How to Create a Group in WhatsApp? A Step By Step Guide

WhatsApp groups have evolved into an integral component of modern communications, facilitating everything from private family arrangements to complex professional collaborations. They offer a private and instant way to connect with multiple people at once. But creating a group is just the first step. To truly unlock its potential, you need to understand how to manage members, customize settings, and use advanced features.

This resource contains all the essential knowledge needed for success in this area. We'll start with the basics of creating a group on any device and then dive into administration. By the end, you'll be a confident WhatsApp group administrator.

Part 1. How to Create a Group in WhatsApp

The initial process for creating a group is straightforward and similar across all platforms, with minor differences in the user interface. The following instructions are segmented by device platform.

Way 1. How to Create a Group in WhatsApp Android

Step 1. First, launch WhatsApp and tap on the Chats icon at the bottom of your screen.
Step 2. Tap the green new message icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
Step 3. On the Select contact screen, tap the first option: New group.

Step 4. You will be prompted to add participants. Tap on the contacts you wish to add to the group. For a more targeted search, input the contact's name into the search bar provided.
Step 5. Once you've selected at least one other person, a green arrow icon will appear in the bottom-right. Tap it to proceed.
Step 6. You will now be on the final setup screen. Here, you must provide a Group subject (the name of your group).
Step 7. You'll see a camera symbol. Tapping it will let you choose a photo for the group. You can choose to take a photo, upload one from your gallery, or use an emoji/sticker.
Step 8. Tap the green checkmark to finish, and your WhatsApp group will be created!

Way 2. How to Create a Group in WhatsApp iPhone

Step 1. Open WhatsApp and ensure you are on the main Chats tab.
Step 2. Tap the New Chat icon (it looks like a square with a pencil) in the top-right corner.
Step 3. In the following menu, your next step is to choose New Group.
Step 4. Now, start building your group! Pick contacts to invite. As you tap them, they will be added to a list at the top of the screen.
Step 5. After selecting your initial members, tap Next in the top-right corner.
Step 6. Enter a Group Subject (your group's name). The current limit is 100 characters.
Step 7. You can also set a group profile picture by tapping the camera icon to the left of the group name.
Step 8. Press the Create button (top right) to confirm and proceed.

Part 2. How to Add Members to WhatsApp Group

Once your group is created, you'll likely need to add more people over time. WhatsApp provides two easy methods for this. To access these options, open the group and tap on the group subject at the top to open the "Group info" screen.

Method 1: Adding Contacts Directly

This method is best when you have the person's phone number saved in your contacts.

Step 1. From the "Group info" screen, tap on Add participants (or Add members).
Step 2. Now, let's add some people. Pick them from your contacts.
Step 3. Confirm your selection. The new members will be added instantly and a notification will appear in the chat letting everyone know who was added.

Method 2: Using a Group Invite Link (The Flexible Option)

A group invite link is a powerful tool. It allows people to join your group by simply clicking a URL, even if you don't have their number. This is perfect for posting on social media, in emails, or on a website.

Step 1. On the Group info screen, scroll down and tap on Invite to group via link.
Step 2. Select an option to share your invite link. Here are your options:

• Share link via WhatsApp: Instantly send this link to your contacts and groups.
• Grab the Link: Saves a unique URL for this page to your clipboard, so you can paste it wherever you want.
• Share link: Opens your phone's native sharing menu to send the link via other apps.
• QR code: Generates a scannable QR code that leads to the group join page.
• Reset link: This is a crucial security feature. If you feel your invite link has been shared too widely, you can tap "Reset link" to instantly deactivate the old link and generate a new one.

Part 3. How to Manage Your WhatsApp Group

As the creator, you are automatically an admin. This gives you special privileges to manage the group and keep it running smoothly. The current maximum number of participants in a WhatsApp group is 1024, so good administration is key for larger groups.

Key Settings: Customizing Name, Description, and Icon

From the Group info screen, you can tap on the group name or icon at any time to edit them. You can also add a Group Description, which is highly recommended. Use the description to state the group's purpose, outline any rules, or share important links.

Group Permissions Setting

This is one of the most powerful admin tools, especially for announcement-style groups.

Go to the Group info screen and tap on Group Settings. And you will see two key permissions:
Send messages: You can change this from All participants to Only admins. This effectively turns the group into a one-way announcement channel where only admins can post.
Edit group info: You can also restrict the ability to change the group subject, icon, and description to Only admins. This prevents participants from changing the group's identity.

Assigning and Removing Admins

You can share administrative responsibilities with other trusted members.

Step 1. From the Group info screen, you'll see a list of all participants.
Step 2. Tap and hold the name of the participant you want to promote.
Step 3. A menu will appear. Select Make group admin.

To remove admin status, follow the same process and select Dismiss as admin. You can also use this menu to Remove a participant from the group entirely.

Bonus Tip. How to Back Up WhatsApp Group Messages to Computer for Free

If you want to back up WhatsApp group messages to your computer but don't know how to do, here is the right place where you can learn the optimal solution. TunesKit WhatsApp Transfer is an all-in-one WhatsApp data managing tool that allows users to back up WhatsApp individual and group messages to computer for free. Besides backing up WhatsApp messages, TunesKit WhatsApp Transfer also allows users to export, restore, and transfer WhatsApp messages in simple steps. What's more, TunesKit WhatsApp Transfer now support managing data on Line, Kik, and Viber.

Part 4. Conclusion

Creating a WhatsApp group is easy, but managing one effectively is a skill. By following this guide, you now have the knowledge to not only how to create a WhatsApp group on any device but also to grow it with invite links, secure it with admin controls. Whether you're connecting with a few friends or building a large community, you are now fully equipped to master WhatsApp group communication.