How to forward iPhone text messages to Slack

How this destination works

Fwrd sends each matching text over HTTPS, straight from the iPhone to this destination, whenever the destination is active in Fwrd.

Before you begin

• A Slack workspace where you are allowed to install an app — some workspaces need an admin to approve it first
• The channel that should receive the messages. If it is private, join it before you create the webhook
• Fwrd installed on the iPhone that receives the messages

1. 1

   Create a Slack app

   This part is easiest on a computer. Go to api.slack.com/apps and sign in to your workspace if asked. Choose Create New App, then Blank app (older screens call it From scratch). Type a name you’ll recognise, such as Fwrd, pick the workspace, and choose Create. An app you already own works too.

2. 2

   If Slack asks for approval

   Some workspaces only let owners or app managers add apps. If you see a request button instead of the app, send the request and wait for an owner to approve it before you go on.

3. 3

   Turn on incoming webhooks

   In the app’s settings, choose Incoming Webhooks in the menu on the left and switch Activate Incoming Webhooks on. The page then shows more options.

4. 4

   Point a webhook at your channel

   Choose Add New Webhook to Workspace, pick the channel that should get your texts, and choose Allow (some screens say Authorize). A private channel only appears if you’ve joined it. Each webhook posts to one channel, so make another webhook for a second channel.

5. 5

   Copy the webhook URL

   Copy the URL listed under Webhook URLs for Your Workspace. Anyone who has it can post to that channel, so treat it like a password and keep it out of shared documents.

   https://hooks.slack.com/services/T00000000/B00000000/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
6. 6

   Check it is an incoming webhook, not a workflow

   Slack’s Workflow Builder hands out a different URL that begins with hooks.slack.com/triggers. Fwrd accepts only the /services/ form shown above and will refuse the other one.

7. 7

   Choose Slack in Fwrd’s setup

   On the iPhone, open Fwrd and tap Set Up Forwarding at the end of the intro. When it asks where your texts should go, choose Slack.

8. 8

   Paste the URL into Fwrd

   Paste the whole URL into Webhook Link, then continue. Fwrd checks the address first, so a shortened or hand-edited URL won’t be accepted.

   Webhook Link ← Slack incoming webhook URL
9. 9

   Add the ready-made shortcut

   Choose which texts to forward. Tap Get Shortcut. In Shortcuts, tap Add Shortcut, then ◀ Fwrd at the top left.

10. 10

    Switch it on

    On iOS 27, tap Open Shortcut. In Shortcuts, tap Edit, then the small › at the end of the first line, “When I receive a message where” (not the ×), and turn on Automation, as in the picture. On iOS 26, Fwrd calls this step Make it automatic: tap Open Shortcuts, then New Automation or +, then Message. Type one space in Message Contains and tap Done. Choose Run Immediately, tap Next, and tap the shortcut you just added, under My Shortcuts.

    

11. 11

    Allow the first run

    Fwrd runs the shortcut once with a sample text. Shortcuts asks twice the first time: tap Allow, then Always Allow.

12. 12

    You’re all set

    That’s it. New matching texts now go to your Slack channel on their own, with the iPhone unlocked or locked. After the iPhone restarts, unlock it once and forwarding carries on.

Build it yourself

Rather build the automation yourself? Follow these steps instead. If Fwrd already forwards somewhere, stop once Slack is saved: your automation sends to every active destination.

Watch the setup

Every tap in Fwrd and Shortcuts on iOS 27, in under a minute. Pause on any step, or choose one below to jump to it.

Watch on YouTube

1. 0:02In Fwrd, tap + and choose Slack
2. 0:05Paste your Slack webhook URL
3. 0:09Tap the tick to save. If asked to save a password, tap Not Now
4. 0:13Open Shortcuts. Tap Automation, then +
5. 0:18Tap Edit
6. 0:20Tap Automation, then Message
7. 0:24Change Sender to Message, then type a word your texts contain. Or type a space “ ” to forward any text with a space in it
8. 0:32Tap the arrow. Confirm Before Run should be off
9. 0:38Search Forward, then add Forward Message to All Destinations
10. 0:45Tap Message and choose Shortcut Input
11. 0:51Tap back to save. The automation is on
12. 0:53That’s it

Shown on iOS 27 with Fwrd 1.1. The addresses and numbers are examples.

