How to Forward SMS to Another Number Automatically: 7 Ways

Picture this: you’re stuck in a busy office meeting when the delivery guy calls. The OTP needed to confirm your order is on your phone. You don’t have time to call a friend to tell them the code, and you just want to quickly forward the SMS to the person picking up your order, but you don’t know how.

This is where knowing how to forward SMS to another number comes in handy. With automatic SMS forwarding, important text messages like OTPs can reach the right person instantly, saving you the stress.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through 7 simple ways to forward SMS messages, whether it’s on Android, iPhone, or even sending messages to email, WhatsApp, or CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot. By the end, you’ll be able to ensure your important messages are always delivered, no matter how busy your day gets.

What is SMS Forwarding?

SMS forwarding is the process of automatically sending incoming text messages from one phone number to another. Instead of manually copying and sending messages, SMS forwarding ensures that your messages reach the intended recipient without delay.

According to Tatango, 90% of SMS marketing messages are read within 3 minutes of being received. This rapid read rate underscores the effectiveness of SMS as a communication channel, especially for time-sensitive information like delivery OTPs.

Common Use Cases for SMS Forwarding

• Delivery OTPs: Ensure someone else can confirm your orders without needing to call you.
• Business Notifications: Forward client messages to your CRM or team chat.
• Travel Situations: Receive important messages even when your main phone is unreachable.
• Family Safety: Keep track of texts sent to a child’s or elderly family member’s phone.

7 Ways to Forward SMS Text Messages to Another Phone Number Automatically

There are several ways to forward SMS messages depending on your device or platform. Some methods are quick and manual, while others let you forward messages automatically.

Let’s break down 7 practical approaches so you can ensure important texts reach the right person without delay.

1. How to Forward Text Message on Any Phone (Copy-Paste)

Sometimes, the simplest way to forward text messages to another is by the classic copy-paste method. This works on almost any phone, be it iPhone or Android, and doesn’t require installing any SMS forwarding app.

Steps to Forward Your SMS:

1. Open your messaging app and select the conversation containing the message you want to forward.
2. Tap and hold the specific message until options appear.
3. On iPhone: Tap "Copy".
   On Android: Tap "Copy" or "Forward" (depending on your device).
4. Open a new message and paste the copied content into the message field.
5. Enter the recipient's phone number or select from your contacts.
6. Send the message.

2. How to Forward a Text Message for Android Phone

For Android users, forwarding messages can be easier than copy-paste thanks to built-in features and apps. Whether you want to forward text messages automatically or occasionally, Android offers multiple options.

Manual Forwarding on Android:

1. Open your messaging app on your Android device.
2. Tap and hold the SMS message you want to forward.
3. Select Forward from the menu.
4. Enter the recipient’s number or choose a contact.
5. Send the message.

This method is useful if you occasionally want to forward a message without extra apps.

Automatic SMS Forwarding on Android:

For frequent needs, like verification codes or work notifications, you can automatically forward messages using a sms forwarder app. Here’s how:

• Install a SMS forwarding app from the Google Play Store.
• Open the app and grant the required permissions to access SMS messages.
• Set up your primary phone as the source device.
• Enter the phone number where you want to auto-forward text messages to another device.
• Configure rules or filters if you only want to forward SMS messages containing certain keywords, like a verification code or order alerts.
• Enable the automatic text forwarding toggle. After this, all selected incoming messages will be easily forwarded without needing to manually forward them.

You might like this: How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on Android Easily

3. How to Forward an SMS Message Using Carrier Code Options

Some mobile carriers in India let you forward your text directly through your phone system by dialing special SMS forwarding codes. This works like SMS auto-forwarding without the need for an app.

For Jio, Airtel, and Vi (Vodafone Idea) users

• To start forwarding:
  *21*<10-digit destination number>#
• To stop forwarding:
  ##21#

How to use these codes:

1. Open your phone’s dialer.
2. Replace <10-digit destination number> with the number you want to forward messages to another device.
3. Press Call and wait for the confirmation message from your carrier.
4. Send yourself a test message to confirm the auto forward works.
5. Use the stop code when you want to disable forwarding.

Along with SMS forwarding, there are also step-by-step guides on call forwarding that might be helpful. You can explore them below:

• Airtel Call Forwarding
• Jio Call Forwarding
• VI Call Forwarding

4. How to Forward an SMS Message on an iPhone

If you’re using an iPhone, Apple has a built-in SMS forwarding feature that lets you also forward messages to your other Apple devices, such as an iPad or Mac, without using third-party apps. You can forward text messages automatically once it’s set up, which is great if you want to manage text messages from your iPhone while using another device.

Manual Forwarding on iPhone:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap and hold the message you need to forward.
3. Tap More… from the menu.
4. Select the message(s) you want to send.
5. Tap the Forward arrow at the bottom right.
6. Enter the phone number or pick a contact, then send.

Automatic Text Forwarding with iPhone:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings → Messages.
2. Tap “Text Message Forwarding”.
3. You’ll see a list of your Apple devices signed in with the same Apple ID.
4. Toggle on the device(s) where you want to auto-forward text messages to another Apple device.
5. A verification code will appear on that device, enter the verification code on your iPhone to confirm.

