Steps To Forward a Text Message On iPhone (With Images)

Jonathan Kao

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Remembering how to forward text messages on an iPhone is a handy skill for your digital communication toolkit. It helps you share information quickly from one contact to another, whether it’s a funny conversation, important details, or just keeping someone in the loop. Since most iPhone users use the Messages app every day, knowing how to forward messages efficiently can save time and effort. The process is simple and doesn’t require advanced knowledge of your device. Whether you want to forward a single message or an entire conversation to one or multiple recipients, your iPhone’s built-in functionality makes it possible with just a few taps. Once you get the hang of it, forwarding messages can become an essential part of how you communicate with others using your iPhone.

Easily Share Text Messages on Your iPhone

Want to share a funny text exchange or important information with someone else? Here’s how to forward text messages on your iPhone:

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Open the Messages app. Find the conversation containing the text you want to forward.
  2. Tap and hold the message bubble. A menu will pop up.
  3. Tap “More.”
  4. Select any additional messages you’d like to forward (this is optional).
  5. Tap the forward arrow icon (it’s at the bottom right corner of your screen).
  6. Enter the recipient’s name or phone number in the “To:” field.
  7. Tap the Send button (the blue up arrow).

Additional Tips

  • You can forward multiple messages at once by checking the boxes next to them after tapping “More.”
  • If you want to forward a whole conversation, start a new message thread, add the desired recipient, and then copy and paste the entire conversation you want to share.

Troubleshooting: What if I Don’t See the Forward Option?

There are a few reasons why the forward option might not appear:

  • MMS or Group Messages: You can’t forward standard MMS picture/video messages or group messages. However, you can take a screenshot and send it as a new picture.
  • Carrier Restrictions: Some carriers might have limitations on certain types of message forwarding. Contact your carrier if you’re facing consistent issues.

Key Takeaways

  • Text message forwarding on an iPhone is simple and saves time.
  • Multiple messages can be forwarded to single or multiple contacts.
  • Familiarity with iPhone settings can enhance message forwarding efficiency.

Preparing Your iPhone for Text Message Forwarding

Before you can share your iPhone’s text messages with other devices, a few setup steps are necessary. Let’s walk through how to enable text forwarding and ensure that all your Apple devices are ready for seamless message sharing.

Enable Text Message Forwarding

First things first, enable Text Message Forwarding on your iPhone so you can send and receive SMS and MMS from other devices. This feature is tucked away in the Settings menu of your iPhone. Follow these steps:

  1. Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network.
  2. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  3. Scroll down and tap on Messages.
  4. You may need to sign in with your Apple ID if prompted.
  5. Once in Messages settings, look for Text Message Forwarding and tap it.
  6. A list of devices connected to your Apple ID through iCloud will appear.
  7. Toggle on each device that you want to be able to send and receive messages.

To use this feature, it’s important that two-factor authentication is turned on for your Apple ID. Also, all devices must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.

Setting Up Send & Receive Options

Your iPhone can send messages using your phone number or email address associated with your Apple ID. To set this up:

  1. Stay in the Messages settings.
  2. Tap Send & Receive.
  3. You’ll see your phone number and any email addresses linked to your Apple ID.
  4. Check the ones you want to use for sending and receiving messages.
  5. Under “Start New Conversations From,” select your preferred contact point.

By adjusting these settings, you’re making sure that you can be reached on your iPhone and your other devices, and that you can start conversations from any of them.

Connecting Devices on the Same Apple Ecosystem

Ensure continuity between your devices—like an iPad, Mac, or even CarPlay—with these simple steps:

  1. Ensure that each device you want to forward messages to is connected to Wi-Fi and within close proximity to each other.
  2. Verify that every device is signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID used on your iPhone.
  3. If you want to forward messages to a Mac, open Messages there.
  4. Go to Messages settings on your Mac, and there should be an option to enable iPhone text message forwarding.
  5. Once enabled, any text messages sent to your iPhone can also appear on your Mac, iPad, or even on the dashboard of your car if you have Apple CarPlay.

That’s it! Your devices are now prepped and connected, and you should start seeing texts appearing on your chosen devices whenever they’re sent to your iPhone.

Forwarding Text Messages

Sending a text message to someone else is a simple way to share information or keep others in the loop. Whether forwarding to a single person or to many, the iPhone makes it easy to keep your conversations flowing.

How to Forward a Message on iPhone

  1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Locate and select the conversation that contains the text message to be forwarded.
  3. Press and hold the message bubble until options appear.
  4. Tap More… and a checkmark will appear next to the message.
  5. Select the forward button (shaped like an arrow) at the bottom right corner.
  6. In the To: field, add the recipient you wish to send the message to, then press Send.

Forwarding to Multiple Recipients

  • To forward a message to several contacts, after tapping More…, simply continue selecting messages you want to include.
  • After tapping the forward button, add each recipient in the To: field. Individuals can be added by typing their name or number, or by selecting from the contacts list.

Sharing Beyond Messages

Sharing isn’t limited to the Messages app. You can send the selected text message to an email or share it via third-party apps. After selecting the message and hitting the forward button, enter an email address or choose the desired app to share the message.

Advanced Features and Considerations

While forwarding text messages is straightforward, it’s important to consider privacy and consent when sharing conversations. Respect the privacy of others and obtain permission before forwarding. Additionally, using Copy and Paste can be a quick alternative for sharing messages without the forwarding feature.
For automatic forwarding of every text message, such as from SMS to other devices like iPads or Macs, special settings in the Messages app can be configured. However, this requires using the same Apple ID and enabling two-factor authentication for security. This feature can save time and keep all devices updated with the latest messages.

FAQs

In this section, we’ll cover some of the most common questions about forwarding text messages on your iPhone, providing clear and direct answers for each inquiry.

How do I forward a text message to another person on my iPhone?

To forward a text on your iPhone, open the Messages app and select the conversation that has the message you want to send to someone else. Press and hold the specific text bubble, tap More, then select the message(s) by tapping the circle next to them. Press the arrow button at the bottom right corner, type in the recipient’s contact information, and press send.

What steps are needed to set up automatic forwarding of text messages to another phone on iPhone?

Automatic forwarding is not a standard feature on iPhones. Third-party apps that claim to provide this service may not be secure or reliable, so it’s important to be cautious and ensure your privacy and data security.

Can I forward text messages to my email from my iPhone, and if so, how?

While forwarding individual texts to an email isn’t a built-in feature in the Messages app, you can manually do this by selecting the message, pressing the forward button, and then inputting your email address as the recipient.

Why don’t I see an option to forward text messages on my iPhone?

If you’re unable to see a forwarding option, you may not be pressing the text message firmly enough or didn’t select ‘More’ after pressing. Make sure your device’s iOS is up-to-date as older versions may not support forwarding or the interface may look different.

What is the process for forwarding text messages on recent iPhone models like iPhone 13 or iPhone 11?

The steps for forwarding messages are uniform across recent iPhone models: tap the Messages app, open the conversation, press and hold the text you want to forward, select ‘More,’ choose the messages, and then press the arrow to send them to the new recipient.

Is there a method to discreetly forward text messages from my iPhone?

Any text message forwarding that takes place on your iPhone is logged in your Messages app, meaning there is no inbuilt function to discreetly forward messages without leaving a trace on your device. All activity is visible if someone accesses your Message app.