How to Create and Invite Others to a Group Chat in WhatsApp

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Simple steps to making a WhatsApp group on iPhone or Android

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: December 17, 2024 Fact Checked

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Creating a Group (iPhone)

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Creating a Group (Android)

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Messaging Your Group

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Like most instant messaging applications, WhatsApp lets you create a group in order to message many people at once. You can create a group in WhatsApp by opening the Chats menu and selecting the "New Group" option. From there, you'll be able to add up to 1024 people to a group as long as they're in your contacts!

Quick Steps

Tap Chats.
Tap + or New Chat.
Tap New group.
Select contacts and tap Next.
Enter group details.
Tap Create.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating a Group (iPhone)

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1
Open the WhatsApp app. If you don't already have it, WhatsApp for iPhone is free to download from the App Store.^{[1]
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- If you can't find WhatsApp on your iPhone, swipe down from the middle of the screen and type "WhatsApp" into the ensuing search bar. You should see WhatsApp's icon pop up at the top of this menu.^{[2]
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2
Tap the "Chats" option to open your chat history. This is in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.^{[3]
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- If WhatsApp opens to your last-used chat, you'll need to tap the "Chats" option in the top left corner to return to the Chats menu.
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3
Tap +. This is in the top-right corner.
- You will need to have at least one chat in your Chats menu before you can create a group; if you've only just installed WhatsApp, simply send a one-word chat to a contact in order to activate the "New Group" option.
This is at the top.
5
Select contacts and tap Next. Tap the contacts from the list. If you're trying to invite a contact that doesn't have a WhatsApp account, you'll need to invite them via SMS.
- You can have up to 1024 members in one group.
6
Enter group details. You can add a group name and group icon. You can also change the group settings.
- The group name must be under 100 characters.
- To add a group icon, tap the camera icon and select Take Photo, Choose Photo, Emoji & Stickers, or Search Web.
- Tap Disappearing messages to toggle it on.
- Tap Group permissions to change additional settings.
This will create your group.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Group (Android)

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1
Open the WhatsApp app. If you don't have WhatsApp for Android yet, it's free to download from the Google Play Store.^{[4]
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- If you can't locate WhatsApp on your phone, try searching for it using Google's "In App" feature.
2
Tap the "Chats" tab. You'll find this at the bottom of your screen in WhatsApp's toolbar.^{[5]
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- If WhatsApp opens to your last-used chat, tap the "Chats" option in the top left corner to view the Chats menu.
This is in the top-right corner.^{[6]
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4
Tap New group. This will prompt you to select members for your group.^{[7]
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- You will need to have at least one chat in your Chats menu before you can create a group; if you've only just installed WhatsApp, simply send a one-word chat to a contact in order to activate the "New Group" option.
5
Select contacts and tap Next. Tap the contacts from the list. If you're trying to invite a contact that doesn't have a WhatsApp account, you'll need to invite them via SMS.
- You can have up to 1024 members in one group.
6
Enter group details. You can add a group name and group icon. You can also change the group settings.
- The group name must be under 100 characters.
- To add a group icon, tap the camera icon and select Take Photo, Choose Photo, Emoji & Stickers, or Search Web.
- Tap Disappearing messages to toggle it on.
- Tap Group permissions to change additional settings.
The group will be created.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Messaging Your Group

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This will take you to your Chats menu, where you should see your group name.
This will open your group's chat.
This is where you'll type your messages.
You can send your messages by tapping the arrow button next to the chat field when you're done.^{[8]
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5
Tap the camera icon to add a photo. You can add a photo from your library, or you can take a live photo from within WhatsApp.^{[9]
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- Tap the "Send" option in the top right corner of your screen to send your photo.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I change the group name on Whatsapp?

Community Answer

Go to group info, click on the pencil-like icon right on the group image, delete the previous name and type the new one. You're all done.

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Question

How can I create a group, and send a single message to each person in that group, without other members of the group being aware (they should not know who are the members of the group) something like B.C.C. in email?

Community Answer

It won't be possible in a group. You can create a broadcast, then if you post in that broadcast it will go to all members individually who have been added to that broadcast. In one broadcast you can have 256 members.

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Question

I created a group, but after two weeks, I got a message that I am not a participant. What happened?

Community Answer

If you created the group, it's impossible for you to be kicked out unless another group admin removes you.

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Tips

After sending your message, you will see a series of checkmarks as they pertain to your recipient: one checkmark means your message has been sent, two check marks mean your recipient has received the message, and the checkmarks turn blue when your recipient has read your message.^{[10]
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The group feature in WhatsApp is a great way to organize international meetings, get-togethers with friends, and so on.

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