Forward SMS

How to forward messages to a phone number

iOSBy Forward SMS TeamUpdated 5 min read

Forward SMS is a versatile iOS app that seamlessly forwards SMS to emails, Slack, Discord, URLs/APIs, or Telegram.

This guide will walk you through the steps required to forward text messages to another phone number.

In the Shortcuts app

Set up an automation in Shortcuts

The Shortcuts app in iOS is a built-in Apple app that lets you create custom automations to perform tasks on your device more efficiently. Follow these steps to create an automation that forwards messages:

Which iOS version is your iPhone on?

Not sure which one you have?

Open Settings › General › About and check iOS Version, or compare your Shortcuts app:

iOS 27 and laterAutomation is in the Library of the Shortcuts app.
iOS 26 and earlierAutomation is a tab at the bottom of the Shortcuts app.

  1. Open Automation

    Open the Shortcuts app and tap Automation in the Library.

  2. Add a new automation

    Tap the + button at the bottom.

  3. Tap Edit

    Tap the Edit button at the top right. If you don't see this screen and the list of actions opens straight away, skip to the next step.

  4. Select Automation

    In the list of actions, select the Automation category.

  5. Choose the Message trigger

    Select the Message automation from the available options.

  6. Match all messages

    Tap Sender and select Message. Then enter a blank space in the contains field, so the automation runs for all messages.

    To forward messages from one sender only, keep Sender and choose that contact instead. The automation needs either a sender or a message condition. The Forward SMS app provides additional filter options in its rules.

  7. Enable the automation

    Make sure the Automation toggle is on and Confirm Before Run is off, so that it runs as soon as a message is received.

  8. Add the Forward Message action

    Tap Search at the bottom of the screen, search for Forward SMS and select the Forward Message action.

  9. Pass the message to the action

    Tap the Message field. In the toolbar above the keyboard, select the Message option.

  10. Add the Send Message action

    Tap Search at the bottom of the screen and select the Send Message action. Its message is filled in automatically with Forward Message, the text from the previous action.

  11. Enter the recipient

    Tap Recipients and type the phone number you want to forward the message to, or tap + to pick a contact. You can add multiple recipients as well. Then tap the checkmark.

  12. Done

    There's no save button: the automation is saved automatically. Go back or leave the Shortcuts app. Now let's create a rule in the Forward SMS app.

In the Forward SMS app

Create a rule in the app

After setting up the automation, follow these steps to create a rule in the Forward SMS app:

  1. Create a rule

    Open the app and tap the Create Rule button.

  2. Name the rule

    (Optional) Change the Rule Name if needed.

  3. Add a receiver

    Tap the Add Receivers button.

  4. Choose Phone Number

    Select Phone Number from the options. There's no need to enter the phone number here, as you already added it in the Enter the recipient step of the Shortcuts automation.

  5. Save the rule

    Save the rule.

Congratulations! You've set up the Forward SMS app to forward text messages to a phone number.

Still stuck? Email help@forward-sms.com and we'll help you set it up.

On this pageSet up an automation in Shortcuts