What You Need to Create a WhatsApp Group
To create a WhatsApp group, you need to install WhatsApp on your Android, iPhone, Mac or Windows device. You’ll also need a group icon, group name, the purpose for creating the group, permission to add participants, and a working list of consenting participants to be added. Depending on the nature and size of the group, you may also need co-admins and moderators to help you manage the group, as well as a few ground rules to guide group participants.
How to Create a WhatsApp Group
Open WhatsApp on your Android device and tap the triple dots (More button). From the mini-menu, select “New group” to start creating a WhatsApp group. You can add up to 256 participants by typing their names into the search bar or by scrolling through your contacts and tapping to add them. Tap the green arrow at the bottom of your screen when done. On the next page under “Add subject,” type in the name of the WhatsApp group. You can also tap the camera icon to upload the group icon. You can do this via “Gallery,” “Camera,” or “Search Web” options. Tap the green checkmark when done.
How to Manage a WhatsApp Group
The following are some tips on managing a WhatsApp group.
Welcome All Participants and Restate the Purpose of the Group
After adding participants, restate the purpose, goals, and objectives of the group. You can pin this as a welcome message so that new participants have a clear idea of what the group is about.
Set Ground Rules
Setting ground rules is a key part of managing a WhatsApp group. Rules help to guide member-to-member interactions and general conduct within the group. Your ground rules should be simple, straightforward, flexible, and firmly applied across the board.
Other WhatsApp Group Settings
See below for other key group settings.
The Three Dots (More Button)
Open the group chat and tap the three dots (More button) to view “Group info” (you can also tap on the group icon), “Group media,” “Search,” “Mute notifications,” “More -> Report,” “Exit group,” “Clear chat,” i “Export chat,” and “Add shortcut.”
For Group Info
You can access the following group info by tapping the group icon or by tapping the three dots (More menu button), then “Group info.”
1. Add Participants
Simply tap the add participants tab (group icon with a plus sign), then search for or add participants.
2. Change Group Icon
To change the group icon, tap on it, tap the edit icon, then select and upload a new photo.
3. Change Group Name
To change the group name or group subject, tap on the edit icon.
4. Add Group Description
Tap on Add group description to describe what the group is about.
3. View Media, Links, and Docs
Upon tapping the group icon, you can view all the media, links, and documents that have been shared in the group.
4. Mute Notifications
Group notifications are unmuted by default. To mute notifications, turn on the “Mute notifications” toggle button.
5. Custom Notifications
When you tap Custom notifications and check the “Use custom notifications” checkbox, you will be able to change your default notification tone, vibrate, pop-up notification, light, and priority notification settings.
6. Media Visibility
Newly downloaded media from the group chat will be shown in your phone’s gallery by default. To change this setting, tap on “Media visibility.”
7. Group Settings
Under the Group Settings tab, you can choose who can edit the group info (group subject, icon, description, and disappearing message settings). You can choose between “All participants” and “Only admins.” Here, you can also set who can send messages in the group. Tap “Send message” and select between “All participants” and “Only admins.” Tap “Edit group admins” to add or remove group admins. To add a group admin, tap on a name, then on the green checkmark. To remove a group admin, tap on the admin’s name, then the “X” button beneath the profile picture. The following are alternative ways to add and remove admins. To add an admin: Scroll through the list of participants, tap on a name, then “Make group admin.” You can also tap on the name and hold, then tap on “Make group admin.” To remove an admin: Scroll through the list, tap on the name of the admin you want to remove, then “Dismiss as admin.” Alternatively, tap and hold, then tap on “Dismiss as admin.”
8. Disappearing Messages
Disappearing messages disappear after seven days. To activate this setting, tap “Disappearing messages,” then “Continue.”
9. Add Participants
To add participants, you can also scroll down and tap “Add participants.” Search or tap on your contacts to add them.
10. Invite via Link
To invite and add participants by sending them an invite link, tap Invite via link. Share the link by tapping on “Send link via WhatsApp,” “Copy link,” “Share link,” or “QR code.” Tap on “Reset link” to reset the invite link.
10. Exit and Delete Group
If you feel the group has served its purpose or it’s time for you to leave, simply scroll to the bottom and tap “Exit group.” To delete the group, tap “Delete group.”
Wrapping Up
WhatsApp groups allow you to connect, communicate, and interact with like minds to achieve a common goal via messaging, photos and videos, group calls, and even group video calls. Follow these steps to create and manage your WhatsApp groups more effectively.
