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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 Are there some unpublished restrictions on how it works?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

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 19, 2017 10:36 AM

THIS WORKS!!! Ignore all the other useless advice. Thanks, Bob!

42 replies

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.

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.

User uploaded file

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.

User uploaded file

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.

User uploaded file

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

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.

Jul 2, 2015 11:14 AM in response to meggiers

Brettl and Level 7 basket ball,


Both of You did not understand Meggiers' question.

Both of you need to step out of your narrow view to answer questions.


This issue can not be solved by neither of your solutions, because the "Group Name and Add Contact" options are not exist on the phones who has problem.


Group message is not working properly on most the I-Phones.

This is a big disadvantage of the message system of Apple.


Some specialist from Apple should stand out and provide a solution.

Jul 26, 2015 9:01 PM in response to meggiers

I finally figured out a workaround to this very annoying problem. Since you cannot delete or change recipients in a Group MMS msg using an iPhone, try this simple procedure to, for example, send a string of text msg. conversation to a new contact not previously on the chain. Go to the first msg. you wish to forward (including pictures) and hold your finger on it until "Copy, More..." option appears. Tap "More" and you can now select which individual replies of the Group MMS you wish to forward to someone else by tapping each desired text comment and/or photos. As you do so, you will notice that the selected entries will have a check mark inside a blue dot to the left of the affected reply. Continue doing this until all entries you wish to forward are included. Now, simply go to the To: line and add the contacts you want, including some you previously had, but excluding previous contacts you do not wish to share this new msg. with. What you are doing is creating a new Group MMS as though it was from scratch, except that this way, you do not need to reenter all info by typing. Just copy the previous text msg. chain of replies using the selective "More..." selection mechanism. This sure saved me a bunch of time. Good luck.

Aug 30, 2015 1:38 PM in response to meggiers

I had the same problem. Go into the text message (green iMessage icon) and start a new message conversation. Type somebody's name in from the conversation you are trying to add to, Every conversation that person is in will show up in a drop down list. Find the right conversation, click on it and everyone will show up in the "To:" box, and you can add or remove people from there. This, though will create a NEW conversation with everyone in it.

Jan 11, 2016 2:10 PM in response to meggiers

This is the answer


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.

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

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