Facebook Groups let you gather people around a shared interest, and you can set one up in about five minutes

A Facebook Group is a space where people with a common interest can post, share photos, and have conversations together. You control who joins, what they can post, and how the group runs. Creating one starts from your Facebook home feed and requires only a name, a description of what the group is about, and a choice about who can see it and join it.

The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a computer or the mobile app. The main decision you'll make upfront is whether the group is public (anyone can find and join), closed (anyone can find it but you approve members), or private (only people you invite can see it exists).

Key Takeaways

  • You create a group by clicking the menu icon on your home feed, selecting "Groups," then "Create Group," and filling in a name and description.
  • Public groups let anyone join without approval; closed groups let anyone request to join but you decide who gets in; private groups only include people you invite.
  • After creation, you can add a cover photo, set rules, and assign other people as moderators to help manage posts and members.
  • Facebook groups work best when you post regularly and set clear expectations about what members should and shouldn't post.

The step-by-step process to create a group

On a computer, go to your Facebook home feed. In the left sidebar, look for "Groups" and click it. At the top of the Groups page, you'll see a button that says "Create Group." Click that button.

A window will pop up asking for a group name. Type the name you want — for example, "Boston Dog Owners" or "Vintage Camera Collectors." Below that, you'll see a field for "Members." You can add people here now or skip this step and add them later. Then you'll see three radio buttons for privacy: Public, Closed, or Private. Select the one that fits what you want. Click "Create" and your group exists.

On the Facebook mobile app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap "Groups." Tap the "+" icon or "Create Group" button. Fill in the same information — name, members (optional), and privacy level — and tap "Create."

Understanding the three privacy settings

Public groups show up in Facebook search and anyone can join without your approval. Anyone can also see all the posts and member list. Use this if you want the group to grow quickly and you don't mind managing a larger number of people.

Closed groups show up in search, but people have to request to join and you have to approve them. Posts and member lists are only visible to members. This is the most common choice for groups with a specific purpose — a book club, a neighborhood association, or a hobby group where you want some control over who joins but don't need to keep the group hidden.

Private groups don't show up in search at all. Only people you invite can see the group exists or view any posts. Use this for sensitive topics, family groups, or small teams where membership is by invitation only.

Adding a cover photo and group description

After you create the group, you'll land on the group's main page. Click "Add Group Photo" to upload a cover image — this is the banner that appears at the top of your group page. A good cover photo helps people understand what the group is about at a glance.

Below the cover photo, you'll see the group description you entered during creation. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit or expand it. Write a few sentences explaining what the group is for, who should join, and what kinds of posts are welcome. The clearer you are here, the fewer off-topic posts you'll have to remove later.

Setting rules and assigning moderators

Click "Group Rules" (or "About" and then "Rules") to add guidelines for your group. Facebook lets you create up to 10 rules. Examples include "No spam," "Be respectful," or "No selling or promotion." Members see these rules when they join, and you can point to them when you remove a post or member.

To add moderators who can help you manage the group, go to the group settings and look for "Members" or "Moderators." Click the three dots next to a member's name and select "Make Moderator." Moderators can approve posts (if you've turned on post approval), remove members, and delete posts that break the rules. This is especially useful if your group grows large or you don't have time to monitor it constantly.

Choosing whether to approve posts before they appear

By default, members can post to your group and their posts appear immediately. If you want more control, you can turn on post approval so that every post waits for you or a moderator to review it before it shows up in the group feed.

To turn this on, go to group settings and look for "Post Approval" or "Moderation Settings." Toggle it on. This slows down the conversation but gives you complete control over what appears. It's useful for groups where you want to prevent spam or off-topic posts, but it can also make the group feel less active if approval takes a long time.

Inviting people and growing your group

To invite specific people, click "Invite Members" or the "+" icon on the Members section. Search for their names and click to invite them. They'll get a notification that you've invited them to the group.

You can also share the group link directly with people outside Facebook — copy the group URL and send it via email or text. If the group is public or closed, they can find it by searching Facebook for the group name. If it's private, they can only join if you invite them.

Growth happens naturally when members invite their friends and when you post regularly. The more active you are as the group creator, the more active members tend to be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the group from public to private after I create it?

Yes. Go to group settings, find "Privacy," and select a different option. If you change from public to private, existing members stay in the group, but new people can only join by invitation. Changing from private to public makes the group searchable and allows anyone to join.

What happens if I remove someone from the group?

They can no longer see the group or its posts. If the group is public or closed, they can request to join again. You can also block someone from the group, which prevents them from rejoining without your approval.

Can I delete a group after I create it?

Yes, but only if you're the group creator. Go to group settings, scroll down, and look for "Delete Group." This removes the group entirely and all its posts. You cannot undo this action.

Do I have to post regularly to keep a group active?

Not required, but groups with regular posts from the creator tend to have more engaged members. Even a few posts a month can keep the conversation going. If a group sits inactive for months, members may leave or stop checking it.

Can multiple people be group admins?

Yes. You can assign other members as moderators, and moderators have most of the same powers as the creator — they can remove posts, remove members, and approve posts if that setting is on. Only the group creator can delete the group or change the privacy level.