How to Forward Text Messages: iPhone & Android Guide (2026)

How to Forward Text Messages on iPhone and Android

Need to share an important text message with someone else? Whether you're using an iPhone or Android, forwarding text messages is a simple way to share information, save important conversations, or send messages to email. This complete guide covers everything from manual forwarding to automatic text forwarding solutions for both platforms.

How to Forward a Text Message on iPhone

iPhone makes it easy to forward any text message directly from the Messages app. Here's the step-by-step process:

Steps to Forward a Text on iPhone:

Open the Messages app on your iPhone
Navigate to the conversation containing the message
Long-press (tap and hold) on the specific message you want to forward
Tap "More..." from the popup menu
You'll see checkboxes appear next to all messages—select additional messages if needed
Tap the forward arrow (curved arrow icon) in the bottom-right corner
Enter the recipient's phone number, contact name, or email address
Tap the send button (blue arrow) to forward

Tip: You can forward to multiple recipients at once by adding more contacts in the "To:" field.

How to Forward a Text Message on Android

Android phones use either Google Messages or the manufacturer's messaging app. Here's how to forward texts using the most common methods:

Google Messages (Stock Android):

Open the Messages app
Open the conversation with the message you want to forward
Tap and hold the message until it's selected
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner
Select "Forward"
Choose a contact or enter a phone number
Tap Send

The exact steps may vary slightly depending on your Android phone's manufacturer and messaging app version, but the general process remains the same across most devices.

Forward Text Messages on Samsung Galaxy

Samsung Galaxy phones can use either Samsung Messages or Google Messages. Here's how to forward texts using Samsung's native app:

Samsung Messages App:

Open the Samsung Messages app
Go to the conversation containing your message
Long-press on the message you want to forward
Tap "Forward" from the options that appear
Select a contact or enter a phone number
Tap the Send button

If you're using Google Messages on your Samsung phone, follow the standard Android steps above instead.

Note: Samsung One UI updates may slightly change menu positions. If you don't see "Forward," look for a share icon or additional options in the menu.

How to Forward Multiple Text Messages

Sometimes you need to forward an entire conversation or multiple messages at once. Here's how to do it on both platforms:

iPhone: Forward Multiple Messages

Long-press on any message in the conversation
Tap "More..."
Tap the circles next to each message you want to include
Once all messages are selected, tap the forward arrow
Enter the recipient and send

Android: Forward Multiple Messages

Long-press on the first message you want to forward
Tap additional messages to select them (they'll be highlighted)
Tap the three-dot menu and select "Forward"
Choose your recipient and send

Important: When forwarding multiple messages, they'll be combined into a single message. The original sender's name and timestamps may not be preserved in the forwarded version.

How to Forward Text Messages to Email

Forwarding texts to email is useful for creating a backup, sharing with work colleagues, or saving important information in a more accessible format.

iPhone: Forward Text to Email

Long-press the message and tap "More..."
Select the messages you want to forward
Tap the forward arrow
In the "To:" field, enter an email address instead of a phone number
Tap Send—the message will be delivered via email

Android: Forward Text to Email

Long-press and select the message(s)
Tap the Share icon (or find it in the menu)
Select your email app (Gmail, Outlook, etc.)
Enter the recipient email address
Tap Send

Note: When forwarding texts to email, the original message formatting (text bubbles, colors) will not be preserved. However, the message content and any attached images or videos will be included.

How to Automatically Forward Text Messages

If you need texts forwarded automatically without manual action, both iPhone and Android offer solutions—though they work differently.

iPhone Text Message Forwarding (Built-in)

Apple has a native feature called Text Message Forwarding that automatically syncs your SMS/MMS messages across all your Apple devices signed into the same Apple ID.

