Daily Tips

How to pin and customize group messages in iPad/iOS 14

In iPadOS 14 and iOS 14, you can pin conversations to the top of your messages list in Apple’s Messages app, keep up with lively group threads through mentions and inline replies, and further customize conversations by setting a group photo using an image or emoji. 

There are a few ways to pin a conversation. Let’s look at two of them.

One is to open the Messages app. Swipe right on a conversation to reveal the Pin button. Tap it to instantly pin a conversation to the top of the screen.

Alternately, you can long press (tap and hold) and hold on a conversation from the Messages app home page to preview it and see more options. From here, select the “Pin (Contact Name)” option to pin the conversation.

To unpin a conversation, long-press on the pinned icon of the conversation and tap on Unpin.

To add an image to conversations:

Open Messages on your iPhone or iPad.

Select the group chat to which you want to add a photo or image.

At the top, tap the cluster of images associated with the group chat. 

Click the info button.

Select the option labeled “Change Name and Photo.”

You’ll be given options to enter a group name or select an icon or Memoji to use. You can also snap a photo with your iPhone or iPad camera, then choose a picture from the Camera roll. There are also also customization options involving colors and more. 

Once you’ve completed your customization, click done.

By the way, new Memoji options in Messages are even more inclusive and diverse with additional hairstyles, headwear, face coverings, and more.

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.