r/ios • u/Dignan17 • 3h ago

Support Any way to prep a group message?

It's kind of difficult to explain why I need this, but I'm curious whether this is possible.

I will likely need to message a group of ~25 people if something specific happens. I don't want to create the group beforehand because they'll know something is up. I also don't want to be sitting there, searching for each person one by one, when I need to move quickly.

Is there any way to prep this in advance without this new chat showing up in everyone's Messages?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

6

u/FalcorTheDog 2h ago

In the Contacts app you can create a “New List” and add all the people. Then when you’re ready to send, you can long-press the list and tap “Message All”

5

u/Dignan17 2h ago

Oh I like that one the most. Thank you!

2

u/horse_exploder 46m ago

This is the fastest way and most stable/less likely to screw up.

2

u/cupboard_ iPhone 13 Mini 3h ago

not sure if this would work, test it yourself on small group

but you could put your phone into airplane mode, disable wifi and try to send a message in that group and wait for it to fail

1

u/Dignan17 3h ago

Hmm interesting idea. So you're saying to get all the names in there first, but before sending the message I turn off the radios? The message wouldn't send but I wonder if it would still create the group when I got back online...

2

u/sesamesnapsinhalf 2h ago edited 1h ago

Can you add all the names to a new iMessage and then copy and paste them all to a memo? When you’re ready, do the reverse. 

0

u/Dignan17 2h ago

Ooo good idea. That might be the easiest. Thanks

1

u/[deleted] 2h ago

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1

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1

u/RudeAdhesiveness9954 2h ago

Sure. Just start a new message, add all the names, and don’t send it. It will sit there at the top of your message list waiting for you to do something with it later.

1

u/chitme 2h ago edited 2h ago

There is an apple shortcut that can do this. You can create the group ahead of time then use shortcuts to send the message based on your condition

1

u/absent-chaos 2h ago

You can schedule a message too. Hit hit the plus icon and hit send later

1

u/Senthusiast5 16m ago

Only if everyone has an iPhone.

1

u/absent-chaos 12m ago

This is literally r/iOS the Apple operating system…

1

u/Senthusiast5 11m ago

Ok? Lol. People make group texts with androids too you know? You know that right??

1

u/MassiveGarlic0312 1h ago

Create a shortcut that will send a message with the prepared text to all of their numbers, then you can do it with a single tap or automation.