Now, messages can be forwarded instantly to your chosen Apple device, making it easy to manage your personal phone and work phone together.

5. How to Do Text Forwarding For an Email Address

Forwarding texts to your email can be a great way to store important messages, share details with your team, or manage communications when you can’t check your phone. This can be done manually or through an app on Android or iPhone.

Manual Forwarding to Email:

If your goal is to forward just a few texts, the process is almost identical to the copy-paste method :

• Open your messaging app.
• Copy the content you want to forward.
• Paste it into a new email and send it to your desired address.

Automatic Forwarding to Email:

Most phones don’t have a built-in option to send text content to email automatically, but you can use a SMS forwarder app to make it happen. The setup steps are the same as in the Android and iPhone automatic forwarding sections, just replace the phone number with your email address in the destination field.

6. How to Forward Text Messages to Whatsapp

After learning how to send content to an email address, the next step is sharing it through messaging platforms like WhatsApp. This is useful if the recipient primarily uses WhatsApp instead of regular texting, or if you want to keep all correspondence in a single app.

Steps to Send Manually:

1. Open the conversation in your phone’s messaging app.
2. Locate the line you want to share and tap-hold it until a menu appears.
3. Select “Share” (label may vary by phone’s brand).
4. Choose WhatsApp from the list of available apps.
5. Pick the contact or group, then tap Send.

Automating the Process:

While there’s no direct built-in feature to send incoming texts to WhatsApp automatically, you can use a compatible app that supports multiple destinations. During setup, simply choose WhatsApp as the delivery method instead of another number or email.

7. How to Forward Messages to Different CRMs

If you manage customer interactions, it can be useful to forward the message directly into your CRM so all conversations are stored alongside contact records. Whether you’re using an Android phone or an iPhone, you can capture texts in platforms like HubSpot or Salesforce through simple email logging or app integrations.

Salesforce

Salesforce allows you to capture text messages from your Android or text messages on an iPhone directly into customer records. There are two main approaches:

Email-to-Salesforce:

1. In your Salesforce account, locate your unique Email-to-Salesforce address.
2. Copy the text from your phone’s messaging app.
3. Paste it into an email and send it to that address.
4. The CRM will match it to the right contact or lead record.

Related Reading: Best Call Recording App for Sales Teams (Text Message Monitoring Included)

Integration via a messaging tool:

Some SMS apps integrate directly with Salesforce. After linking your account, you can automatically forward incoming content from your phone to another Salesforce record without extra steps. This is handy if you also want to send text messages to a teammate and log them at the same time.

HubSpot

HubSpot supports two main routes to capture texts:

1. Manual email logging:

• Go to your HubSpot settings and copy your BCC email address.
• Paste the message content into an email, add that BCC, and send.
• HubSpot automatically logs it in the corresponding contact’s record.

2. Automatic App Integration:

• Choose a mobile messaging integration that links to HubSpot.
• Log in, enable the sync feature, and enable settings to autoforward client messages.
• Incoming messages are routed from your personal phone to HubSpot and stored instantly.

Is it Possible to Automatically Forward Text Messages From iPhone to Android?

Yes, but it requires using a third-party cross-platform service, Apple’s built-in forwarding only works when sending messages from your iPhone to other Apple devices. To forward texts from an iPhone to another phone (like an Android), you’ll need a tool that bridges both ecosystems.

How it works:

1. On both devices, install a cross-platform messaging app (e.g. MySMS) that supports syncing SMS messages across iOS and Android.
2. On your iPhone, grant the app access to incoming messages.
3. Link your iPhone and Android via the app’s account or pairing system.
4. Activate the automatically forward incoming option so new messages arrive on your Android device too.
5. Test with a sample message to confirm it appears on the other phone.

Safety Tips for Forwarding Messages

While it’s convenient to forward the message to another person or device, it’s equally important to do it securely, especially when dealing with sensitive information like OTPs, business updates, or private conversations.

Here are some key safety tips:

1. Know where your data is going: Always confirm the exact recipient before you forward messages. A small typo in a phone number or email address can send sensitive information to the wrong person.
2. Be cautious with sensitive content: Avoid forwarding confidential business details or private personal messages unless absolutely necessary.
3. Use proactive monitoring: Tools like Qoli can help you keep an eye on message activity across your iPhone and Android devices. With built-in message monitoring, a smart keylogger, and real-time alerts, it can notify you when something unusual happens, such as suspicious links or unexpected sender activity.
4. Review permissions regularly: Whether you use a dedicated monitoring app or a forwarding tool, check which apps have access to your messages and device features.

Suggested: Suspected Spam Meaning Explained: Avoid the Hidden Dangers!

Conclusion

Whether for work or family, knowing how to forward sms to another number automatically keeps you connected. From text messages on an iPhone or Android, to bridging iPhone and Android devices, the right method makes it quick and easy.

Android users can also use an SMS app to automatically forward SMS from one phone to another, while iOS users can forward between iPhone to another or iPhone to other iOS devices. Some tools even send messages directly to email, WhatsApp, or your CRM.

Forwarding isn’t just about moving a message, it’s about making sure it reaches the right person at the right time.

If you found this guide helpful and want more tips on smart communication tools, check out our website for more guides, tutorials, and tips just like this.