Forward iPhone Texts to Email
Setup in 2 Minutes
PhoneLeash automatically forwards your iPhone text messages (SMS and iMessage) to email. Our pre-built Shortcut means no manual automation setup — just install and go.
Free trial available. No credit card required.
The simplest iPhone text forwarder
Other apps make you build Shortcuts automations from scratch. PhoneLeash gives you a pre-built Shortcut — one tap to install.
Install the App
Download PhoneLeash from the App Store and complete the quick setup to connect your email.
Add the Shortcut
Tap "Install Shortcut" — our pre-built Shortcut is added to your Shortcuts app automatically. No manual steps.
Done
Set up a simple automation trigger and every incoming text gets forwarded to your email. That's it.
What PhoneLeash does on iPhone
Text Message Forwarding (SMS & iMessage)
Every incoming text — both SMS and iMessage — automatically forwarded to your email. Messages arrive within seconds.
Contact Name Resolution
See the sender's name from your contacts in the forwarded email — not just a phone number.
Pre-Built Shortcut
One-tap install. No need to manually create Shortcuts actions or understand the Shortcuts app.
Background Operation
Forwarding works via iOS Shortcuts automation. No need to keep the app open.
How PhoneLeash compares
| Feature | PhoneLeash | Alternative 1 | Alternative 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-built Shortcut | Yes | No | No |
| Setup time | ~2 minutes | 5-10 minutes | 5-10 minutes |
| Contact names | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMS & iMessage forwarding | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Android version | Yes (14+ years) | No | No |
| Free trial | 30 days | 7 days | 7 days |
| Pricing | From $7.95/mo | $9.99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| App Store ratings | New | 324 ratings | 23 ratings |
What PhoneLeash can't do on iPhone
We believe in being upfront about iOS limitations. These restrictions apply to all SMS forwarding apps on iPhone, not just PhoneLeash.
No MMS or picture messages
iOS Shortcuts only provides access to message text, not MMS attachments or images.
No replies from email
iOS doesn't allow third-party apps to send SMS. You'll need to reply from your iPhone directly.
No WhatsApp forwarding
iOS doesn't give third-party apps access to WhatsApp messages. WhatsApp forwarding is available on Android.
No missed call notifications
iOS doesn't expose call events to third-party apps. Call notifications are available on Android.
Need MMS, WhatsApp forwarding, or reply from email? PhoneLeash for Android supports all of these features.
iPhone FAQ
Can I forward iPhone texts to email?
Yes. PhoneLeash for iPhone forwards incoming text messages — both SMS and iMessage — to your email address automatically. Install the app, add the pre-built Shortcut, set up a simple automation, and every text you receive gets forwarded to email within seconds.
Does PhoneLeash forward iMessages?
Yes! PhoneLeash forwards both SMS (green bubble) and iMessage (blue bubble) messages to email. The Apple Shortcuts automation has access to all incoming text messages regardless of type.
Can I reply to forwarded texts from email on iPhone?
No. iOS does not allow third-party apps to send SMS messages. Reply from email is available on the Android version of PhoneLeash. On iPhone, you'll need to reply directly from your phone.
Does PhoneLeash forward MMS or picture messages on iPhone?
No. iOS Shortcuts automation only provides access to the text content of messages, not MMS attachments. MMS and picture message forwarding is available on Android.
How does the Shortcut work?
PhoneLeash uses Apple's Shortcuts app to forward messages. When you install our pre-built Shortcut, it creates an action that sends your message text and sender info to our server, which then forwards it to your email. You set up a simple automation that triggers this Shortcut whenever a new message arrives.
Is PhoneLeash free on iPhone?
PhoneLeash offers a free trial period. After the trial, a subscription is required to continue forwarding. Pricing details are available in the app and on our website.
What about RCS messages on iPhone?
RCS messages received on iPhone are treated similarly to SMS by the system. However, forwarding behavior may vary depending on iOS version and carrier. SMS messages are reliably forwarded.
Do I need to keep PhoneLeash open for forwarding to work?
No. Once you've set up the Shortcut automation, forwarding happens automatically in the background. The automation is handled by the iOS Shortcuts system, not the PhoneLeash app itself. Your phone does need to be powered on with cellular service.
Forward your iPhone texts to email
Setup in 2 minutes. Free trial. No credit card.
Coming soonAlso available on Android