How to forward a text message on your iPhone through its forwarding feature, or by copying and pasting

By

looking at phone iphone apple Jeff Chiu/AP

  • Instead of typing out the same text message multiple times to send to different people, you can forward a message on an iPhone using the device’s native forwarding and copy and paste features. 
  • Your iPhone’s text message forwarding feature is a great way to send multiple people the same message without making a group chat. 
  • If you prefer to forward the message through a different app, copying and pasting the message is best.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Sometimes screenshots just won’t do. 

There are two different ways to send the same message to multiple people without creating a group chat in the Messages app on iPhone. 

First, the forwarding feature can be used by pressing and holding a specific message. And second, the copy and paste feature can be activated by doing the same. 

Here’s how to forward a message in both ways. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

How to forward a message on iPhone using the forwarding feature

1. To forward a message on iPhone, first launch Messages from your home screen. 

2. Type the forwarded message to the first person you wish to send it to and then tap send, or find the message from someone else that you want to forward. 

Forward1Meira Gebel/Business Insider

3. Once you’ve sent the message, press and hold the message bubble that it’s in. 

4. A pop-up menu will appear and give you the option to "Copy" or "More…" — tap "More…" 

Forward2Dave Johnson/Business Insider

5. At the bottom right-hand side of the screen, you will see an icon of an arrow pointing to the right, tap it. This is the forwarding button. 

Forward3Meira Gebel/Business Insider

6. The message you wish to forward will appear in the text section of a new message thread. Type in the name of the contact, phone number, or email address you wish to forward the message to. 

7. Press send.

Forward4Meira Gebel/Business Insider

How to forward a message on iPhone using copy and paste 

1. Launch Messages from your iPhone’s home screen. 

2. Find the message you wish to copy and paste.

3. Press and hold the message until the black pop-up menu appears.

4. Tap "Copy" — the message is now copied to your iPhone’s clipboard. 

5. Next, open a new message thread and select a contact to send the copied text message to. 

6. In the text section of the thread, double tap the text box.

7. Tap "Paste." 

Forward5Meira Gebel/Business Insider

8. Press send. 

The copied message will stay on your clipboard until you copy something different — so you can send the copied message to multiple people without having to go back to the original message.

This also means you can copy a message from your Messages app and paste it in any other program that lets you type, like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

If you have Handoff activated, and have linked your iPhone and iPad for example, copying a message on your iPhone will also let you paste it on your iPad.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

NOW WATCH: All the ways Amazon is taking over your house

See Also:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Source: Business Insider – mgebel@businessinsider.com (Meira Gebel)

MustHaves.LA a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.