How to Forward a Text Message to Someone Else on Your iPhone

Remember getting a nice letter in the mail and thinking, "My sister would love to read this"? You might slip it into a new envelope and send it along. Forwarding a text message works the same way — you're passing a message you received on to someone else, word for word.

Maybe your neighbor sent you the church potluck details and you want your daughter to see them. Maybe a friend shared a funny joke that your brother would appreciate. Here's how to send it along in about ten seconds.

Finding the Message You Want to Forward

Open the Messages app — the green square with a white speech bubble. Tap the conversation that has the message inside it.

Now find the exact message you want to pass along. It could be a sentence, a whole paragraph, or a single line. You don't have to forward the entire conversation — just the one message you pick.

Sending It On

Press and hold your finger on the message bubble itself. Hold for about one second, then let go. A little menu will pop up above the message with words like "Reply," "Copy," and a row of small face icons.

At the bottom of that menu, tap More… (with the three dots). You'll see a checkmark appear next to the message you were holding, and small empty circles next to every other message in the conversation. If you want to forward more than one, tap the circles next to those too. Otherwise, leave them alone.

Down in the bottom-right corner, you'll see a curved arrow pointing to the right. That's the forward button. Tap it.

Choosing Who Gets It

A new, blank message will open with the forwarded text already typed in for you. At the top, where it says To:, start typing the name of the person you want to send it to. As you type, your iPhone will suggest names from your contacts — tap the right one when it appears.

You can also add a note of your own before sending. Just tap in the message area (below the forwarded text) and type something like "Thought you'd get a kick out of this" or "See you Saturday?"

When you're ready, tap the blue arrow pointing up to send. That's it — the message is on its way.

A Small Word of Courtesy

One thing worth mentioning: when you forward a text, the person receiving it can see exactly what was written, but they won't automatically know who wrote it originally. If it matters — say, you're passing along a doctor's instructions or something a friend told you in confidence — it's kind to add a line saying who sent it to you first, or to ask permission before forwarding personal messages.

For a recipe or a set of directions, forward away. For something more personal, a quick "Do you mind if I share this with my sister?" goes a long way.

Try It Today

Open your Messages app and find a recent text — anything harmless, like a reminder or a bit of news. Press and hold the message, tap More…, then tap the forward arrow in the corner. Send it to yourself if you'd like to practice without bothering anyone — just type your own name or number in the To: field.

Once you've done it once, you'll have it for good.

Need a hand with your technology? We're here to help. Give PorchSwing a call or book an appointment, and we'll walk you through it at your own pace — no rush, no jargon.