You can create a poll in Messages on a Mac by opening an iMessage conversation, clicking the Apps button, choosing Polls, adding answer choices, and sending the poll. People in the conversation can then vote, change their votes, and see the results as responses come in.
Polls are useful for choosing a restaurant, setting a meeting time, deciding what to watch, or collecting quick opinions without sending several separate messages.
Quick Answer
To create a poll in Messages on your Mac:
- Open Messages.
- Select an iMessage conversation or start a new one.
- Click the Apps button next to the text field.
- Choose Polls.
- Enter your question.
- Add at least two choices.
- Click Send.
The poll appears in the conversation as a message card. Participants can select one or more choices, depending on the poll’s settings, and click Vote. The results update in the conversation.
What You Need to Create a Poll
Before creating a poll, check the following:
- You must use Messages on a Mac.
- The conversation must support iMessage. Polls are not available in ordinary SMS or MMS conversations.
- The people you invite need software that supports the Messages poll feature to interact with the poll normally.
- You need an active internet connection to send an iMessage and update responses.
The exact appearance of the Apps button and Polls option can vary depending on your macOS version and the Messages app configuration. If you do not see Polls, check the troubleshooting steps later in this guide.
iMessage conversations versus text messages
An iMessage conversation normally uses blue message bubbles. SMS or MMS conversations use green bubbles and are delivered through a cellular messaging service.
Messages polls are an iMessage feature. You cannot create a fully interactive poll in a conversation that is using SMS or MMS. If a group includes people who cannot use iMessage, the poll may not be available or may not work for everyone.
How to Create a Poll in Messages on a Mac
1. Open Messages
Open Messages from the Dock, the Applications folder, or Spotlight.
If Messages opens to another conversation, select the conversation where you want to create the poll in the sidebar.
2. Start or select an iMessage conversation
To use an existing conversation, click it in the sidebar.
To start a new conversation:
- Click the New Message button at the top of the Messages window.
- Enter one or more contacts in the To field.
- Confirm that the conversation is using iMessage.
- Click the message field at the bottom of the window.
If the message bubbles are green, the conversation is not currently using iMessage. You may need to contact the recipients through an iMessage-enabled address, such as an Apple Account email address, or create a group with participants who can use iMessage.
3. Open the Messages app drawer
Click the Apps button next to the text field. Depending on your version of Messages, this may look like an app icon or a button that opens additional Messages features.
A menu or app drawer appears with available options.
4. Choose Polls
Select Polls.
If this is your first time using the feature, Messages may display a poll composer in the conversation. The composer includes a field for the question and areas for answer choices.
5. Enter the poll question
Type your question in the question field.
Keep the question specific enough that everyone will understand what they are voting on. For example:
- “Where should we eat Friday?”
- “Which day works best for the team meeting?”
- “What movie should we watch?”
Avoid combining several questions in one poll. If you need to decide both a date and a location, create separate polls so the results are easier to interpret.
6. Add answer choices
Enter the first choices in the available fields. To add more choices, click Add Option or the equivalent add button in the poll composer.
Use short, distinct choices. For example, a meeting poll might include:
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
Review the choices before sending. Depending on the poll interface and your software version, you may be able to remove an option by clicking a delete or remove button next to it.
7. Review the poll settings
Some versions of the poll composer provide settings that control how participants can vote. Review any available options before sending.
Possible settings may include:
- Allowing participants to select more than one answer
- Allowing participants to add their own choices
- Showing or hiding the identity of voters
- Allowing participants to change their votes
The available controls depend on the version of Messages and the software used by participants. If you do not see a particular setting, that option may not be available in your configuration.
8. Send the poll
Click Send.
The poll is posted in the conversation like other Messages content. Participants can open the poll, select their choices, and submit their votes.
How to Add Choices to an Existing Poll
A poll can sometimes accept additional choices after it has been sent. This is useful when someone suggests an answer that was not included originally.
To add a choice:
- Open the conversation in Messages.
- Locate the poll.
- Click the control for adding an option, such as Add Option.
- Type the new choice.
- Confirm or send the added choice.
Whether participants can add choices depends on the poll’s settings. If there is no option to add a choice, the poll creator may have disabled that capability or the feature may not be supported in that version of Messages.
Avoid adding duplicate or nearly identical choices. If a poll already has “Friday evening” and “Friday night,” for example, combining them may produce clearer results. You may need to explain the change in a separate message rather than editing an existing choice.
How to Vote in a Messages Poll on a Mac
When someone sends you a poll:
- Open the relevant conversation in Messages.
- Locate the poll card.
- Select one or more answer choices.
- Click Vote or the equivalent confirmation button.
If the poll allows multiple selections, you can choose more than one answer before submitting. If it allows only one selection, choosing another answer may replace your current selection.
Some polls allow you to change your vote:
- Return to the poll in the conversation.
- Select a different choice or adjust your selections.
- Click Vote again.
If you do not see a voting control, the poll may be closed, unsupported by your software, or displayed as a noninteractive message.
How to View Poll Results
Poll results appear in the poll card as people respond. To view them:
- Open the conversation containing the poll.
- Scroll to the poll.
- Review the response totals or percentage indicators shown beside the choices.
Depending on the poll settings, you may also see which participants selected each choice. Some polls may show only totals, while others can identify voters.
Results may not update immediately if a participant has a weak internet connection or if Messages has not synchronized with the service. Give the app a moment, then check the conversation again.
