Forwarding iMessage to Android: What Actually Works
Forwarding iMessage to Android works exactly like forwarding to another iPhone. Touch and hold the message bubble, tap More, tick the messages you want, then tap the forward arrow at the bottom right and enter the Android phone number.
What does not exist is any way to automatically forward your incoming texts to an Android phone. Apple has never built one.
The setting people reach for is called Text Message Forwarding, and it does something completely different. It only sends your texts to your own Apple devices.
How do you forward a message to an Android phone?
Apple’s steps, in order.
- Open the Messages app (the green speech bubble icon).
- Open the conversation with the message you want to pass along.
- Touch and hold the message bubble until a menu appears.
- Tap More in that menu. Small empty circles appear beside every message.
- Tap the circle next to each message you want to send. A blue tick fills it in.
- Tap the curved arrow at the bottom right of the screen.
- Type the Android phone number in the To field, then tap the send arrow.
The message goes out as a normal text. Your friend on Android receives it like any other message.
One thing worth knowing: the forwarded text arrives stripped of who said it and when. Apple’s own tip is to send a screenshot instead “to show the message bubbles and timestamps just as they appear in a conversation.”
What Text Message Forwarding actually does
This is where most articles on this topic go wrong, including the one that used to sit at this address.
Text Message Forwarding lives under Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding. The name sounds like it forwards your texts anywhere you like.
It does not.
Apple’s page spells out the full list of destinations. It sends your messages to your Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.
That is the entire list.
Every device has to be signed in to the same Apple Account as your iPhone. An Android phone cannot sign in to an Apple Account, so it can never appear in that list.
There is no official Apple way to auto forward your texts to an Android phone. If you want a message on an Android device, you forward it by hand using the steps above.
Texting Android is different now, and better
If your memory of iPhone to Android texting is grainy photos and no read receipts, that changed.
Apple added RCS support starting in iOS 18. RCS is the modern replacement for SMS, and it is what your iPhone now uses to text most Android phones.
Apple’s page lists what you get: “texts, high resolution photos and videos, links, and more. RCS also supports delivery receipts, read receipts and typing indicators.”
So the two complaints people had for a decade, blurry media and no typing dots, are handled.
The bubbles are still green. Apple is direct about it: “Like MMS or SMS messages, RCS messages appear in green text bubbles on your device.”
What do you need for RCS to work?
Two things, per Apple: “you need iOS 18 and a cellular plan from a carrier that supports RCS messaging on iPhone.”
Your carrier has to be on board. Most large US carriers are, but it is a carrier by carrier list, not a blanket promise.
To check whether it is on, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and look for RCS Messaging. If you do not see the option at all, it is not available on your plan.
Apple says availability varies by region and carrier.
Are messages to Android encrypted yet?
Partly, and only recently.
Apple started rolling out end to end encrypted RCS in beta with iOS 26.5, and says it will roll out over time. It needs a supported carrier as well.
The catch is that both sides need it. Apple states that “the encryption of each RCS conversation depends on whether your contact’s carrier also supports it.”
When a conversation is encrypted, Messages shows the word Encrypted with a lock icon.
The toggle sits at Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging > End to End Encryption.
Treat it as a work in progress. It is labelled beta by Apple, not finished.
Can you forward a text automatically to another phone?
To another Apple device, yes. To an Android phone, no.
| What you want | Is it possible? |
|---|---|
| Forward one message to an Android phone by hand | Yes, use the steps above |
| Auto forward all incoming texts to an Android phone | No, Apple has no such feature |
| See your iPhone texts on your iPad or Mac | Yes, Text Message Forwarding |
| See your iPhone texts on an Android tablet | No |
| Send high resolution photos to an Android phone | Yes, over RCS |
If your goal is really “I am switching to Android and want my messages to follow me,” that is a different job. Start with our guide on moving your SIM card to a different phone.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my messages to Android still green?
Green is correct and expected. Apple uses blue only for iMessage between Apple devices, and it says RCS messages appear in green bubbles just like SMS and MMS. Green no longer means low quality.
Can I turn off iMessage so texts reach Android better?
You do not need to. With RCS enabled, texts to Android phones already send at full quality with read receipts and typing indicators. Turning off iMessage would only downgrade your messages to other iPhone users.
Does forwarding a message show the original sender?
No. The forwarded text arrives as if you typed it. Apple suggests sending a screenshot instead when it matters who said what and when.
Can I choose a different texting app on iPhone now?
Yes, and this is new. Apple says that in iOS 26 “you can choose which app to use for SMS, MMS, and RCS text messages.” Messages is no longer locked in as the only option.
Can I unsend or edit a message I sent to an Android phone?
No. Those are iMessage features and they need Apple devices on both ends. The same limit applies to message effects, which we cover in our guide on turning off iPhone message effects.
My Messages icon disappeared after I changed apps
That happens when the app gets moved to the App Library rather than deleted. Our guide on getting the Messages icon back on your iPhone walks through it.
Do group chats with Android users work properly?
Apple does not publish anything about how RCS handles group messaging, so we are not going to claim it either way. In practice, mixed groups still behave inconsistently, and the honest answer is that Apple has not documented this.
Will my AirPods work if I switch to Android?
Mostly, with limits. See our guide on connecting AirPods to an Android phone.
How to forward imessages received on iPad to Android phone?
My friend sends messages from an iphone/iPad which I then receive on my iPad, but I would like them to auto-forward to my Android phone. How do I set this up on my iPad?