Forwarding a text message is a simple process that allows you to send a text message you’ve received to another recipient. This can be useful if you want to share information or a conversation with someone else. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps to forward a text message on both iPhone and Android smartphones.
What is text message forwarding?
Text message forwarding simply means sending a text you’ve received on to another person. When you forward a text, the original sender’s number is replaced with your number. So the person receiving the forwarded text will see your number as the sender, not the original sender’s number.
Text message forwarding is handy for a few reasons:
- Sharing information or conversations with others
- Passing along details like directions or instructions
- Letting someone know about a text you received
The key thing to understand is that when you forward a text, it appears to the new recipient as if it is coming directly from you. The original sender and their number are removed from the forwarded message.
How to forward a text message on iPhone
Forwarding a text message on an iPhone is very easy. Here are the steps:
- Open the Messages app and locate the text conversation with the message you want to forward.
- Tap and hold your finger on the text message you want to forward.
- A menu will pop up. Tap on the Forward button.
- A new message window will appear with the text already entered and ready to send.
- Enter the name, number, or email address of the contact you want to forward the text to at the top.
- You can add your own text above or below the forwarded text if you want.
- Tap the Send button to forward the text message.
And that’s all there is to it! The steps take just a few seconds once you get the hang of it.
A couple notes on forwarding texts on iPhone:
- Group messages can also be forwarded. Just use the same steps.
- You can forward multiple texts at once by selecting multiple messages before forwarding.
- The forwarded text will appear exactly as the original with no other identifying information.
How to forward a text on Android
The process for forwarding a text message on Android is very similar to iPhone. The steps are:
- Open the Messages app and find the conversation with the message to forward.
- Tap and hold your finger on the text message.
- Select the Forward button from the pop-up menu.
- A new message window will open with the text already entered.
- Enter the recipient’s name, number, or email address at the top.
- Add any notes or text you want above or below the forwarded message.
- Hit the Send icon to forward the text.
As you can see, the Android steps are essentially identical to the iPhone process. All Android phones use a similar interface for messages, so the steps should be the same across any Android device.
Some things to note about Android:
- You can long press multiple texts to forward a whole conversation.
- Some Android phones may have a Forward button instead of a menu.
- Check your auto-delete settings if the text disappears before forwarding.
Things to keep in mind when forwarding texts
While text message forwarding is simple and straightforward, there are some important things to keep in mind:
- Privacy – Always get permission before forwarding personal or private messages.
- Context – Explain the background if necessary so the forwarded text makes sense.
- Etiquette – Avoid forwarding unnecessary messages that will clutter up inboxes.
- Legal issues – Do not forward texts if prohibited by confidentiality laws.
- Emergencies – Double check that important information is conveyed accurately.
- Scams – Verify unfamiliar links and numbers before forwarding texts.
As long as you keep privacy, context, and etiquette in mind, text message forwarding can be quite useful. Double check your work before hitting send, and add an explanatory note if needed to avoid confusion.
Can you forward texts from iPhone to Android?
Yes, you can forward text messages from an iPhone to an Android phone and vice versa. The forwarding process is the same.
When forwarding between operating systems, the text may get converted into a multimedia message or MMS. This allows things like emoji and other formatting to transfer properly between the two devices.
As long as both devices have messaging capabilities, any text message can be forwarded between iPhone and Android. The steps are the same as forwarding between two iPhones or two Androids.
Can you forward SMS text messages?
SMS stands for Short Message Service. This is a standard protocol for sending text messages over cellular networks. Most text messages sent between phone numbers rely on the SMS protocol to transmit the messages.
SMS messages can definitely be forwarded just like any other texts. As long as your phone has SMS texting enabled, the forwarding process is exactly the same.
Almost all modern smartphones support SMS messaging and text forwarding. So you should be able to forward individual SMS texts or entire SMS conversations as needed.
However, some carriers charge a fee for each SMS message sent or received. So double check your cellular plan to ensure text forwarding won’t result in extra fees.
Can you forward iMessages?
iMessage is Apple’s proprietary messaging platform for iOS devices. iMessages use data connections rather than cellular networks for transmission.
You can absolutely forward iMessages on an iPhone. The process is exactly the same as forwarding a regular SMS text message.
Simply tap and hold the iMessage, select Forward, choose a recipient, and hit send. All iMessages remain end-to-end encrypted when forwarded to ensure privacy.
The one catch is that iMessages can only be sent between Apple devices. If you try to forward an iMessage to an Android device, it will automatically convert and send as an SMS text instead.
Can you forward text messages on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging apps globally. The platform uses data connections for sending encrypted messages between users.
You can forward both individual messages as well as entire conversations on WhatsApp. Here are the steps:
- Open the WhatsApp chat with the message or messages to forward.
- Tap and hold the message bubble to select it.
- Tap the forward arrow icon to open forwarding options.
- Choose either individual or group conversations to forward the message to.
- Tap Send to forward the messages.
WhatsApp has some limitations on message forwarding to cut down on the spread of misinformation. Forwarded messages can only be sent to one group conversation at a time. WhatsApp also marks messages that have been forwarded multiple times.
Can you forward text messages on Android and iPhone to email?
Yes, text messages can be forwarded from both Android and iPhones to an email address. Instead of entering a phone number when forwarding, simply enter the complete email address.
The forwarded text will be sent as an email message to that address.
On iPhone, this only works for regular SMS text messages, not iMessages. Forwarded iMessages can only be sent to other iOS devices.
Email forwarding is handy for creating a record of the text in your email inbox or sharing with someone who doesn’t have cell service.
Conclusion
Forwarding text messages is a simple process on both iPhone and Android devices. To forward a text, open the conversation, tap and hold the message, select forward, choose a recipient, and hit send.
Keep privacy, context, and etiquette in mind when forwarding texts. You can forward messages between devices on different operating systems and also to email addresses. Forwarded texts maintain their original formatting and appearance.
Now that you know how to easily forward any text message, you can share important information, conversations, and details with colleagues, friends, and family as needed.