Reading results correctly
A poll’s leading choice is not necessarily a final decision. Someone may not have voted yet, and participants may be able to change their responses. If the poll is being used to schedule an event, send a follow-up message stating the final decision after everyone has responded.
What Recipients See
Recipients usually see the poll directly inside the iMessage conversation. They can read the question, review the choices, vote, and see updated results when their software supports interactive polls.
Recipients may also receive notifications according to their Messages notification settings. The poll itself remains part of the conversation history unless the message or conversation is deleted.
Recipients using unsupported software
People using older or otherwise unsupported versions of Messages may not be able to interact with the poll. Depending on the software and device, they may see:
- A poll that cannot be opened or voted on
- A simplified or incomplete representation
- A message indicating that the content is unsupported
- A link or other fallback representation
- No usable poll interface
Recipients who are using SMS or MMS rather than iMessage cannot participate in the poll as an interactive Messages poll. If someone cannot access it, send the question and choices as ordinary text or use a separate polling service that supports that person’s device.
Poll Limitations to Keep in Mind
Messages polls are convenient for quick decisions, but they are not a replacement for a full survey tool.
Poll availability depends on iMessage
Polls require an iMessage conversation. They are not designed for standard SMS or MMS group chats.
Features may differ between devices
The poll creator and participants may have different controls depending on their operating system and Messages version. One person may be able to add choices or change a vote while another person sees fewer options.
Polls are best for simple questions
Messages polls work well for short lists of choices. They are less suitable for:
- Long surveys
- Anonymous research
- Questions requiring written explanations
- Conditional questions
- Detailed reporting
- Large groups with complex permissions
Results can change
If participants can change their votes or add choices, the totals may change after you initially review them. Confirm the final result in a separate message if the decision matters.
Polls do not replace conversation
A poll shows selections, but it may not explain why someone chose an answer. Use a follow-up message when context or discussion is important.
Troubleshooting Messages Polls on a Mac
The Polls option is missing
Try these steps:
- Confirm that you opened an iMessage conversation rather than an SMS or MMS conversation.
- Click the Apps button again to view the available Messages features.
- Close and reopen Messages.
- Check that your Mac is connected to the internet.
- Make sure Messages is signed in to the Apple Account used for iMessage.
- Install available software updates for your Mac if the poll feature is unavailable in your current software.
Do not assume that every Mac supports every Messages feature. The feature may be unavailable because of the macOS version, account configuration, or conversation type.
The poll will not send
Check the following:
- The conversation is using iMessage.
- The recipient’s address is correct.
- Your internet connection is working.
- Messages is not showing an account or activation error.
- The poll includes a question and the required number of choices.
If an ordinary iMessage also will not send, the problem may affect iMessage generally rather than the poll itself.
A participant cannot vote
Ask the participant to verify that:
- They opened the correct conversation.
- They are using an iMessage-capable version of Messages.
- They have an internet connection.
- The poll is still open and interactive.
- They are not viewing the message through an unsupported SMS or MMS conversation.
If the problem continues, copy the question and choices into a regular message or use a web-based polling tool.
Results are not updating
Wait briefly, then check the conversation again. If the results still appear unchanged:
- Confirm that the participant completed the voting action rather than merely selecting an option.
- Check the internet connection on both devices.
- Quit and reopen Messages.
- Ask the participant to send a regular iMessage to confirm that their account is connected.
- Use a follow-up message to confirm the response manually.
The poll looks different from the instructions
Apple can change the layout of Messages features between software releases. Button names and locations may differ slightly. Look for the Apps button, Polls, Add Option, and Vote, or for controls with similar meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a poll in Messages on a Mac?
Yes, you can create a poll in an iMessage conversation by opening the Apps menu, choosing Polls, entering a question and choices, and clicking Send.
Can I create a poll in an SMS group chat?
No. Messages polls require an iMessage conversation. SMS and MMS group chats do not provide the same interactive poll support.
Can a poll have more than two choices?
Yes. A poll is designed for multiple choices. Use Add Option in the poll composer to include additional answers, subject to the limits and controls shown in your version of Messages.
Can people select multiple answers?
They may be able to if the poll includes a multiple-selection setting. Review the available poll settings before sending. If multiple selections are not enabled, participants can vote for only one choice.
Can I change my vote?
Some polls allow participants to change their selections. Open the poll, adjust your choice, and submit the vote again if Messages provides that control.
Can I see who voted for each choice?
That depends on the poll’s settings and the software used by the participants. Some polls show voter identities, while others display only totals.
Can I edit a poll after sending it?
Editing options vary. You may be able to add choices or adjust certain settings, but you should not assume that the question or every option can be edited after the poll is sent. If the poll contains an error, send a clarification or create a new poll.
Do recipients need a Mac to vote?
No. Participants may be able to vote from another Apple device that supports interactive Messages polls. However, recipients using unsupported software or SMS/MMS may not be able to interact with the poll.
Are Messages polls anonymous?
Not necessarily. Whether voter identities are visible depends on the poll’s configuration and the software displaying it. Do not use a Messages poll for sensitive or anonymous voting unless you have confirmed how the results are presented.
What should I do if someone cannot access the poll?
Send the question and choices as regular text, ask the person to reply with a choice, or use a separate polling service that supports their device and account.
Final Thoughts
Messages polls provide a quick way to collect choices directly in an iMessage conversation on your Mac. Open Messages, choose an iMessage chat, select Polls from the Apps menu, add the question and choices, and send it. Before relying on the results, confirm that everyone can access the poll and remember that available voting, privacy, and editing controls may vary across devices and software versions.