Sending polls within iMessage streamlines group decisions, but since iMessage doesn't include a native polling feature, third-party apps come to the rescue. One such app is Polls for iMessage, which integrates seamlessly with your chats, allowing you and your friends to create and participate in polls without leaving the conversation.

Using Polls for iMessage to Create Polls

Step 1: Open the Messages app on your iPhone and navigate to any conversation, preferably a group chat where you want to conduct the poll.

Step 2: Tap the grey App Store icon located to the left of the compose message box to reveal the app drawer.

Step 3: In the app drawer, tap the blue App Store icon to access the iMessage App Store.

Step 4: Tap the search icon in the upper-right corner of the App Store screen.

Step 5: Type "Polls for iMessage" in the search bar. Once the app appears in the search results, tap 'Get' to download and install it.

Creating a Poll in a Conversation

Step 1: Return to the conversation where you want to send the poll. Tap the grey App Store icon again to open the app drawer, and then tap the 'Polls' icon to launch the Polls for iMessage app within your conversation.

Step 2: In the Polls interface that appears at the bottom of the screen, tap 'Get Started' to begin creating your poll.

Step 3: Enter a title for your poll in the designated field and tap 'Next' to proceed.

Step 4: Add options for your poll by tapping 'Add Option'. You can include at least two options, but there's no limit to how many you can add. Options can be text, links, or dates and times.

Step 5: If you wish to include a link as an option—for instance, when deciding on venues or products—paste the URL into the option field. The link will appear as a clickable option in the poll.

Step 6: To utilize the smart calendar feature, start typing a date or time, and suggestions will appear. Tap on the suggestion to add it as an option, making scheduling events easier.

Step 7: Rearrange the order of your options by tapping and holding the three horizontal lines next to an option and dragging it to your desired position.

Step 8: To remove an unwanted option, tap the minus sign ('-') located at the top right of the option.

Step 9: Access poll settings by tapping the gear icon in the bottom-right corner. Here, you can customize how participants interact with your poll.

Step 10: Adjust the following settings according to your preferences:

  • See who voted: Enable this to allow participants to see who voted for each option.
  • Add Options: Allow others to add new options to the poll.
  • Declare a Winner: Automatically announce the option with the most votes once polling concludes.
  • Multiple Votes: Permit participants to vote for more than one option.

By default, all these options are enabled. You can deselect any option to disable it. If you wish to save your customized settings for future polls, tap 'Save as defaults'. Otherwise, the changes will apply only to the current poll.

Step 11: When you're satisfied with your poll settings and options, tap 'Back' to return to your poll draft.

Step 12: If you need to discard your current poll draft and start over, tap 'Discard' in the lower-left corner and confirm your choice when prompted.

Step 13: To send your completed poll to the group, tap the 'Send Poll' button. The poll will appear in the conversation for all participants to view and interact with.

Participating in the Poll and Viewing Results

Step 1: To vote in a poll, participants need to have the Polls for iMessage app installed. When they tap on the poll within the conversation, the app interface will open.

Step 2: Select the option you wish to vote for. If multiple votes are allowed, you can select more than one option. After making your selection, tap 'Send Vote' to submit your choice.

Step 3: As votes are cast, the poll updates in real-time, and you can see the results directly in the conversation thread. The poll message will move to the most recent position in the chat whenever a new vote is submitted, keeping everyone informed without the need to scroll back through messages.

Even if some participants haven't installed the Polls app, they can still view the poll results, although they won't be able to cast their votes without the app.

By integrating the Polls for iMessage app into your group chats, making collective decisions becomes efficient and straightforward. Until Apple introduces a native polling feature, this third-party solution offers a seamless way to gather opinions and make plans without leaving your iMessage conversations.