Skip to Content

iOS 17: How to Catch Up in a Messages Chat

by

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

macbook air blue

What's Coming in the M5 MacBook Air

Thursday February 26, 2026 3:57 pm PST by
Along with the low-cost MacBook, Apple could introduce a refreshed version of the MacBook Air next week. Most of the focus will be on the new machine, but the MacBook Air is expected to get some useful internal updates. M5 Chip The next-generation MacBook Air will adopt the M5 chip, which Apple already introduced in the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models that came out last year. Apple's M5...
Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature 1

Apple Teases 'A Big Week Ahead' With Announcements Starting Monday

Thursday February 26, 2026 6:06 am PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook today teased "a big week ahead," with announcements starting Monday. His post included an #AppleLaunch hashtag with a colorful Apple logo, along with a short video that ultimately shows an Apple logo on the lid of a Mac. Apple is reportedly planning a three-day stretch of product announcements from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4, with up to five new products...
ipad mini 7 1

Could Apple's OLED iPad Mini Finally Be a Kindle Killer?

Friday February 27, 2026 12:08 pm PST by
With a similar screen size and easy, one-handed grip, the iPad mini has always been the Apple device that overlaps most with dedicated e-readers. Now, amid rumors pointing to an OLED display for the next generation, could the iPad mini finally replace devices such as the Kindle and Kobo? The shift from LCD to OLED could make the iPad mini far more appealing as a reading device. OLED panels...