Getting separate messaging responses on a group text Messages

I see several people are having the same issue that I am. Ever time I send out a group message responses come back on separate responses. This applies to messages on my iPhone, my iPad, and my MacBook. It is not a carrier issues as I have t mobile , not Verizon. My messages also say text SMS. This just started recently. Every time there is an OS update it seems like something happens. Apple, please fix this issue.


[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Dec 12, 2024 12:03 AM

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Dec 12, 2024 12:07 AM in response to denice104

With Group SMS, the message is sent individually to each phone number in the group.




Types of group text messages

There are three types of group messages that you might see: group iMessage, group MMS, and group SMS. The Messages app automatically chooses the type of group message to send based on settings, network connection, and carrier plan. For example:

  • If you and your recipients are using Apple devices and iMessage is turned on, then the group message is sent as an iMessage.
  • If you send a group message to people who aren't using iMessage, then the message is sent as an MMS or SMS message.



  1. Group iMessage (For iPhones Only):
    1. This is a messaging service exclusive to Apple devices like iPhones and iPads. Messages sent through Group iMessage appear in blue bubbles.
    2. If the parent used Group iMessage, everyone in the group chat will receive the message individually, and they will all see who else is in the group.
    3. This allows everyone to be aware of who else received the message.
  2. Group SMS (For iPhones and Android Phones):
    1. This is a standard text messaging service that works across different phone types, including iPhones and Androids. Messages sent through Group SMS appear in green bubbles.
    2. With Group SMS, the message is sent individually to each phone number in the group. However, there's a key difference: unlike Group iMessage, recipients won't see who else received the message in the group.
    3. This is because SMS messaging doesn't inherently include that information.


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Dec 15, 2024 6:27 AM in response to denice104

We've been having he same issue for the last week or two. We have 2 different group texts. One happens to be all Apple users, and the other group has 1 Android user, so we have RCS turned on. In each group, some responses are creating their own new version of the sam group, so I have wound up with 3 or 4 versions of the same group, all appearing with the same name and same members, but in different threads.

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Jan 15, 2025 1:26 PM in response to denice104

This is very frustrating- every new software update changes things I don’t want changed. There should be an opt out of some of the updates especially with Group Text Messages. Prior to the previous 2 updates, I could send a group text & receive replies as a group, so all group members can see the responses. It should NOT matter what type of phone they have. This update is intrusive.

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Getting separate messaging responses on a group text Messages

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