To start sending group texts on Pixel 6, open Google Messages, tap the "Start chat" button, then select "Create group" and choose your contacts. Before you message, you can create and name a group text on Android to keep conversations organized. Group texts on your Pixel 6 use either RCS (Rich Communication Services) for modern features or traditional SMS/MMS when RCS isn't available, so understanding the difference is key to getting the experience you want. If a conversation becomes too noisy, you can easily remove someone from group text Android and iPhone without starting a new thread.
How to start sending group texts on Pixel 6
RCS group chats offer read receipts, typing indicators, and end-to-end encryption, provided all participants have RCS enabled. SMS/MMS groups lack these features and are limited by carrier rules, typically allowing 20-25 participants, though some carriers may limit it to as few as 10. To create a new group text:
- Open Google Messages
- Tap "Start chat" (or the "New chat" bubble)
- Select "Create group" (or select multiple contacts directly in newer app versions)
- Choose your contacts and tap "Next"
- Compose your message and send it
Naming and customizing your Pixel 6 group chat
You can name your group during creation or later by opening the chat, tapping the group name at the top, and entering a new name. For RCS group chats, you can also set a custom group icon from illustrations, device photos, or Google Photos. Note that iPhone users with RCS turned on may not see these custom icons, so keep that in mind if you want everyone to share the same visual experience.
Managing group chat settings and participants
To ensure replies go to the whole group, change the group reply setting to "Send an MMS reply to all recipients (group MMS)" in Google Messages settings (Profile photo/icon > Messages settings > Advanced > Group messaging). This setting prevents your replies from only going to the original sender.
For adding participants, open the conversation, tap More (three dots) > Group details > Add people. You can add new members to both RCS and SMS/MMS groups. However, participants can only be removed from RCS group chats; this feature is not available for SMS or MMS groups due to carrier and network limitations.
Troubleshooting common Pixel 6 group text problems
When group texts from iPhone users arrive as individual messages, the issue is typically that iPhones default to SMS/MMS when communicating with Android devices, even with RCS enabled. To fix this, ensure your "Group messaging" setting is set to "Send an MMS reply to all recipients" as described above.
If RCS features aren't working, remember that for a group to function as an RCS chat with all its features, every member must have RCS chat features turned on; otherwise, the conversation defaults to SMS/MMS. Check that all participants have RCS enabled in their Google Messages settings under Messages settings > RCS chats. Group chats involving iPhone users may experience inconsistencies, especially with RCS features, as iPhones often default to SMS/MMS when communicating with Android devices.
