Creating a WhatsApp group takes less than a minute

Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots in the top right corner (on Android) or look for "Chats" then the compose icon (on iPhone). Select "New group". Choose the contacts you want to add, give the group a name, and tap create. Everyone you added will see the group appear in their chat list immediately, and you become the group admin by default.

The process is the same whether you use WhatsApp on your phone or WhatsApp Web on a computer, though the button locations differ slightly. You do not need anyone's permission to start a group — you can add people directly without asking first, though they will see who added them and can leave at any time.

Key Takeaways

  • You create a group by opening WhatsApp, tapping the menu icon, selecting "New group", choosing contacts, naming the group, and confirming.
  • As the group creator, you are the admin and can remove members, change the group name and photo, and control who can send messages.
  • People you add to a group see it appear in their chat list right away and can read all messages sent after they join, but not messages from before.
  • You can add up to 256 people to a single WhatsApp group, though groups larger than 50 people often become harder to manage.

Step-by-step: creating your group on a phone

On Android: Open WhatsApp. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Tap "New group". Scroll through your contacts and tap each person you want to add — a checkmark appears next to their name. Once you have selected everyone, tap the green arrow or "Next" button. Type a name for the group in the text field. You can add a group photo by tapping the camera icon, but this is optional. Tap "Create".

On iPhone: Open WhatsApp. Tap "Chats" at the bottom of the screen. Tap the compose icon (a pencil in a square) in the top right. Tap "New Group". Select contacts by tapping each name. Tap "Next". Enter a group name. Add a photo if you want. Tap "Create".

After you tap create, the group appears in your chat list and in the chat lists of everyone you added. You can start typing a message immediately. New members will see all messages sent after they joined, but not older messages from before the group was created.

Creating a group on WhatsApp Web or Desktop

Go to web.whatsapp.com or open the WhatsApp Desktop app on your computer. On the left side, look for the compose icon (usually a speech bubble with a plus sign). Click "New group". A window opens where you can search for and select contacts. Type each person's name or phone number and click their name to add them. Once you have selected everyone, click "Next".

Type a group name and optionally upload a photo. Click "Create". The group now appears in your chat list on both your phone and computer, and all members see it on their devices. Any messages you send from the web version appear in the group on everyone's phone, and vice versa.

What you can do as the group admin

When you create a group, you automatically become the admin. This means you can remove members at any time by opening the group, tapping the group name at the top, scrolling to the member list, and tapping the person's name, then "Remove". You can also change the group name, photo, and description whenever you want.

As admin, you control whether members can send messages or only you can post. You can also decide who is allowed to edit the group info (name, photo, description) — either only you, only admins, or everyone. These settings are found in the group info screen under "Edit group info" or "Group settings", depending on your phone's operating system.

If you want to leave the group entirely, you can do so, but you must first make someone else an admin. Open the group, tap the group name, find the member you want to promote, and tap "Make admin". Only then can you leave without the group disappearing.

Adding people after the group is created

You do not have to add everyone at once. Open the group, tap the group name at the top, scroll down to "Add participants" or the member list, and tap the plus icon. Select new people and tap "Add". They will see the group appear in their chat list and can read all messages sent after they join.

If someone leaves a group, you can add them back the same way. They will not see messages from before they were added the second time — WhatsApp treats each join as a fresh start for that person's message history in that group.

Group settings you should know about

When you create a group, everyone can send messages and edit the group info by default. If you want to change this, open the group, tap the group name, and look for "Edit group info" or "Group settings". You can restrict message sending to admins only, which is useful for announcement-style groups where you do not want members replying. You can also restrict who can change the group name and photo to admins only.

Another useful setting is "Disappearing messages". You can turn this on so that all messages in the group disappear after a set time — 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. This does not delete messages people have already seen; it just removes them from the chat after the time expires. Members can turn this setting off for themselves if they want to keep messages longer.

Common issues when creating groups

If you try to add someone and their name does not appear, they may not be saved in your contacts with their phone number. Save their number first, then try adding them again. If you see an error message when tapping "Create", you may have lost your internet connection — check your WiFi or mobile data and try again.

If you add someone by mistake, you can remove them immediately by opening the group, tapping the group name, finding their name in the member list, and tapping "Remove". They will see that they were removed and can ask you to add them back if it was a mistake. There is no way to undo a removal, so you have to add them again manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can people see that I created the group?

Yes. When you create a group, members can see your name and profile picture. There is no way to hide that you are the creator, though you can make other people admins so it is not obvious you are in charge.

What happens if I delete the group?

You cannot delete a group you created. You can only leave it. If you want the group to stop existing, you must remove all members one by one, then leave yourself. Once everyone is gone, the group disappears from everyone's chat list.

Can I add someone to a group without their phone number?

No. WhatsApp groups are based on phone numbers, so you need the person's number saved in your contacts before you can add them. You cannot add someone by username or email address.

Do people get notified when I add them to a group?

They see the group appear in their chat list, but they do not get a separate notification unless you send a message right after creating the group. Some phones show a notification for the new group itself, depending on your notification settings.

Can I create a group with just one other person?

Yes, though a one-on-one chat is usually simpler. A group with two people works the same way as any other group — you can change the name, add a photo, and adjust settings. You can add more people later whenever you want.