Why is it so difficult to remove a person from a group message?

Why is it so difficult to remove a person from a group message?

iPhone 13

Posted on Jun 22, 2023 7:51 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jun 22, 2023 7:55 AM

You can only name an iMessage Group and not SMS or MMS Groups



Add or remove someone from a group conversation

Anyone in a group iMessage can add or remove someone from the conversation. You can remove a person from a group iMessage that has at least three other people. You can’t add or remove people from group MMS messages or group SMS messages.



Types of group messages

The three types of group messages that you might see are: group iMessage, group MMS, and group SMS. The Messages app automatically chooses the type of group message to send based on you and your recipients' settings, network connection, and carrier plan. For example:

  • If you and your recipients are using Apple devices and iMessage is turned on, then the group message is sent as an iMessage.
  • If you send a group message to people who aren't using iMessage, then the message is sent as an MMS or SMS message.



Do more with Messages


3 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jun 22, 2023 7:55 AM in response to Carlos Toro

You can only name an iMessage Group and not SMS or MMS Groups



Add or remove someone from a group conversation

Anyone in a group iMessage can add or remove someone from the conversation. You can remove a person from a group iMessage that has at least three other people. You can’t add or remove people from group MMS messages or group SMS messages.



Types of group messages

The three types of group messages that you might see are: group iMessage, group MMS, and group SMS. The Messages app automatically chooses the type of group message to send based on you and your recipients' settings, network connection, and carrier plan. For example:

  • If you and your recipients are using Apple devices and iMessage is turned on, then the group message is sent as an iMessage.
  • If you send a group message to people who aren't using iMessage, then the message is sent as an MMS or SMS message.



Do more with Messages


Jun 25, 2023 8:37 AM in response to Carlos Toro

Carlos Toro wrote:

Why is it so difficult to remove a person from a group message?

Because SMS/MMS group message standards do not allow editing a group once it has been created. This is a standard in the wireless industry; Apple has no control over it. thus, if the group contains even one non-iPhone user you are stuck with that group forever.


If you wan’t more flexibility in your group messaging don’t use SMS/MMS. There are many 3rd party messaging apps that are both better and more secure than SMS/MMS (which is notoriously UNsecure, as your carrier can see your messages such as):


  • WhatsApp
  • Skype
  • Telegram
  • Signal
  • Facebook Messenger
  • Google Meet


All of these provide end-to-end encryption.

Why is it so difficult to remove a person from a group message?

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