Tech Reference

How to forward a message on the Signal secure-messaging app

man laying down with baby texting on smart phone
Westend61/Getty Images
Read in app

There used to be only a few ways to send messages to your friends, but now, there are hundreds of messaging apps — and each has its own minute functional differences.

Signal is one of these apps, but unlike many others, it provides more security with its end-to-end encryption. Signal also lets you perform basic functions that other apps do, like forwarding a message.

On the mobile app, the process of forwarding a message is mostly the same regardless of your operating system. The only difference is that, on Android, you can only forward messages to one chat at a time — so if you want to forward the message to multiple people who are not in a group chat, you'll have to complete the process more than once. On iOS, you can send a message to multiple chats at once. 

Unfortunately, there is no forward function on the desktop version of Signal. 

How to forward a message on Signal

1. Open the Signal app on your iPhone or Android.

2. Within a chat, press and hold the message you want to forward.

3. A toolbar will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap the arrow icon pointing to the right, the second icon from the right side of the screen.

How_to_forward_a_message_on_Signal_ _1
Tap the arrow pointing to the right to forward the message.  Melanie Weir/Business Insider

4. Tap the recipient(s) that you want to forward the message to, then tap the send arrow in the bottom right corner to finish.

How_to_forward_a_message_on_Signal_ _2
Choose your recipients, then tap send.  Melanie Weir/Business Insider

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Read next

Melanie Weir is a freelance author for Insider, mainly focusing on the Tech Reference section, but occasionally contributing to Lifestyle and Entertainment topics as well. She is also a freelance writer for ScreenRant, and is the Lead Weekend News Editor at TheThings.com. In her spare time she writes plays for both stage and screen. She can be reached at melanie.weir1008@gmail.com, or through LinkedIn.