How to Leave a Group Text on Android or iOS

Quick! Get out of annoying message threads on iOS and Android

By
Sarah Silbert
Sarah Silbert
Writer
  • Bard College
  • Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence is a consumer technology writer whose work has appeared in Fortune and MIT Technology Review. She's also a previous senior editor at Engadget.
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Updated on October 9, 2022
Reviewed by
Christine Baker
Reviewed by Christine Baker
    Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design.
    lifewire's editorial guidelines

    What to Know

    • Android users must request to leave a group. To mute a group text instead, tap the 3 vertical dots > tap Bell to deselect it.
    • iOS users must be in an iMessage conversation to leave. Tap Group > Information > Leave This Conversation.
    • To mute in iOS, open group text > tap the group of contacts > Information > Hide Alerts.

    This article explains how to leave or mute group texts in Android and iOS. Instructions apply to standard iOS 12/Android 8 and above unless otherwise noted.

    How to Escape a Group Text on Android

    On an Android device, you can't leave a group text without asking to be removed, but you can choose to mute notifications.

    The following instructions apply to the stock messages app on Android. If your Android phone uses a different texting app, for example, Messages on the Samsung phone or Google Messages, the process for leaving a group text may be different.

    1. Navigate to the group text.

    2. Tap the three vertical dots.

    3. Tap the bell to mute the conversation.

      Three Android screens showing three dot menu and two states of Notification icon

    4. You will not see any more messages in the group text unless you go back and tap the bell again to accept them. At that point, the messages you missed will populate the conversation.

    Leave a Group Text on an iPhone

    If you have an iPhone, you have a few options for muting unwanted group texts.

    Option 1: Mute Notifications

    The first option on iOS is to mute group text notifications:

    1. Open the group text you want to mute.

    2. Go to the top of the screen and tap the group of contacts.

    3. Tap the Information button (it's located under the group).

      Three iOS screens showing Group at top, Info icon, and Hide Alerts toggle set to ON

    4. Scroll to the bottom and tap the Hide Alerts toggle to turn it On.

    When you select Hide Alerts (or Do Not Disturb in iOS 11 or earlier), you won't get a notification (and the accompanying text sound) each time someone in the group text sends a new message. To view all new messages in the thread, open the group text. This method cuts down on distractions.

    Option 2: Leave a Group Text on iOS

    The way to really leave the conversation is easy but this isn't always an option even if you're using the Messages app on your iPhone.

    To leave a group text on iOS, you'll need the following circumstances:

    • You must be in an iMessage conversation rather than a standard group text message. If some of the people in the group chat use Android phones or other apps rather than Messages on iOS, you'll be in a standard group message and the option to leave a group text through Messages isn't available.
    • There must be at least four people in a group text. The logic being that if you were to leave a three-person conversation, it would no longer be a group text but rather a simple text between two people. In any case, if you're in a three-person iMessage chat, the Leave this Conversation option is grayed out.

    If you are able to leave a group text on iOS, follow these instructions:

    1. Open the group iMessage you want to leave.

    2. Tap the group at the top, then the Information button.

    3. Scroll down and tap Leave this Conversation.

      Two iOS screens showing Leave this Conversation options and the confirmation button

    4. Tap Leave this Conversation to confirm you choice.

    FAQ
    • How do I create a group text on Android?

      To send out a group text on Android, launch your messaging app, open a new conversation, and add contacts to the Enter Recipients field. When you've selected all your group members, type your message and select Send.

    • How do I create a group text on iPhone?

      To group text on an iPhone, open Messages and type your recipients' names in the To field one at a time. Alternatively, tap Add (plus icon) and choose a contact to add to your group message. When you've selected all your group members, type and message and select Send (up arrow).

    • How do I add someone to a group text?

      On an iPhone Messages group chat, tap the group name or member icons at the top of the screen to open the group's details. Tap the message info > Add Contact. On an Android, you can't add people to an existing group. You'll need to create another group that includes them.

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