Level 1

64 points

On iOS 8, can't add a person to a group text

In iOS8 you can in theory add people to group texts. The Apple website says:

"You can add a person to a conversation by tapping Details, and then tapping Add Contact."

I'm running iOS 8.1 (on an iPhone 5S), but this feature does not work. When I click on details, "add contact" does not appear like it does in the photos on Apple's webpage. I've also seen this on other people's phones so I know what to look for and I'm not getting it. Are there some unpublished restrictions on how it works? Does everyone in the group need to be using iMessage for example?

I already made sure that "group messaging" is turned on in settings.

I thought maybe Apple had caught up with What's App but it still doesn't seem like it!!

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 5s, iOS 8.1

Posted on Oct 30, 2014 4:53 PM

Top-ranking reply

IdrisSeabright

Level 10

188,091 points

Posted on Sep 28, 2017 6:03 AM

Lilieae wrote:

The 'Add Contacts' button is not available in the details of my group messages either. Why?

Is everyone in the group using iMessage? If they are not, you will not see the button. This has already been explained in this thread. There is a link to the knowledge base article above.

View in context

42 replies

Nov 16, 2017 7:01 AM in response to meggiers

this used to work on the iphone 6 & 7 but apparently has been taken away, which is HUGE disadvantage. I may take mine back and get a 7

Nov 20, 2017 1:22 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

We are talking about ADDING a person to a group text. That option is not there! Sounds like your groups ate from email and not TEXT! We used to hit Details and add a person! Gone!

Dec 10, 2017 2:45 PM in response to meggiers

I did not start the text thread, so "details" does not show up at the top of my thread. Is it only possible for the person who started the thread to add or delete someone?

Freshcb1

Level 1

4 points

Jan 18, 2017 8:23 AM in response to Brett L

I did a group text and deleted a name to add a different name and it will not let me make any changes. So instead of sending the text to 10 people it will only go to 9. I cannot make any revisions to my senders in a group text. I have followed the example people have written and nothing works.

Aug 7, 2017 6:44 AM in response to ggmathew

ggmathew wrote:

I can't add someone to my group message list

Is everyone in the current group using iMessage? Is the person who you're trying to add using iMessage? If the answer to either of those questions is "no", you cant. Please read this thread from the beginning.

Brett L

Community Specialist

Nov 2, 2014 12:00 PM in response to meggiers

Hi meggiers,

In order to add members to a chat using the method you describe - that is by tapping Details and then Add Contact - you must already be in a Group Chat. To start a Group Chat follow the directions in this article -

Send a group message with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Specifically -

To send messages to a group, start a new conversation. Then enter multiple recipients or tap to select from your contacts.

Then you can add members to the Group Chat -

You can add a person to a conversation by tapping Details, and then tapping Add Contact.

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

Best,

Brett L

meggiers Author

Level 1

64 points

Nov 3, 2014 7:41 AM in response to Brett L

Yes, I know this only works for group chats. Unfortunately your reply does not answer my question. When I try it for already established group messages it does not work.

Since I originally posted I've learned that it works for some group messages and not others. My only theory at this point is that everyone on the group needs to be using iMessage. I hope this is not the case because it severely limits the functionality. Again, I thought Apple had caught up with the 10 programmers at What's App, but it seems like they haven't. <Sigh>

Brett L

Community Specialist

Nov 3, 2014 9:34 AM in response to meggiers

Hi meggiers,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. Due to the nature of the issue you described you may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources - https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action.

Brett L

meggiers Author

Level 1

64 points

Nov 3, 2014 11:07 AM in response to meggiers

After some further experimentation, it's clear that adding people to group texts (Apple seems to call them group messages) on iOS 8 only works if everyone in the group is using iMessage. I experimented with about 15 different group messages and I could add people only when the existing text stream was all in blue (i.e. everyone on iMessage). In all other cases, it failed to give me the option.

Apple, first of all, this is a lame feature. You know that many people in the world don't use iMessage (in fact, most don't) and in a group the odds go up that it won't work b/c it only takes one. Second, why aren't you making this clear in your documentation on the feature. You seem to be hiding it.

razmee209

Level 10

199,038 points

Nov 3, 2014 11:35 AM in response to meggiers

The copy and text directly from the link provided to you, it clearly says imessage.

How do I add or remove someone from a group message?

You can add a person to a conversation by tapping Details, and then tapping Add Contact.

You can remove a person from an iMessage conversation with at least four people. Tap Details, then swipe the name of the person you want to remove from right to left. Then tap Delete.

Leave a group message

If the group message is using iMessage and has more than three participants, you can leave the conversation. Tap Details. Then tap Leave this Conversation.

Leave this Conversation might not be available if there are only three people in the group iMessage or if the group message uses MMS.

Name a group message

You can name group iMessage threads. While viewing a conversation, tap Details, in the upper right. Then drag down and enter the name in the Group Name field.

Mute notifications

If you don't want to get notifications for a group message, tap Details. Then turn on Do Not Disturb. You'll still receive the messages in the Messages app, and you'll still receive notifications on the lock screen.

Why is Messages sending my group messages as individual texts?

If you send a message to multiple people and at least one person isn't using group messaging, an individual message will go to each recipient using either SMS or MMS. Only the original sender will get any responses to these messages, in separate message threads.

Using group messaging with MMS

To use group messaging with MMS, you need a plan from your carrier that allows sending MMS. Carrier messaging rates may apply.

Check with your wireless carrier to see how many people you can include in a group message with MMS.

You can turn off MMS group messaging in Settings > Messages > Group Messaging. You can still send and receive group iMessages.

Learn more

Resolve issues with iMessage, SMS, or MMS messaging.
Learn more about SMS, MMS, and iMessage.
With group messages, there are no read receipts.

Jan 31, 2015 11:15 AM in response to meggiers

Here's another vote on this: Apple, please figure out a way to do this, it's incredibly irritating sometimes!

scrapmax

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2015 10:04 PM in response to meggiers

I don't understand why I can't add another person to the group. I went into details but no listing for +contacts. My teenager said I can't add a contact to the group unless they have iphones.

I can't group text unless I make a new group. So apple is propierity? Some iphones seem to be able to have the +contacts on their phones.

I have an iphone 6 and os is updated.

Quite frustrating.

Feb 18, 2015 4:09 PM in response to meggiers

I Should have bought a Samsung. They are able to add recipients to group texts. This is very frustrating.

pup975

Level 1

8 points

Feb 25, 2015 5:07 AM in response to Lscrutton

There is a limitation to 10 people on ATT when group texting with MMS or SMS. Once you hit over ten people in the thread, sending or adding people that don't have iMessage doesn't work. If you had a Samsung, this would be the same.

May 25, 2015 10:50 AM in response to meggiers

I gor around this with these steps:

1. Go to settings then messages.

2. Turn iMessage ON

3. Now, you see "send as SMS" option. Turn that on.

4. Turn iMessage back off.

Now Group MMS worked again, for me at least.

Bob "Sandy" Price

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On iOS 8, can't add a person to a group text