How to Text All Contacts on iPhone?

If you need to text all of your contacts about an update, you can start a group chat or use an Apple Shortcut.

Are you looking for a way to text all of your contacts at once? Perhaps you want to invite people to an event or need to inform all of your friends and family about an important personal life update.

Unfortunately, there is no simple “Select All” option in Messages for contacts. This option is unavailable to prevent spam, as bulk texting all contacts can easily be abused, and sending people promotional business messages when they didn’t sign up for them can run afoul of anti-spam regulations.

However, if you do need to message all of your contacts at once, here is how to do it.

Fastest (Small Lists): Build a Group Chat Manually

Adding people one by one to a group chat is the fastest way to text multiple people.

The fastest way to message multiple contacts at once, without downloading anything or using external tools, is to build a group chat.

Open the Messages app and click on the pencil icon in the top-right corner. Then, start adding people one by one to the group chat by typing their names or clicking the plus (+) icon and adding their contact manually.

Once you have added everyone you wanted to text, just type the message and hit Send.

However, this option is only suitable for small groups. If everyone is using an iPhone, the limit is 32 participants per group chat. On the other hand, if even one recipient has an Android, the carrier limit for group chats will be imposed instead of the iMessage limit. The carrier limit is usually around 20 people, but it does vary based on carrier.

Another problem with this method is that it adds everyone to a group chat. You may not want that, instead wishing to send everyone a message one by one.

Private One-by-One Texts With Shortcuts

Another option is using an Apple Shortcut to message everyone at once. You need to download the Shortcuts app, if you don’t have it already.

Open the Shortcuts app and search for the Mass Message shortcut. Tap on it and type a message. Then, select all of your contacts on your phone one by one, and click on Done. If you would rather not send the message to all of your contacts, only select the contacts you want to send it to. The app will start sending the message to each contact individually, one by one.

Large Lists & Compliance: Use a Bulk SMS Service

Use a bulk SMS tool like EZTexting for business purposes.

If you are texting a lot of clients for business purposes, I recommend using a bulk SMS service. That will ensure your personal number doesn’t get flagged as spam.

However, keep in mind that you need to comply with regulations such as the TCPA, or the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and other FCC and FTC regulations. For example, you can only message people if they explicitly opted in to receive promotional messages. Bulk SMS tools like EZTexting ensure you comply with both federal regulations and guidelines, such as ensuring customers have an opt-out method, as well as carrier regulations such as rate limits.

These tools also allow you to personalize mass campaigns using shortcode variables, something that isn’t possible when texting directly from your iPhone. For example, you can insert each recipient’s name into their text messages.

Other good bulk SMS tools include:

TextMagic
Textellent
BulkSMS.com

Research pricing and make sure the tool meets your needs before signing up.

Settings to Review Before Sending

Before you send out texts from your iPhone, make sure that Filter Unknown Senders is turned off in Settings > Messages. Otherwise, you may not see replies from people you texted if you did not yet save them as a contact. Also, make sure notifications are turned on, so you receive notifications of replies.

Avoid Getting Flagged as Spam

The best way to avoid getting flagged as spam is to use a bulk SMS service that helps you automatically comply with regulations. However, here are some additional points to keep in mind:

Avoid sending texts too often. Sending messages multiple times a day will cause people to report you as spam.
Avoid scammy buzzwords like “Free Gift” or “Special Discount.” Also, avoid scammy text patterns, such as ALL CAPS or too many exclamation points (!!!).
Use personalization by inserting recipients’ names instead of sending the same exact message to everyone.
Don’t use links unless you have to. Even then, include branded links (your own domain) rather than links from URL shorteners like Bit.ly. Avoid other attachments unless necessary.

Conclusion

While iPhones don’t have a built-in bulk SMS option, you can text multiple contacts at once by starting a group chat or by using a shortcut such as Mass Message. However, for business purposes, I recommend using a bulk SMS service to help you comply with regulations and to avoid giving out your personal number for privacy reasons.