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Whether you can automatically forward texts depends on the sending phone and the destination. Apple documents iPhone message access on a Mac, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro; Samsung documents a Galaxy phone-to-tablet option. These built-in features are not documented as a way to copy every text to an arbitrary second phone number. If you mean a replacement phone or a different number, that is a separate setup or migration question.
What “forward to another phone” can mean
People use this phrase for three different tasks, and the right method depends on which one you mean:
- Read messages on another device: Use a platform’s linked-device feature, if your phone and destination are supported.
- Send a copy to a different phone number: The Apple and Samsung features described below do not document this as a general option. Ask your carrier whether it supports SMS forwarding for your country, number, and plan.
- Move your number to a replacement phone: This is migration, not duplication. For an iPhone-to-Android move, Google advises turning off iMessage before removing the SIM from the iPhone so SMS or MMS do not continue going to the old iPhone. See Google’s guidance for switching from iPhone to Android.
Do not confuse text forwarding with call forwarding: call forwarding sends voice calls to another number, and Apple says its availability depends on the cellular carrier. Apple’s Personal Safety guide directs users to their carrier if the iPhone call-forwarding setting is unavailable.
Compare the documented built-in options
| Option | Documented destination | Account or connection conditions | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Messages in iCloud or Text Message Forwarding | Mac, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro | Same Apple Account; for Text Message Forwarding, the iPhone must be on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service | Apple’s documented feature does not describe forwarding to an Android phone or arbitrary phone number |
| Samsung Call & text on other devices | Galaxy tablet paired with a Galaxy phone | Same Samsung account; phone and tablet must be in the same country or region | Availability may vary by model and carrier; the documented pairing is not a general phone-to-phone forwarding feature |
| Google Messages companion access | Computer or Android tablet | Use the pairing requirements in the relevant Google Messages setup guide | Google’s reviewed help describes companion access, not automatic forwarding to a second phone number |
Sources: Apple, Samsung, and Google Messages Help.
Forward iPhone messages to another Apple device
Apple says SMS, MMS, RCS, and iMessage conversations can be kept available across the user’s Apple devices. Its support page describes two ways to do this. With Messages in iCloud set up, a separate Text Message Forwarding setup is not needed. Apple’s instructions name Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro as destinations.
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Option 1: Use Messages in iCloud
Set up Messages in iCloud on the devices where you want the message history to stay up to date. Sign in with the same Apple Account on each device. Apple describes this as syncing message history across devices, including SMS, MMS, RCS, and iMessage.
Option 2: Turn on Text Message Forwarding
- On the iPhone, open Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding.
- Turn on the Apple devices that should be able to send and receive messages from that iPhone.
- Make sure each receiving device uses the same Apple Account. Keep the iPhone turned on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service.
If Text Message Forwarding is missing, Apple advises turning iMessage off and back on, then signing in again under Send & Receive. Apple’s support page was published July 2, 2026; menu labels can change with software updates.
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Use a Galaxy phone with a Galaxy tablet
Samsung calls its feature Call & text on other devices. It lets a supported Galaxy tablet use the phone’s number to make and receive calls and messages. Samsung’s instructions cover a Galaxy phone and tablet signed into the same Samsung account; the devices must also be in the same country or region. Availability can vary by model and carrier. The support page was last updated December 23, 2021, so the exact menu wording may differ by device and software version. See Samsung’s setup guidance.
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What Google Messages supports—and what it does not establish
Google Messages Help includes instructions for checking messages on a computer or Android tablet. That is companion-device access. The reviewed Google help does not establish a general Android phone-to-phone automatic forwarding procedure. Check the exact messaging app and supported devices for your Android phone rather than assuming a computer or tablet workflow will send texts to another phone. Google Messages Help.
If you are moving a number from iPhone to Android, use Google’s separate migration guidance: turn off iMessage before removing the SIM from the iPhone. That prevents messages from continuing to route to the old iPhone; it does not duplicate texts across two phones. Google’s iPhone-to-Android instructions.
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Check access and troubleshoot
On iPhone
- Review Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding and turn off any device that should no longer receive messages.
- Confirm that each intended Apple device uses the same Apple Account and has Messages configured.
- Keep the source iPhone on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- If the forwarding setting is absent, toggle iMessage off and on, then check the account under Send & Receive.
Apple’s Personal Safety guide also explains where to review and disable text-message forwarding access. Review Apple’s device-access guidance.
On Galaxy devices
- Check that the phone and tablet are signed in to the same Samsung account.
- Confirm that Call & text on other devices is enabled on both devices.
- Check model and carrier support, and confirm that the phone and tablet are in the same country or region.
If the destination is a different phone number
Do not assume that a feature for linked computers or tablets will forward SMS to another number. The sources cited here do not establish universal carrier support for that use. Ask your carrier about the specific country, plan, and number, and use message access only on devices you own or are authorized to administer. The cited platform documentation does not evaluate monitoring apps or establish rules for accessing another person’s messages.
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