To get your iPhone’s text messages onto another Apple device, open Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding and turn on the Mac, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro you want to use. The iPhone must be powered on, connected, and able to send and receive messages, and the receiving device must be signed in to the same Apple Account as the iPhone.
Before you start
Check these conditions first. Most failed setups trace back to one of them.
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- Same Apple Account. The receiving Mac, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro must be signed in to the same Apple Account as the iPhone.
- iPhone online and working. The iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, and it must be able to send and receive messages. Forwarding depends on the iPhone, so if the iPhone cannot send or receive, nothing reaches the other device.
- iMessage available. iMessage must be turned on for the receiving device. On a Mac, Apple also specifies that iMessage must be enabled there.
- Carrier support. Feature availability varies by region and carrier. SMS and MMS service requires a text-messaging plan that supports it.
Turn on Text Message Forwarding
Apple’s support article “Forward text messages from your iPhone to other devices” describes the following steps. Menu labels can shift between iOS releases, so if your screen differs slightly, look for the same Messages section.
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- On the iPhone, open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Messages.
- Tap Text Message Forwarding. Turn on each device you want to permit. If your iPhone has Dual SIM, enable the relevant line or lines.
- If prompted, enter the six-digit verification code shown on another device. Apple requests this when the Apple Account is not using two-factor authentication.
Once enabled, SMS, MMS, and RCS messages sent and received on the iPhone also appear on the supported receiving devices. Forwarding is not limited to one message type, but whether RCS is available depends on your carrier and region.
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- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Mac-specific checks
A Mac that does not appear in the list usually needs one of these checks:
- Open Messages > Settings, select iMessage, and confirm the Apple Account shown matches the one on the iPhone.
- Confirm iMessage is enabled on the Mac itself.
- Keep the iPhone powered on and connected while you complete the setup; the code prompt appears on the device you are enabling.
When Text Message Forwarding is missing
If the Text Message Forwarding option does not appear on the iPhone, Apple’s first suggested fix is to reset iMessage sign-in rather than change other settings.
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Step 1: Turn iMessage off and back on
Go to Settings > Apps > Messages, turn iMessage off, wait a moment, then turn it back on.
Step 2: Sign in again under Send & Receive
Open Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive and sign in again. Recheck the Text Message Forwarding screen afterward.
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- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
Step 3: Verify the Apple Account on the iPad
If an iPad is missing from the list, confirm iMessage is on there, then check the Apple Account shown at the bottom of Send & Receive. It must match the account on the iPhone. An account mismatch is the most common cause of a missing device, and the fix is to sign the iPad into the correct account rather than to change iPhone settings.
Step 4: Verify the Apple Account on the Mac
On a Mac, use the Mac checks above. If the account differs from the iPhone’s, sign the Mac into the matching Apple Account, then reopen Messages and check again.
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Messages in iCloud: the alternative
If you want your message history kept in sync across devices, consider Messages in iCloud instead of, or alongside, forwarding. Apple says it syncs conversation history, including SMS, MMS, RCS, and iMessage. When it is configured across devices, forwarding is built in, so you do not need to set up Text Message Forwarding separately.
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The trade-off is storage. Messages in iCloud uses iCloud storage. If you do not want that storage used, or you want messages on only selected devices, Text Message Forwarding lets you choose which devices receive messages.
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| Question | Text Message Forwarding | Messages in iCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Where you set it up | Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding | Configured through Apple Account and Messages settings on each device |
| Message history sync | Not stated in Apple’s forwarding instructions | Syncs conversation history, per Apple |
| Uses iCloud storage | Not described as using iCloud storage | Uses iCloud storage, per Apple |
| Choosing devices | Turn each device on or off individually | Not stated; forwarding is built in when configured across devices |
How forwarded messages are protected
Apple’s Platform Security documentation explains that devices linked through the same Apple Account are enrolled automatically when two-factor authentication is enabled. Otherwise, a random six-digit code verifies enrollment. According to that document, incoming messages are encrypted between the iPhone and enrolled devices, and replies go back through the iPhone for carrier transmission.
The document puts it this way: “After devices are linked, iPhone encrypts and forwards incoming SMS text messages to each device, utilizing the methods described in iMessage security overview.”
What is not end-to-end encrypted
Do not assume that all forwarded SMS is end-to-end encrypted. Apple distinguishes iMessage from carrier SMS and MMS, and notes that SMS and MMS are not end-to-end encrypted while they travel between devices.
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Forwarding covers SMS, MMS, and RCS, but RCS availability and features depend on your carrier and region. If a particular message type does not forward, check your carrier plan and whether RCS is supported where you live before troubleshooting the Apple setup.
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