Enable Text Message Forwarding:

On your iPhone, go to Settings
Tap Messages
Tap Text Message Forwarding
Toggle on the devices you want to receive forwarded messages (iPad, Mac, etc.)
Enter the verification code shown on the other device if prompted

Requirements:

All devices must be signed into the same Apple ID
iMessage must be enabled on all devices
Devices must be connected to the internet
Works with iMessage and SMS/MMS texts

Using iPhone Shortcuts for Auto-Forwarding

For more advanced automation, you can use the Shortcuts app:

Open the Shortcuts app
Go to the Automation tab
Tap Create Personal Automation
Select Message as the trigger
Configure when to forward (from specific contacts, containing keywords, etc.)
Add an action to send the message to your desired destination

Auto Forward Texts on Android

Unlike iPhone, Android doesn't have a built-in text forwarding feature. You'll need to use a third-party app to automatically forward text messages.

Popular SMS Forwarding Apps for Android:

SMS Forwarder - Free app with rule-based forwarding. Forward to phone numbers, email, or other apps.
AutoForward SMS - Forwards texts to email, another phone, or Slack. Premium features available.
AirDroid Parental Control - Includes text forwarding as part of a larger monitoring suite.

Using SMS Forwarder App

Download SMS Forwarder from the Google Play Store
Grant the necessary permissions (SMS, notifications)
Tap the + button to create a new forwarding rule
Set your filter criteria (all messages, specific senders, keywords)
Choose where to forward (phone number, email address)
Save the rule and enable forwarding

Note: Automatic text forwarding requires your phone to be powered on with an active internet connection. Standard messaging rates may apply depending on your carrier plan.

Troubleshooting Forward Text Issues

Can't find the Forward option?

Make sure you're long-pressing the message bubble itself, not the timestamp. On some Android phones, the option may be under a "Share" button or three-dot menu.

Forward button is grayed out?

This can happen with certain message types (like RCS messages on Android) or if your messaging app needs an update. Try updating your Messages app from the app store.

Images not forwarding?

Large images or videos may fail to forward if your carrier has MMS size limits. Try forwarding text-only messages, or use email forwarding for media-heavy content.

Text Message Forwarding not showing on iPhone?

Ensure you're signed into iCloud on all devices with the same Apple ID. Go to Settings > Messages and verify iMessage is enabled. You may need to sign out and back into your Apple ID.

Auto-forward app not working on Android?

Check that the app has all required permissions (SMS, Background activity). Disable battery optimization for the forwarding app in your phone's settings to prevent it from being killed in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forward text messages from iPhone to Android automatically?

Not directly with built-in features. Apple's Text Message Forwarding only works between Apple devices. To auto-forward from iPhone to Android, you would need a third-party app or service that can intercept and redirect your messages.

Does the original sender know if I forward their text?

No, there is no notification sent to the original sender when you forward a text message. The forwarding happens entirely on your device.

Can I forward text messages from my phone to my computer?

Yes! On iPhone, enable Text Message Forwarding to send texts to your Mac. On Android, you can use Google Messages for Web, Samsung's Link to Windows, or forward texts to your email address.

Will forwarded messages show who originally sent them?

When you manually forward a text, it typically doesn't include the original sender's information automatically. The recipient will see the message as coming from you. You can add context by typing "Forwarded from [name]:" before the message.

Is there a limit to how many texts I can forward?

There's no hard limit on forwarding texts, but your carrier may have messaging limits. If you're forwarding many messages automatically, be aware of your plan's SMS allowance to avoid extra charges.

Can I forward RCS messages on Android?

RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages can usually be forwarded like regular SMS, but some features (read receipts, high-quality media) may not carry over. The forwarded message may be converted to standard SMS/MMS.

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What is Call Forwarding?

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Start Forwarding Your Text Messages

Whether you need to share a single important message or set up automatic forwarding, both iPhone and Android make it possible. iPhone users benefit from seamless cross-device forwarding with Apple's ecosystem, while Android users have flexibility through third-party apps.

For a complete communication solution that works across all devices, consider using a dedicated business phone service like BubblyPhone—get a second phone number that syncs calls and texts across your devices.