multiple messages at once

If you need to forward several messages from the same conversation, you don't have to send them one at a time. Open the conversation, press and hold the first message you want to forward, then tap More. Now tap each additional message you want to include — they'll show a checkmark as you select them.

Once you've selected all the messages, tap the forward arrow at the bottom right. Choose your recipient and tap Send. All the selected messages will forward together in the order they appeared in the original conversation.

This method only works with messages from the same conversation. If you need to forward texts from different conversations, you'll need to forward them separately.

What happens when you forward a message

When you forward a text, the recipient sees it as a brand new message from you, not as part of your original conversation with them. The message arrives with your name as the sender, even though you're passing along something someone else wrote to you.

The forwarded message includes the original text exactly as it was, with no way for the recipient to know who originally sent it to you. If you want them to know the source, you'll need to add that context yourself in a separate message.

Forwarded messages don't include any metadata like the original send time or sender information. The recipient only sees the text content itself.

Forwarding to groups and multiple people

You can forward a message to a group chat the same way you'd forward to an individual contact. After tapping the forward arrow, scroll through your contacts and tap the group name. The message will post to that group conversation.

If you want to send the same message to multiple people but not to a group chat, you'll need to forward it separately to each contact. There's no built-in way to forward to multiple individual recipients in a single action.

Forwarding photos and videos in messages

The forward method works exactly the same for photos, videos, and other media sent through Messages. Press and hold the photo or video, tap More, then tap the forward arrow. The media will forward at its original quality.

If you're forwarding a message that contains both text and an image, both will forward together. You can't separate them — the entire message forwards as a unit.

When forwarding doesn't work

If you press and hold a message and don't see the More option, you may be using an older iPhone or an outdated version of iOS. The forward feature requires iOS 16 or later. Check your iOS version in Settings > General > About, and update if needed.

Messages from certain services like banks or automated alerts sometimes can't be forwarded due to how they're formatted. If the More option doesn't appear for a specific message, that message type may not support forwarding.

If you're trying to forward a message from a conversation that's been deleted or archived, open the conversation first to make sure it's active, then try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I forward a message to see who originally sent it to me?

No. The forwarded message shows only your name as the sender. The recipient won't know who originally wrote the message unless you tell them in a separate text.

What's the difference between forwarding and copying a message?

Forwarding sends the message as a new text to someone else. Copying lets you paste the text into a note, email, or another app. Press and hold the message and tap Copy to copy instead of forward.

Can I forward a message to someone who doesn't have an iPhone?

Yes. The forwarded message will arrive as a regular text message on Android phones and other devices. It works the same way as forwarding to another iPhone user.

Does forwarding use data or count as a regular text message?

It depends on how you're sending it. If you're forwarding through iMessage (blue message bubbles), it uses data. If you're forwarding a regular SMS text (green bubbles), it counts as a standard text message on your plan.