When I reply to a specific text message in a thread, once I hit send, then my screen locks and I can't get back to the full thread. Is this a bug?

Hey there Lisa,

To view the full thread again, you'd just tap on the thread itself, or on part of the screen where the full thread is.

If something entirely different is happening when you try viewing the full thread again after responding to a specific thread, we need more details about what exactly occurs. The more details, the better we'll understand what's happening.

In the meantime, if something unexpected is occurring, we'd like to rule out some basics:

1. Since you have a compatible iPhone model, the latest version is iOS 16.0.2. You can verify this within Settings > General > About. Here's a link that'll show how to first back up, then Update your iPhone or iPad.
2. Sometimes a restart is needed if you're experiencing unexpected behavior. This link shows how to Restart your iPhone

Cheers!