How to Create a Poll in iMessage on iPhone and iPad

Deciding the next family trip or the place for the next office get-together can get tiring, especially when everyone in the group chat has a different option. To solve this dilemma and make the process less painful, you can create a poll in iMessage group chats on your iPhone and iPad.

Creating a poll in your iMessage group chat allows other participants to add their options to the list and vote on it together. Once everyone has voted, the option with the highest votes naturally emerges as the winner. However, since there are still no native options available, can you still do a poll in iMessage group chats? Well, you can. Let’s find out how.

How to Send a Poll in iMessage Group Chat Using Polls

As mentioned above, iMessage does not have an option to add polls in iMessage group chats. Hence, you must download the Polls for iMessage app on your iPhone or iPad to do a poll. So, let us check out how you can create, edit, and even delete a poll using the Polls for iMessage app.

Note: All the group participants must have the Polls for iMessage app installed on their devices to cast their vote and use other app features.

Create a Poll in Group Chat

Step 1: Open the Messages app and tap on the relevant group chat.

Step 2: Now, tap on the App Store icon.

Step 3: In the search bar, type ‘Polls for iMessage‘ and tap on the relevant search result. Now, proceed to download the app.

Step 4: Once done, tap on Open.

Step 5: Enter the poll title you wish to create once the app opens. Then, tap on Next.

Step 6: Now, enter the poll options. Then, tap on Create Another to add the next option.

Step 7: Repeat this process until all the options have been added to the poll.

Step 8: Once all the options have been added, tap on Done.

Step 9: Now, tap on Settings. This will open the settings menu for the poll you’re currently creating.

Step 10: Select all the relevant options. Note that you can’t edit this once the poll has been created.

Step 11: You can also change your name on the poll. Once done, tap on the Back icon.

Step 12: Here, review the poll title and options.

Step 13: Once done, tap on Send Poll.

This will instantly create and add the iMessage poll to your group chat.

Tip: You can add the Polls for iMessage app to the iMessage apps drawer for easy access.

Edit Group Chat Poll Details

Since there is always a chance of the option changing mid-poll, you can edit specific details after creating the poll. Follow the below steps to do it.

Note: You can’t edit the poll details once everyone in the group chat has cast their vote.

Step 1: Open the Messages app and tap on the relevant group chat.

Step 2: Here, tap on the poll or See More.

Step 3: Now, tap on Edit.

Step 4: Once the editing window opens, tap on the – icon in front of the poll option you wish to remove.

Step 5: If you wish to add poll options, tap on Add Option.

Step 6: Here, add the additional poll options.

Step 7: If you wish to add more, tap on Create Another and add the next poll option. Otherwise, tap on Done.

Step 8: Once the poll options have been edited, tap on Update Poll.

This will make the updated poll live in the iMessage group chat.

See iMessage Poll Results

Once the voting commences, you can see the voting results as they come. And after everyone has voted, here’s how to check the final winner:

Step 1: Open the Messages app on your device.

Step 2: Then, tap on the relevant group chat.

Step 3: Go to the poll and either tap on the poll or tap on See More.

Step 4: On the voted options, tap on the number of votes.

Step 5: Tap on ‘Tap to see who voted’.

Step 6: Here, check and see who has voted for what option.

You can repeat this process for all the other poll options. If you allow users to vote on multiple options simultaneously, you might see more votes than the group participants. Then, once all the group members have voted, the winner will be declared. Here’s how to see it.

Step 1: In your group chat, look for the poll with the Winning Option displayed.

Step 2: Then, tap on See Details.

Step 3: Now, check and see the winning poll option. Then, tap on Dismiss to close the window.

Delete Poll in Group Chat

Once the poll closes, it can make the group chat cluttered. Hence, you can delete it from your group chat. Here’s how.

Step 1: Go to the Messages app and open the group chat.

Step 2: Long-press on the poll you wish to delete.

Step 3: Here, tap on More.

Step 4: Tap on the delete icon.

Step 5: Then, tap on Delete Message.

This will instantly delete the iMessage poll from your group chat.

Also Read: How to block spam group chats on iPhone

2 Other Apps to Do a Poll in iMessage

While we have extensively covered the Polls for the iMessage app above, there are other third-party apps available on the App Store that can help you do a poll in your iMessage group chat. Let us look at them briefly.

1. Tally – Great for Basic iMessage Polls

Using the Tally app, you can create multiple polls without buying its premium version. While most app features are available in the free version, users can subscribe to Tally+ to get certain additional features like creating quizzes in polls.

You can also add photos to your poll options. However, to use Tally, you will require your iCloud account.

Price: Free version; Tally+ Subscription: $9.99 onwards

Download Tally

2. TinyPoll – Best for Polls With Limited Options

As the name suggests, the TinyPoll app allows you to create polls with up to 3 voting options. Free users can create a new poll every 24 hours. However, if you’re a premium user, you can create unlimited polls with up to 5 voting options. All users can cast multiple votes, regardless of their subscription status.

Price: Free version Premium: $1.99/year

Download TinyPoll

Now, download the relevant app and create polls in your iMessage group chat as you want.

FAQs for Doing a Poll in iMessage

May the Majority Win

Don’t let the saying ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’ become the motto of your group. So, when planning something with everyone, create a poll in your iMessage group chat and let votes speak for themselves. Additionally, if you’ve been testing out iOS 17 on your device, you can check our explainer on creating and using stickers with iMessage.