Text Message Forwarding Missing on iPhone?

If Text Message Forwarding is missing on your iPhone, check that iMessage is on and that your iPhone and other Apple device use the same Apple Account. If you use Messages in iCloud, Apple says you do not need a separate Text Message Forwarding switch. This feature is for eligible Apple devices, not Android or Windows.

What you need: The iPhone and Mac, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro you want to connect, access to both devices, and the Apple Account used on each one.

Check Apple’s setup

1. On iPhone, open Settings → Apps → Messages and make sure iMessage is on.
2. Tap Send & Receive and check that the Apple Account matches the one on your Mac or iPad.
3. Check that Messages is set up on the other device with the same Apple Account.
4. If you use Messages in iCloud, confirm that it is enabled on your devices. Apple says this keeps message history up to date without a separate Text Message Forwarding setup.
5. If the setting is still missing, follow Apple’s current steps to turn iMessage off and on, then sign in again under Send & Receive.

See Apple’s full setup and troubleshooting instructions for Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. The names and locations of settings can change in iOS updates, so use Apple’s current page if your screen looks different.

When to use another method

If you want your conversations on your own Mac or iPad, fix Apple’s setup first. Text Message Forwarding makes SMS, MMS, and RCS messages available on eligible Apple devices. Messages in iCloud can keep message history up to date across your devices.

If you want selected new texts on Android, Windows, or in a team chat, use a Message automation in Shortcuts. Apple’s Send Message action can send a matching text to another phone number. Fwrd’s current App Store version can send matching text to Slack, Discord, or Telegram. The Slack, Discord, and Telegram setup guides include short videos. See our guide to iPhone SMS forwarding for the available methods, and how automatic forwarding works for Fwrd setup.

Fwrd does not replace Apple’s Messages sync. It acts on new messages that match a rule you choose in Shortcuts. It does not copy old message history or photos, and replies in a chat app do not come from your iPhone number.

Limits of Apple text forwarding

Apple’s feature is for eligible Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account. It does not send your texts to Android or Windows, and it is not a way to share selected conversations with another person. Messages in iCloud and Text Message Forwarding are related ways to see messages across your own devices; follow Apple’s instructions for the method that matches your setup.

A Shortcuts automation is a separate option. It runs actions for new messages that match your chosen sender or message-content rule. It does not retrieve old messages. For chat destinations, the iPhone needs to be on and online when a matching message arrives.

Check the second Apple device

Check the account on the second device as well as the iPhone. On a Mac, open Messages settings and confirm the Apple Account shown under iMessage. On an iPad, check Messages and Send & Receive. If you use Messages in iCloud, follow Apple’s iCloud setup instructions instead of looking for a separate forwarding switch.

If the setting still does not appear, follow Apple’s current troubleshooting page in order. Avoid signing out of accounts or resetting settings at random. The setting names and locations can change with iOS updates, so use the official instructions for your current software version.

If Apple’s setting is still missing

Check that the iPhone can send and receive messages and has a network connection. Confirm that the Mac or iPad is signed in to the same Apple Account. If you use Messages in iCloud, give the devices time to sync and follow Apple’s instructions for that feature.

If you still cannot see the setting, use Apple’s support page for the current troubleshooting steps rather than resetting accounts or changing settings at random. You can also contact Apple Support for help with the Apple Account or Messages setup.