Apple recognizes that to keep its Messages chat service competitive with rivals, the platform needs to be convenient and as easy to use as possible. That's why in iOS 17, it has added a new button to the app to help users keep track of conversations.

iOS 17 Messages Feature
In a world where almost everyone you know has a smartphone, keeping abreast of developments among friends, family, and colleagues can be a difficult task. This is especially true when it comes to group chats, where you don't have to be away from your phone for very long to be left behind by the rapid flow of conversation.

That's why Apple has introduced a "Catch Up" button to help you keep on top of things. By tapping the button, you'll be taken to the precise point in the conversation that you last viewed, meaning you no longer need to manually scroll through numerous messages to pick up where you left off.

The Catch Up button doesn't need turning on in Settings – it appears automatically whenever there are messages off-screen that you haven't yet seen. It's a circular button with an upward pointing chevron, and will show up in the top-right corner of the conversation window when needed.

catch up messages
Apple has added several other features to its Messages app to make communicating with other Apple users more creative and fun, such as the ability to turn Live Photos into Live Stickers. Click the link to learn how it works.

Popular Stories

Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature 1

Apple Reportedly Plans to Unveil at Least Five New Products Next Week

Sunday February 22, 2026 9:48 am PST by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple will have a three-day stretch of product announcements from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4. In total, he expects Apple to introduce "at least five products." Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. A week ago, Apple invited selected journalists and content creators to an "Apple Experience" in...
tim cook data privacy day

Tim Cook Warned by CIA That China Could Move on Taiwan by 2027

Tuesday February 24, 2026 4:03 am PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook was among a handful of top tech executives who attended a classified CIA briefing warning that China could attack Taiwan by 2027, according to a sweeping investigative report by The New York Times ($). The previously unreported briefing was apparently held in a secure room in Silicon Valley in July 2023. The meeting is said to have been arranged at the request of the...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3.1 Update for iPhones Coming Soon as 'Apple Experience' Nears

Sunday February 22, 2026 5:29 pm PST by
Apple's software engineers are testing iOS 26.3.1, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. iOS 26.3.1 should be a minor update that fixes bugs and/or security vulnerabilities, and it will likely be released within the next two weeks. Last month, Apple released iOS 26.2.1 with bug fixes and support for the second-generation...