In iOS 26, Apple has finally given its Messages app a feature that many users have been waiting for: polls. Competing messaging platforms have offered polls for years, and now Apple is catching up with an option that feels both useful and seamless inside conversations.
With polls, you can include up to 12 choices and send them directly in a group or one-on-one chat. If someone feels an option is missing, they don’t need to complain; they can simply add another choice themselves.
For situations where you want friends or colleagues to pick from multiple options, setting up a poll is simple:
- Tap the + button next to the message input field.
- Select Polls from the vertical list.
- Fill in your poll’s choices (up to 12).
- Add a message to go with your poll and hit Send.
Voting is just as easy. Participants tap an option to register their choice. If they want to suggest something new, an Add Choice button appears beneath the poll. A long press on the poll also brings up Poll Details, showing exactly who voted and how.
On devices powered by Apple Intelligence, Messages takes this further. The app can even suggest creating a poll based on the flow of conversation. For example, if you ask whether the group wants pizza, burgers, or pasta, you may see a smart prompt to turn that question into a poll.
It’s important to note that polls only work on iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. According to the source[1], if someone is running an older version, the poll simply won’t appear in their chat thread.
With this addition, Messages is closing one of its most noticeable gaps. Apple’s approach makes polls not only flexible but also well integrated into the broader iOS 26 experience.