iPhone Help Center
Find help articles for PhoneLeash on iPhone.
FAQ
Does PhoneLeash work on iPhone?
Yes! PhoneLeash for iPhone launched in March 2026. It forwards incoming SMS and iMessage texts to your email automatically using Apple Shortcuts. Setup takes about 2 minutes with our pre-built Shortcut — no manual Shortcuts configuration needed.
Can PhoneLeash forward iMessages?
Yes! PhoneLeash forwards both SMS (green bubble) and iMessage (blue bubble) messages to email on iPhone. The Apple Shortcuts automation has access to all incoming text messages regardless of type.
Why can't I reply from email on iPhone?
iOS does not allow third-party apps to send SMS messages programmatically. This means reply-from-email is not possible on iPhone. You'll need to reply directly from your iPhone. Reply from email works on the Android version.
I got a text on my iPhone but it wasn't forwarded. Why?
On iPhone, PhoneLeash forwards a message only when it matches the rule in your Apple Shortcuts automation. The standard setup uses 'Message Contains' a single space, which catches virtually every normal text — but a message with no space at all won't trigger it. So a one-word reply (like 'Ok' or 'Thanks'), a lone emoji, or a link by itself may not forward. Add any words around it and it forwards normally. This is an iOS limitation: Apple's Shortcuts requires the trigger to match something specific and offers no true 'any message' option. See the power-user setup below to capture these too.
A text that was just a website link didn't forward.
Same cause as above. A message that is only a URL (like https://example.com) usually contains no spaces, so the standard space-based trigger doesn't fire. If the sender includes any words alongside the link, it forwards. To capture link-only messages as well, use the per-letter automation setup described below.
How do I forward every message, including one-word texts and links?
Set up extra Shortcuts automations — one for each letter of the alphabet (and the digits) — each running the PhoneLeash SMS action. Because almost every message contains at least one letter or number, this catches one-word texts, links, and other no-space messages that the single space trigger misses. You won't get duplicates: if a message matches several of your automations, PhoneLeash automatically removes the extras so you still receive exactly one forwarded copy. The only messages this can't catch are ones with no letters, numbers, or spaces at all — for example a text that is just an emoji.
Forwarding suddenly stopped working on my iPhone. What happened?
The most common cause is that your Shortcuts automation got turned off — iOS sometimes pauses automations after an app or iOS update. Open the Shortcuts app, go to Automation, and confirm your PhoneLeash automation is enabled and set to 'Run Immediately' (not 'Run After Confirmation'). Opening the PhoneLeash app once also helps it re-register.
Are group messages forwarded on iPhone?
The text of a group message is forwarded, but iOS only gives Shortcuts the sender and the message body — not the group name or the list of participants. So a forwarded group text looks like a normal message from whoever sent it. This is an iOS limitation that affects all Shortcuts-based apps.
Does PhoneLeash forward picture messages or attachments on iPhone?
No. On iPhone, only the text of SMS and iMessage is forwarded. Photos, videos, and other MMS/RCS attachments aren't accessible through iOS Shortcuts, so they can't be forwarded. Attachment forwarding is available on Android.
I have Dual SIM. Does PhoneLeash forward texts to both lines?
Yes. With your automation set to 'Any Sender,' PhoneLeash forwards incoming texts on both lines — your primary (eSIM) and secondary (physical SIM). One caveat: the forwarded email can't tell you which SIM received the text. iOS doesn't expose the receiving line to apps or Shortcuts — the Primary/Secondary line label is visible only inside the Messages app — so there's no way to tag forwards by SIM. If a future iOS makes the line available, we'll add it.
Does my iPhone need to stay on for forwarding to work?
Yes. Your iPhone must be powered on with cellular service to receive texts and an internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) to forward them. Forwarding happens the moment a message arrives.
Does PhoneLeash drain my iPhone battery?
No. PhoneLeash only does work when a text arrives — the Shortcuts automation runs briefly, forwards the message, and stops. There's no continuous background polling, so battery impact is negligible.
Is PhoneLeash free?
PhoneLeash offers a 30-day free trial with all features — no credit card required. After the trial, plans start at $0.99/month for OTP-only forwarding, $4.50/month for personal use (billed annually), or $14.95/month for commercial use with up to 5 licenses.
How does licensing work?
PhoneLeash licenses are tied to your forwarding destination (email address), not to your device. If you change phones but keep the same email address, your license transfers automatically. Changing your forwarding destination will reset the license.
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