1. 1

   Add Slack in Fwrd

   On the iPhone, open Fwrd, tap + at the bottom of the screen, and choose Slack. You can rename it to tell destinations apart.

2. 2

   Paste the URL into Fwrd

   Paste the whole URL into the Configuration field. Fwrd checks the address before it lets you continue, so a shortened or hand-edited URL will not be accepted.

   Configuration ← Slack incoming webhook URL
3. 3

   Save and keep the destination active

   Tap Send Test Message, then tap the tick at the top right to save. If iOS offers to save a password, tap Not Now: Fwrd already keeps it in the iPhone’s Keychain. Leave Destination Active switched on. An inactive route stays saved on the iPhone but is skipped when messages arrive.

   Destination Active ← On
4. 4

   Create a Message automation

   On the receiving iPhone, open Shortcuts. On iOS 27, go to Library → Automation and tap +. If you see Describe a shortcut, tap Edit. Tap Automation, then Message, and change Sender to Message. Type a word your texts contain, such as code or verification: matching on the message catches short codes and senders outside your Contacts, which Sender can’t. Then tap the arrow beside the trigger and check that Confirm Before Run is off. Under ⓘ, then Privacy, check that Allow Running When Locked is on. On iOS 26, tap Automation, then +, then Message, and choose Run Immediately.

   Message contains ← your word · Confirm Before Run ← Off · Allow Running When Locked ← On

   

5. 5

   Add Fwrd’s Forward Message action

   Search for Forward and add Fwrd’s Forward Message to All Destinations below the trigger. Tap Message in it, tap Select Variable, and choose Shortcut Input; Shortcuts adds a Receive block at the top, which is fine. Tap back to save. On iOS 26, tap Create New Shortcut first, then add the action, set its Message to Shortcut Input, and tap Done.

   Message = Shortcut Input

   

6. 6

   You’re all set

   That’s it. New matching texts now go to your Slack channel on their own, with the iPhone unlocked or locked. After the iPhone restarts, unlock it once and forwarding carries on.

The Shortcuts screens differ between iOS 26 and iOS 27. The automation guide walks through both.

If a message doesn’t arrive

Fwrd won’t accept the URL

It’s probably a Workflow Builder link, which contains hooks.slack.com/triggers. Create an incoming webhook instead: its URL contains /services/.

Posts stopped arriving after they used to work

The webhook was removed, or the Slack app lost access to the channel. Create a new webhook and paste it into Fwrd.

Messages land in the wrong channel

Each webhook posts to one channel. Create a webhook for the channel you want and replace the URL in Fwrd.

Problems that apply to every destination, like texts that never trigger the automation, are in the troubleshooting guide.

Common questions

Each answer opens on the Slack overview page.

• Can I automatically forward iPhone text messages to Slack?
• How do I forward SMS from my iPhone to a Slack channel?
• Can Fwrd post iPhone texts to a private Slack channel?
• Can I forward texts to more than one Slack channel?
• What does a forwarded text look like in Slack?
• Does forwarding to Slack work when my iPhone is locked?
• Is it free to forward iPhone texts to Slack?
• Why won’t Fwrd accept my Slack webhook URL?
• Can I choose which texts get forwarded to Slack?
• Does Fwrd see or store the texts I forward to Slack?

Popular ways to use Fwrd

• IT teams and MSPs sharing one 2FA phone number
• QA teams sharing one phone’s sign-in codes
• Social media agencies handling client login codes
• Executive assistants who need an executive’s sign-in codes
• Bookkeepers who need a client’s bank codes
• Small businesses with one shared work phone
• Forwarding work phone texts to your personal phone

More help

• Forward iPhone Texts to Slack, Discord and More at Once
• Shared 2FA for Teams: SMS Codes in Slack or Teams