How to Start a Group Text on Android

A group text on an Android phone lets you message several people at the same time, and everyone can reply so you all see the conversation together. This is helpful for planning family events, sharing news with a group of friends, or keeping neighbors informed about a block meeting. Most newer Android phones, including Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and Motorola, come with the Google Messages app already installed. It usually has a blue and white speech-bubble icon. If your phone has a different texting app, the steps are very similar, but the buttons may be in slightly different spots. Google Messages also supports something called RCS, which stands for Rich Communication Services. You do not need to remember that name. What it means in plain terms is that when everyone in the group is using Google Messages with RCS turned on, your texts can include high-quality photos, typing dots, read receipts, and reactions, much like iMessage on iPhone. If someone in the group is using an iPhone or an older texting app, the message will still go through as a regular text, but some of those extras may not appear. Before you start, make sure the people you want to message are saved in your Contacts app. This way you can pick them by name instead of typing phone numbers. You will also want a strong signal or Wi-Fi connection. Take a deep breath, follow the steps below at your own pace, and remember that the message does not send until you tap the send arrow. If you make a mistake while typing, you can always back out and start over without anything being sent.