Easily get into a group conversation, rename it, mute it, even leave it, all with iMessage!

You don't have to send iMessages to just one person. Thanks to groups, you can share text, photos, videos, soundbites, location — almost anything you like — with two people, three people, and more. You can even name a conversation thread to make it easier to find and keep track of, or mute it for when it's getting too noisy to follow.

How to start a group message on iPhone or iPad

  1. Launch the Messages app from your Home screen.
  2. Tap on the compose new message button (looks like a pencil and paper).

  3. Type in your first contact's name (I chose my friend Drew).

    Launch messages-tap on compose new message and type a contact's name.

  4. Type your next contact's name (I chose my friend Alf).

  5. Tap inside of the text field at the bottom of your message.

    Type your next contact's name and tap inside the text field in your message.

  6. Type the message you want to send to the group.

  7. Tap send.

    Type your message and tap send.

Now you'll be able to start group chats, instead of having to text each person individually.

How to rename a group message

If a few people come and go or the topic of the group message changes, you can easily rename it!

  1. Launch the Messages app from your Home screen.
  2. Tap the group conversation you'd like to rename.
  3. Tap Details.

  4. Swipe down to scroll up to the top of the screen.

    Tap the chat, tap Details, swipe down to scroll up to the top of the screen

  5. Tap the Group Name.
  6. Enter a name for your group conversation.

  7. Tap Done.

    Tap the Group Name, enter a name, tap Done

How to mute or leave a group message

Got added to a group message that you have no interest in following? No problem! Walk away with no regrets, or just mute notifications with a few taps on your phone.

  1. Launch the Messages app from your Home screen.
  2. Tap on the group message you want to leave.

  3. Tap Details button at the top right of your screen.

    Launch Messages, tap on a group message, and tap on details.

  4. From here you can decide whether you want to mute or leave the group chat.

    • Move the Do Not Disturb slider to the right to stop receiving notifications from this conversation.

    • Tap Leave this Conversation if you no longer want to be apart of this group message.

      Move the Do Not Disturb slider to the right or tap Leave this Conversation.

Note: you can only leave group messages if all participants are using iMessage. Since Apple doesn't have access to block or remove you from SMS/MMS carrier messages, iMessage threads are the only thing they can remove you from on their end.

iOS