Group chats are a great way to keep everyone in the loop, but what if you forgot to include someone? Don’t worry—it’s easy to add new people to an iMessage group text, as long as everyone in the chat is using an iPhone. Here’s exactly how to do it, plus what to do if your group includes Android users.
Before You Add Someone: Know the Rules
You can only add people to a group text if:
- The group is an iMessage thread (everyone has an iPhone)
- The group doesn’t include any Android users
If even one person in the thread is using SMS (green bubbles), you won’t be able to add anyone new to that group.
Step-by-Step: Add a Contact to an iMessage Group Chat
- Open the Messages app and tap the group conversation.
- Tap the group icons at the top of the screen.
- Tap the info (“i”) button.
- Scroll down and tap “Add Contact”.
- Search for the person’s name or phone number.
- Tap Done.
The new person will be added to the group immediately (if they’re an iPhone user).
Can’t Add Someone? Try Creating a New Group
If your current group includes Android users (green text bubbles), you won’t be able to add new people. Instead, start a fresh group chat:
- Open the Messages app and tap the new message icon.
- Tap the “+” icon to choose all the people you want in the new group.
- Type a message and send it to create the group.
💡 Tip: Want to keep the original group going? Just create a second group with the added person(s).
How to Remove Someone From a Group iMessage
You can also kick someone out of an iMessage group (iPhone users only):
- Open the group chat and tap the group icons.
- Tap the info button.
- Swipe left on the person’s name.
- Tap Remove, then Done.
They’ll be removed from the chat instantly and won’t receive future messages.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re running into issues:
- Make sure everyone in the group is using an iPhone.
- Double-check that you have the correct number or Apple ID for the person.
- Try restarting your iPhone and then adding the person again.
- Some carriers may limit group size—usually to 10–20 members.