The quickest way to forward a text on Android

Open the Messages app, find the conversation with the text you want to forward, and press and hold the message until a menu appears. Tap Forward (or the forward arrow icon, depending on your phone's version). Select the contact or contacts you want to send it to, then tap Send. The message goes out as a new text, not as a reply in the original conversation.

The exact steps and menu labels vary slightly between Android versions and which messaging app you use — Samsung phones often have a different interface than Google Pixel phones, for example. But the core action is the same: find the message, hold it, and choose forward from the menu that appears.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold any text message in your Messages app to see the forward option in the menu that appears.
  • You can forward a single message or multiple messages at once by selecting them before tapping forward.
  • The forwarded message appears as a new text to the recipient, not as part of your original conversation thread.
  • If your phone uses a third-party messaging app instead of the default one, the forward button may be in a different location or labeled differently.

Forwarding a single message versus multiple messages

To forward just one message, press and hold it until the menu appears, then tap Forward. To forward several messages at once — for example, a whole conversation or a series of related texts — hold down the first message, then tap each additional message you want to include. They will highlight as you select them. Once you have chosen all the messages, tap Forward, then pick your recipient.

Forwarding multiple messages sends them all together in one text, so the recipient sees them as a block rather than separate incoming texts. This is useful if you want someone to see the full context of a conversation without sending each message individually.

Where the forward button appears on different Android phones

On Google Pixel phones running the default Messages app, the forward option shows up in a menu when you long-press a message. Samsung phones with their own messaging app often display a forward arrow icon directly on the message bubble. Some older Android versions put the forward button in a three-dot menu instead of showing it immediately.

If you cannot find a forward option after holding down a message, check whether your phone is using a third-party app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal instead of the default messaging app. Those apps have their own forwarding methods, and some may not support forwarding at all. You can check which app you are using by looking at the name at the top of the screen when you open your messages.

Forwarding messages to multiple people at once

After you tap Forward, the recipient selection screen appears. You can type a contact's name in the search field, or scroll through your contacts list and tap each person you want to send the message to. A checkmark appears next to each selected contact. Once you have chosen everyone, tap Send, and the message goes out to all of them simultaneously.

Each recipient receives the message as a separate text from you, not as a group message. They do not see who else received it unless you tell them. If you want to send the same message to a group of people and have them all see each other's responses, you would create a group message instead of using forward.

What happens to the forwarded message on the recipient's phone

The person you forward a message to receives it as a regular text from you. They see the content of the original message, but they do not see your original conversation thread or any context about who sent it to you first. The message appears in their Messages app just like any other text you might send them.

If the original message contained a photo, link, or emoji, those come through in the forwarded version. However, if the original message was very long or contained special formatting, some phones may display it differently than it appeared on your screen.

Forwarding messages from group chats

You can forward messages from group conversations the same way you forward individual texts — press and hold the message and tap Forward. The message goes to whoever you select, but it does not include any indication that it came from a group chat. The recipient sees only the text itself and your name as the sender.

If you want to forward a message from a group chat but also let the recipient know it came from a group, you would need to mention that context yourself in a separate message. The forward function does not automatically include that information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward a message that contains a photo or video?

Yes. Photos and videos forward the same way as text messages — press and hold the message, tap Forward, select your recipient, and send. The image or video file goes through with the message. If the original file was very large, your phone may compress it slightly before sending, depending on your network connection.

What if the forward button does not appear when I hold down a message?

Some messaging apps do not support forwarding, or they hide the option in a different menu. Check whether you are using the default Messages app or a third-party app like WhatsApp or Signal. If you are using a third-party app, look for a three-dot menu or swipe options on the message. If forward is not available, you may need to copy and paste the message instead.

Does the person I forward a message to know it was forwarded?

No. The recipient sees the message as a regular text from you. There is no indicator that you forwarded it from someone else. If you want them to know the message came from another person, you would need to tell them that separately.

Can I forward a message to a group chat?

Yes. When you tap Forward and select your recipients, you can choose a group conversation just as you would choose an individual contact. The message appears in that group chat as a text from you, and all members of the group see it.