iOS 26 Messages brings transformative new group chat features

When iOS 26 first dropped, there was one pretty huge group chat bug.

Some users complained that their messages to existing group chats were sent as individual chats instead of chats to the entire group, and didn't show in the group chat at all. A user on Reddit said the bug was particularly stark with chats that included numbers that weren't tied to iPhones.

But in the few weeks since, that bug seems to be fixed, and users have begun to shift their focus away from the frustrations of a new iOS system and towards the fun new features. 9to5Mac wrote up a rundown of the five most intriguing features, including the typing indicator, polls, Apple Cash, background changing, and adding contacts.

The typing indicator was once reserved for one-on-one conversations, but iOS 26 brought the text bubble to group chats. Of course, not everyone is elated (one user wrote on Reddit looking for a way to remove it since they "really don't want" the feature), but personally, I find it cool.

Group chats also got polls, which Mashable's Alex Perry called "one of my favorite" new features after trying it out in beta, saying it is "nominally a feature for deciding where to get dinner, but will really be a feature that's used to settle incredibly arcane, nonsensical inside-joke arguments among friend groups."

Groups can also send Apple Cash. I don't personally know anyone who uses this form of money transferring before using Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, or, of course, literal cash, but I suppose if you're interested in settling money after a bachelorette trip, I could see this being useful.

You can also change the background of a group chat. One of my group chats has changed to a photo of my cat edited to look like he's wearing jeans.

The options, fellas? They're endless.