How to Create Group Chat Names on iPhone and Android

Naming a group text is easier than you think

by
Fionna Agomuoh
Fionna Agomuoh
Writer
Fionna Agomuoh is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek, International Business Times, and others.
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Fionna Agomuoh
Updated on April 01, 2020

Smartphone users create group chats to converse easily with work colleagues, friends, and family, but it can be challenging to keep multiple group chats in order when you see only contact names and numbers. Giving your group chat a unique name that every member can see is a great way to differentiate a chat from other text conversations. Here's how to easily name or rename group chats on both iOS and Android platforms.

If you're not a fan of group messages, when the conversation veers from the main point, you can try to leave the group message. If that doesn't work, you might be able to mute notifications so you're not constantly interrupted by messages you're not interest in.

How to Add or Change a Group Chat Name With iOS

There are three types of group messages in iOS: group iMessage, group MMS, and group SMS. The Messages app automatically selects the type of group message to send based on you and your recipients' settings, network connection, and carrier plan. The instructions here are for naming or renaming an iMessage group chat.

You can only name group iMessages, not MMS or SMS group messages. If there's an Android user in your group, participants won't be able to change the name.

  1. Open an iMessage group conversation, then tap the top of the conversation.

  2. Tap the Information icon at the upper-right corner of the screen.

  3. Enter a group chat name.

  4. Tap Done.

  5. The group chat name will be seen at the top of the text conversation. All iOS participants can see the receipt of who changed the group chat name and to what.

    Screenshots of an iPhone's Messages app showing a change to the group chat name

In a group iMessage, everyone can send and receive photos, videos, audio messages, and message effects; share their location with the group; give the group a name; add or remove people from the group; mute notifications; or leave the group.

How to Add or Change Group Chat Names on Android

Google's release of RCS messaging for Android phones brings an improved and more iMessage-like texting experience across the Android ecosystem, including the ability to name group chats, add or remove people to and from groups, and see if people in the group have seen the latest messages. 

To name or rename a group chat in the Google Android Messages app:

  1. Go to the group conversation.

  2. Tap More > Group Details.

  3. Tap the group name, then enter the new name.

  4. Tap OK.

  5. Your group conversation now has a name visible to all participants.

Read more about the Google RCS client for Android and how it aims to improve the messaging experience across the Android ecosystem.