This iOS 17 feature has changed the way I use Messages forever— here’s how you can use it too

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Swiping is easy.

iOS 17 swipe to reply iPhone 13 mini with frog
(Image credit: Future / Apple)
iOS 17:

A grid of iPhones running iOS 17

(Image credit: Apple)

- Compatibility: iPhone XR and later
- Release date: September 18
- How to download and install iOS 17
- How to make iOS 17 Contact Posters
- How to use StandBy on iOS 17
- How to leave a FaceTime video message on iOS 17

What happens when you're in a group chat, but you want to reply to a specific message? Previously, you had to tap and hold that message in order to bring up the reply box. Now, in iOS 17, you can simply swipe to reply, and that changes everything.

WhatsApp users have been able to swipe to reply for years, and finally, Apple has brought the feature to Messages. It may not sound like a big deal, but once you start using swipe to reply, you'll wonder how you ever got by without it. It may not be Apple's biggest new iOS 17 feature, but it's a welcome upgrade.

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How to swipe to reply in iOS 17 Messages

1. Swipe Right

Open Messages and find a message you want to reply to within a conversation. Swipe right on the message, and you’ll notice a reply arrow pop up on the left. Let go when the arrow pops up

2. Reply

This will create an isolated thread, so type your reply and hit send.

You can now swipe to reply to any future messages and keep a specific topic of conversation going within the created thread. It’s a great way to keep your group messages clutter-free.

One more thing… replying to iMessages is finally good

While it's a smaller feature, we think that swipe to reply is one of the best new features in iOS 17. While bigger features like StandBy mode, NameDrop, and Contact Posters have gotten most of the press, swipe to reply is such a thoughtful feature, and long overdue. WhatsApp users have had this feature for years, so it's about time to have it on the native Messages app.

Yes, you have been able to reply to individual messages in a group chat for a while now, but previously you had to tap and hold a message in order to reply to it. Swiping is a much more intuitive and natural gesture, and we think you'll get a lot more use out of it.

John-Anthony Disotto
John-Anthony Disotto
Editor

John-Anthony Disotto is the Editor of iMore, helping you get the most from your Apple products and fixing things when your technology isn't behaving itself.

Based in Scotland, where he worked as a Genius Bar technician repairing iPhones, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself on closing his Apple Watch activity rings.

He leads iMore's work on AI in the newsroom, testing where it genuinely improves editorial work and where it doesn't. Every story is written, edited, and signed off by a person.

Previously in editorial at TechRadar and Tom's Guide, John-Anthony is an avid film geek who won the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019. Away from Apple, he tinkers with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.

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