The quickest way to forward a text on iPhone

Open the Messages app, find the conversation with the text you want to forward, and press and hold on the specific message until a menu appears. Tap "More" at the bottom right, then tap the forward arrow icon (it looks like an arrow pointing right in a box). Select the contact or conversation 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 at once. The forwarded message will appear as a separate text in the recipient's conversation with you, not as part of the original thread.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold a message in the Messages app, tap "More", then use the forward arrow to send it to another contact.
  • You can select multiple messages before forwarding them all at once by tapping "More" after each additional message you want to include.
  • Forwarded messages appear as new texts to the recipient, not as part of the original conversation thread.
  • If you want to forward a message to someone not in your contacts, you can still send it by typing their phone number or email address when prompted.

Forwarding multiple messages in one go

If you need to send several messages from the same conversation, you don't have to forward them one at a time. After you press and hold the first message and tap "More", continue tapping other messages in that conversation to select them. Each one you tap will show a checkmark.

Once you've selected all the messages you want, tap the forward arrow. All of them will be grouped together and sent as a single text to your chosen recipient. This is useful if someone asks you to share a back-and-forth conversation or a series of related messages.

What happens when you forward a message

When you forward a text, the recipient sees it as a new message from you, not as part of the original conversation. The message itself stays exactly the same — the content, any photos or links, and the timestamp all come through unchanged. However, the recipient won't see who originally sent you the message or any context about the original conversation.

If you forward a message that contains a photo, video, or link, all of that content forwards along with the text. The recipient will receive it just as you did, with the same quality and format.

Forwarding messages from group chats

You can forward messages from group conversations the same way you forward from one-on-one texts. Press and hold the message, tap "More", select any other messages you want to include, then tap the forward arrow. The recipient will see the forwarded message as a regular text from you, not as part of a group chat.

Keep in mind that when you forward a message from a group chat, the recipient won't know it came from a group or see the names of other people in that conversation. They'll only see the message content itself.

Forwarding to contacts not in your phone

You don't need someone saved in your contacts to forward them a message. After you tap the forward arrow, the "To:" field will appear. You can type a phone number or email address directly into that field, even if that person isn't in your contacts list. Tap "Send" when you're ready.

If you forward to an email address, make sure the recipient has iMessage turned on and that email address is linked to their Apple account. Otherwise, the message may not deliver properly.

When forwarding doesn't work as expected

If the forward arrow doesn't appear after you tap "More", the message might be too old or there might be a temporary issue with your connection. Try closing the Messages app completely and reopening it, then try again. If you're forwarding a very large photo or video, make sure you have a strong internet connection before attempting to send it.

If you're trying to forward a message to someone and it won't send, check that you've typed their contact information correctly. If you're sending via iMessage, confirm that the recipient has iMessage turned on. If you're sending via regular SMS, make sure you have cellular service or are connected to Wi-Fi.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. When you forward a message, the recipient only sees the message content and that it came from you. They won't see the original sender's name or any information about where the message came from originally.

Does forwarding a message use data or my text message plan?

If you forward via iMessage (which uses data or Wi-Fi), it counts as a data message. If you forward via regular SMS, it counts as a text message against your plan. You can tell which type you're using by the color of the message bubble — blue is iMessage, green is SMS.

Can I forward a message to multiple people at once?

You can only forward to one contact or conversation at a time. If you need to send the same message to several people, you'll need to forward it separately to each one, or you can copy the message text and paste it into new conversations.

What if I accidentally forward a message to the wrong person?

Unfortunately, you can't unsend a text message on iPhone once it's been delivered. If you've sent it to the wrong person, your best option is to contact them and explain the mistake. In the future, double-check the recipient's name before tapping "Send".

Can I forward messages from other apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger?

No. The forward feature only works within the Messages app for SMS texts and iMessages. Other messaging apps have their own forward features built into those apps, which you'd access through their own menus.