How do I forward a message on WhatsApp?
Forwarding copies a message from one chat into another chat. You can forward text, photos, videos, voice notes, documents, contacts and locations. The person you forward to does not see who wrote the original message, only a "Forwarded" label. The steps differ slightly per device, so pick yours below.
How to forward a message on WhatsApp on iPhone
- Open the chat and press and hold the message.
- Tap Forward. The message is now ticked; tick more messages if you like.
- Tap the forward arrow at the bottom of the screen.
- Pick one or more chats and tap Send.
How to forward a WhatsApp message on Android
- Open the chat and press and hold the message until it is highlighted.
- Tap other messages to select them too.
- Tap the right-pointing arrow (Forward) at the top.
- Pick one or more chats and tap the green send button.
On Samsung and other Android phones the steps are the same; only the position of the buttons can differ slightly between versions.
Forward on WhatsApp Web or desktop
Hover over the message, click the arrow or menu that appears and choose Forward. Select the chat and click send.
How to forward multiple messages in WhatsApp
You can forward multiple WhatsApp messages in one go: press and hold the first message, then tap every other message you want to include. A tick or highlight shows what is selected. Tap Forward once and all selected messages arrive in the other chat in their original order. The table below covers the variations.
| What you want | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Forward several messages at once | After pressing and holding the first message, tap the others, then forward. |
| Send to several chats at once | Tick several chats in the list. WhatsApp limits how many chats you can pick, and frequently forwarded messages can only go to one chat at a time. |
| Add your own comment | Forward the message, then type your comment straight after it in the same chat. |
| Without the "Forwarded" label | Press and hold a text message, choose Copy and paste it in the other chat. This works for text, not for photos. |
How to forward all messages in WhatsApp
Selecting a whole chat by hand is not practical. To pass on a full conversation, use Export chat instead of Forward:
- Open the chat and tap the contact or group name (iPhone) or the three-dot menu, then More (Android).
- Choose Export chat.
- Choose with or without media. Without media the file is much smaller.
- Pick how to share it: email, a cloud drive or another chat.
The recipient gets a text file with the conversation, not live WhatsApp messages. It cannot be replied to from WhatsApp, and new messages are not included. Export contains personal data, so only share it with someone who needs it.
Can WhatsApp message forwarding be automatic?
No. WhatsApp has no setting that automatically forwards incoming messages to another number or person. Every forward is a manual action. Linked devices (WhatsApp Web) give someone else a full copy of your account, which is not the same as forwarding.
Automatic WhatsApp forwarding for a business
For a business this matters: customers message the number on your website or van, and someone has to pass each question on. InBetween automates exactly that step. Every incoming customer message goes to the coworker you choose, and their reply goes back from your business number. Read how automatic forwarding to a coworker works.
Forward customer messages automatically. Replies go back from your number.
Try free for 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Can I automatically forward WhatsApp messages to another number?
Not with WhatsApp alone. With InBetween every incoming message on your business number is forwarded to the number you choose, and replies go back from your business number.
Does the recipient see who the forwarded message came from?
With a manual forward the recipient sees the "Forwarded" label but not the original sender. With InBetween your coworker sees "Customer 1", "Customer 2", without the phone number unless you enable it.
How do I forward without "Forwarded" above it?
Copy the text and paste it in the other chat. For photos and voice notes the label cannot be removed.
Can I forward multiple WhatsApp messages at once?
Yes. Press and hold the first message, tap the other messages to select them, then tap Forward. To pass on a whole conversation, use Export chat instead.