iMessage Gets Polls in iOS 26: How to Create and Manage Them

Apple has finally brought polls to iMessage in iOS 26, making group decision-making easier and more fun without needing third-party apps. Whether you’re planning dinner, organizing a trip, or just sparking engagement in a chat, iMessage polls help you collect opinions quickly and securely.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to create, customize, and manage polls in iMessage. Plus, if you haven’t updated to iOS 26 yet, we’ll also cover the best third-party alternatives to create polls across devices.

Why Use Polls in iMessage Group Chats?

Group chats often turn chaotic when deciding on plans. Polls bring structure and fun:

• Quick decisions: No more endless back-and-forth texting.
• Built-in simplicity: Works natively across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 26.
• Private & secure: Like messages, polls are end-to-end encrypted.
• Fun & interactive: Makes group chats more engaging.

Whether you’re coordinating with friends, family, or coworkers, polls streamline group chats and make decision-making smoother.

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Prerequisites for iMessage Polls

Before you start:

• All participants must be on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26.
• Everyone in the group must be using iMessage (blue bubbles), not SMS.

Related: How to Create iMessage Group Chat on an iPhone

How to Create a Poll in iMessage

Here’s how to start a poll directly inside the Messages app:

1. Open the Messages app and go to a group chat (or start a new one).
2. Tap the “+” icon next to the text field and choose Poll (bar graph icon).
   
   
3. Type your question. For example, “Where should we meet for dinner?”
   
   
4. Tap the Choice 1 box and enter the first option. Add at least two options for the poll to work.  
   
   
5. As you add more options, you will see the next Choice box appear. You can add up to 12 options. 
6. To rearrange options, tap and hold the option and drag it to your preferred order. 
7. Once you’re happy with the options, tap the send button. 

Group members can now vote, and results update in real time with profile pictures next to each choice, so you know who picked what.

Managing Your iMessage Polls

Once you’ve sent a poll, you still have control:

• Add more options: Open the poll in the chat, tap Add Choice, and enter the new option.
  
   
• Delete the Poll: Long-press the message → tap Undo Send.
• View details: Long-press the poll → tap Poll Details to see who voted.
  
  

Bonus: iMessage + Apple Intelligence

With Apple Intelligence, iMessage can even suggest polls automatically. For example, if someone texts “Game night this weekend?”, you might see a Create Poll suggestion above your keyboard.

Can’t Use iOS 26 Polls? Try These iMessage Polling Apps

If you haven’t updated yet, the Polls for iMessage app is your best option. It lets you create polls with multiple choices, works across all devices, and doesn’t require others to install the app.

First, install the app on your iPhone. Open the App Store, tap the Search icon at the bottom right corner, and type Polls for iMessage. Then, tap the Get button to download and install the app. Once installed, it will automatically appear in your iMessage app drawer.

To add a poll to the iMessage group:

1. Open the Messages app and start or open an existing group conversation.
2. Tap the plus sign next to the text input box.
3. Swipe up and select Polls.
4. Now, tap Get Started to create a new poll.
5. Enter your poll title (e.g., “Where should we go for dinner?”) and tap Next.
6. Write an option and tap Create Another to type the next option. Repeat the process to create multiple-choice answer options (e.g., “Italian,” “Mexican,” “Sushi”).
   
   
7. You can remove options by tapping the minus sign next to it. To rearrange the order of choices, tap and hold the hamburger icon and drag it.
8. Once you’re satisfied, tap Send Poll.

Group members can now tap the poll, select their choice, and vote. Let’s see how to manage poll settings in iMessage.

You can even customize:

To edit your poll settings, tap the Settings icon in the bottom right corner. Four options will appear. By default, all options are enabled, and you can disable the ones you don’t want to use. Now, let’s take a look at these options.

• Add options – This option allows participants to add additional options. However, they cannot modify your original options.
• See who voted – This option allows everyone to see who is voting for which option. For sensitive topics, you can disable this option to ensure privacy. 
• Declare a winner – If this option is enabled, the system automatically declares a winner after the voting has been concluded or a specified time has elapsed. 
• Multiple votes – This option would allow each voter to select more than one option. 

Once you have modified the poll’s content, exit the Settings page by tapping Back in the top-left corner. Then, hit Send and watch as people in the group interact with your poll.

Tips for Better iMessage Polls

To make your polls engaging and effective, keep these best practices in mind: 

• Limit choices to 3–5 to avoid clutter.
• Use clear, specific questions.
• Add a time limit in your message to get faster responses.
• Mention group members to alert them to cast their votes.

Troubleshooting Common Issues 

If you run into problems, here are some fixes: 

• Poll not showing:  
  • Ensure your device is updated to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26.  
  • If your group chat includes non-iMessage users (green bubbles), you can’t send polls. 
  • Restart the Messages app or your device if needed. 

• Poll not updating:
  • Check your internet connection.
  • Force-close and reopen the Messages app.

Take Decisions Faster with iMessage Polls

The new iMessage polls in iOS 26 make group coordination seamless and fun. Whether it’s picking a movie, planning a trip, or deciding on takeout, polls help you cut the noise and get quick, fair results, right inside your chat.

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