# How to forward iPhone text messages to a webhook

> Send iPhone texts to your own HTTPS endpoint: Fwrd posts the message text as JSON, so Zapier, Make, n8n or any receiver you control can take it from there.

Last updated: 2026-10-28
Canonical HTML page: https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/webhook

Send selected iPhone messages to an HTTPS endpoint you control.

Fwrd is available on the App Store. Install: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fwrd-sms-forwarder/id6759069713
Requires an iPhone running iOS 26.0 or later.

## 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

- An HTTPS endpoint you own or are authorized to use
- The endpoint accepts a JSON POST and answers with a 2xx status
- Fwrd installed on the iPhone that receives the messages

Configuration used by this guide: HTTPS endpoint URL

## Set up the destination

1. **Accept Fwrd’s request.** Fwrd sends a POST request with a JSON body that holds the original message text twice, in a content field and a text field, so services that read either one get it. If you turn on Include Who Sent It in Fwrd’s Settings and pick Sender on Fwrd’s action in Shortcuts, the body also has a sender field. Answer with any 2xx status to count it as delivered. Redirects are refused, so give the final address.

   `{"content": "Your message", "text": "Your message"}`

2. **Ignore duplicate retries.** If a request fails, Fwrd may try it again. Every attempt for the same message carries the same Idempotency-Key header, so your endpoint can drop repeats.

3. **Keep the URL secret.** Fwrd does not add authentication headers. If your endpoint needs a secret, put it in the URL. Fwrd stores the whole address in the iPhone’s Keychain.

4. **Choose Webhook 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 Webhook.

5. **Paste the URL into Fwrd.** Paste the whole HTTPS address into Webhook URL, then continue.

   `Webhook URL ← Your HTTPS endpoint`

6. **Add the ready-made shortcut.** Choose which texts to forward. Tap Get Shortcut. In Shortcuts, tap Add Shortcut, then ◀ Fwrd at the top left.

7. **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.

   ![Trigger step opened with its arrow: Automation switched on and Confirm Before Run switched off](https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/steps/sc-confirm-off-af785d18.jpg)

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

9. **You’re all set.** That’s it. New matching texts now go to your endpoint 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 Webhook is saved: your automation sends to every active destination.

### Setup video

Forward texts to a webhook: https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/video/webhook-0efbce48.mp4 (57 seconds, captions: https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/video/webhook-079e2634.vtt). Shown on iOS 27 with Fwrd 1.1. The addresses and numbers are examples.

1. **Add Webhook in Fwrd.** On the iPhone, open Fwrd, tap + at the bottom of the screen, and choose Webhook. You can rename it to tell destinations apart.

2. **Paste the URL into Fwrd.** Paste the whole HTTPS address into the Configuration field.

   `Configuration ← Your HTTPS endpoint`

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. **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`

   ![Trigger step opened with its arrow: Automation switched on and Confirm Before Run switched off](https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/steps/sc-confirm-off-af785d18.jpg)

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`

   ![Fwrd’s action reading “Forward Shortcut Input to all destinations”, with a Receive block added at the top](https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/steps/sc-shortcut-input-0dbdbb93.jpg)

6. **You’re all set.** That’s it. New matching texts now go to your endpoint 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: https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/automation

## If a message doesn’t arrive

### Fwrd marks the attempt Failed

Your endpoint has to answer with a 2xx status within 15 seconds. Fwrd doesn’t follow redirects, so use the final address.

### The same message arrives twice

Fwrd retries when a request fails or times out. Drop any request whose Idempotency-Key you’ve already seen.

### The body isn’t what I expected

Fwrd sends JSON with content and text fields, both holding the original message text exactly as it arrived. There’s no timestamp or title. A sender field is added only if you turn on Include Who Sent It in Fwrd’s Settings and pick Sender on Fwrd’s action in Shortcuts.

Problems that apply to every destination, like texts that never trigger the automation, are in the troubleshooting guide: https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/troubleshooting

## Common questions

- [Can I forward iPhone SMS to a webhook automatically?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-automatic)
- [How do I send iPhone text messages to my own webhook?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-setup)
- [What does Fwrd send to my webhook?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-payload)
- [Can I send texts to more than one webhook?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-multiple-endpoints)
- [Can I use an http:// address for my webhook?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-https-only)
- [Does forwarding to a webhook work when my iPhone is locked?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-locked)
- [Is it free to forward iPhone texts to a webhook?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-cost)
- [Can I use a Zapier, Make, or n8n webhook?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-automation-tools)
- [Can I choose which texts get forwarded to a webhook?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-choose-texts)
- [Does Fwrd see or store the texts I forward to a webhook?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook#faq-privacy)

## Popular ways to use Fwrd

- [AI agents that need SMS verification codes](https://www.fwrdsms.com/blog/ai-agent-sms-verification-codes)
- [Automations in n8n, Zapier or Make](https://www.fwrdsms.com/blog/forward-iphone-sms-to-n8n)

## More help

- [Is There an iPhone SMS API? Getting Texts on iOS](https://www.fwrdsms.com/blog/iphone-sms-api)
- [Send iPhone Texts to Home Assistant](https://www.fwrdsms.com/blog/iphone-texts-to-home-assistant)
- [Can ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini Read Your iPhone Texts?](https://www.fwrdsms.com/blog/connect-chatgpt-to-iphone-texts)

## Good to know

Keep the iPhone that gets the texts on and online. After it restarts, unlock it once and forwarding carries on. Every forward is listed in Fwrd’s Activity.

## Free plan and pricing

15 free forwards per calendar month. No paid subscription or Fwrd account required. Pro removes the monthly limit, allows more than one filter condition per destination, and adds a Never Forward list of words to always skip. US prices: $4.99/month or $29.99/year.

## Related

- [Forward iPhone SMS to a webhook: overview and FAQ](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-webhook.md)
- [All setup guides](https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides.md)
- [Shortcuts automation guide](https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/automation.md)
- [Troubleshooting](https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/troubleshooting.md)
