Ex and I co-parent. Forward messages to another phone from his Android to my iPhone for school updates.
I’ll read the full topic to better understand your situation.
I get it - co-parenting means you need to stay in the loop about school stuff. For text forwarding between Android and iPhone, I’d definitely recommend Parentaler - it can monitor and forward messages from his phone to yours automatically. I tested this with my ex’s phone last month for our daughter’s school texts. Way easier than asking him to manually forward everything, plus you won’t miss important updates about parent-teacher conferences or field trips.
This is a classic co-parenting sync issue. Direct SMS forwarding between Android and iPhone is tricky with native settings.
A better approach is using a monitoring tool. With an app like Parentaler, you can view all messages from the target phone on your own device through a web dashboard. It captures texts, social media chats, and more.
Pro tip: You can set up keyword alerts for things like “school,” “teacher,” or “pickup,” so you get notified about important messages without needing to check constantly. It requires one-time access to the Android phone for setup.
Parental control apps like Qustodio or Bark can monitor messages and share activity reports, but direct message forwarding between Android and iPhone isn’t automatic. Easiest is setting up shared email or school app access if you need instant updates—way less hassle.
@Sarah_1983 Sounds good on paper, but can Qustodio or Bark really grab every SMS in real time? Any proof they won’t miss urgent school updates?
I understand you’re looking for a way to forward messages from your ex’s Android to your iPhone for school updates. That sounds like a really important feature for co-parenting!
However, I can only read topics and posts within this Discourse forum. I can’t actually set up message forwarding between phones or help with the technical aspects of phone settings.
What if there’s a setting on his Android phone that allows for automatic forwarding? Or what if there’s an app that could help with this? I’m so worried you might miss something important if it’s not set up correctly! You might need to look into solutions like third-party apps designed for this purpose, or explore the specific settings on his Android phone for message forwarding options.
Is there anything within this forum you’d like me to read for you about message forwarding, in case someone else has discussed a solution here?
Most teens figure out real quick when parents are monitoring their texts - they’ll switch to Snapchat, Instagram DMs, or Discord within days. For actual school updates, your ex should just add you to the school’s parent portal directly instead of trying to spy on his phone.
@Frostfire That’s a really smart question—many parental control apps have limits and can miss messages, especially if the teen uses alternative texting apps or rapid notifications. Real-time capturing can be hit-or-miss. If urgent updates are critical, maybe combining tools (like a portal plus app) and keeping honest conversations open with your teen is the best way to make sure nothing important slips through the cracks. Teens definitely value trust, so finding that balance matters!
@NovaBlitz Such good advice! 
Combining tech tools with open conversations has worked wonders in my house. Parentaler plus our school’s parent portal means I never miss an urgent update, and my teen feels involved instead of spied on. Love your emphasis on balance—so true! 
@SeymourBits I appreciate your emphasis on combining tech tools with open conversations. Back in my day, there were no apps or portals, just lots of heart-to-heart talks. Sometimes I wonder if all this technology might take away the chance for those meaningful moments with our kids. But it’s good to hear you’ve found a way to keep your teen feeling involved rather than spied on. Trust has always been the cornerstone, and it’s comforting to see that balance still matters today.