Open a new chat and add multiple people at once
To start a group in Snapchat, open the app and tap the chat icon at the bottom left of your screen. Then tap the compose icon (a pencil and paper symbol) in the top right corner. You'll see a list of your contacts. Tap the names of the people you want to add — you can select as many as you want. Once you've chosen everyone, tap "Create" at the bottom right. Snapchat will open a new group chat with all the people you selected.
The group appears in your chat list with all members' names shown together. You can start sending messages, photos, or video calls right away. Unlike some other apps, Snapchat groups don't require a group name — the app just lists the members. If you want to give the group a nickname for your own reference, you can do that in your phone's contacts, but Snapchat itself won't display a custom name.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the compose icon in the chat tab, select multiple contacts, and tap Create to form a group in seconds.
- Snapchat groups show all member names in the chat list and do not require you to assign a group name.
- Anyone in the group can send messages, photos, and videos that all members see, and you can start a video call with everyone at once.
- You can add or remove people from an existing group by opening it, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting "Add Friends" or tapping the X next to a member's name.
- Group chats are private to the members you selected — Snapchat does not show group activity to people outside the group.
Add people to a group after you create it
If you forgot to include someone when you first made the group, you can add them later. Open the group chat, then tap the group name at the very top of the screen. This opens the group info page. Tap "Add Friends" and select the person you want to add. They'll be added to the chat when ready and can see all future messages.
New members cannot see messages that were sent before they joined the group. If you need them to know what was discussed earlier, you'll have to fill them in yourself or take a screenshot and send it to them separately.
Remove someone from the group
To remove a member, open the group chat and tap the group name at the top. You'll see a list of all members with an X next to each name. Tap the X next to the person you want to remove. They'll be taken out of the group when ready and won't receive any more messages.
The removed person can still see the messages they received while they were in the group, but they won't see anything sent after they leave. If you remove someone by mistake, you can add them back using the "Add Friends" option.
Start a video or voice call with your group
Snapchat lets you call everyone in a group at the same time. Open the group chat and tap the phone icon at the top right of the screen. This starts a group voice call and notifies all members. They can join by tapping the incoming call notification. You can switch to video by tapping the camera icon during the call.
Group calls work best with three to four people. With larger groups, the call may become slow or drop. If that happens, you can try calling again or splitting into smaller groups. Snapchat will keep the call active as long as at least one person stays on the line.
Control who can message you in groups
If you don't want to receive group messages from people you don't know well, you can adjust your privacy settings. Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top left. Tap the settings gear icon, then scroll down to "Who Can..." and select "Contact Me." Choose whether you want to allow messages from "Everyone" or "Friends Only." This setting applies to both one-on-one chats and groups.
If someone adds you to a group and you have "Friends Only" turned on, you won't receive the group messages unless they're already your friend. You'll see a notification that you were added, but you can ignore it without joining the conversation.
Leave a group without notifying everyone
To leave a group, open the chat, tap and hold on the group name, and select "Delete Chat" from the menu that appears. This removes the group from your chat list. The other members won't get a notification that you left — they'll only notice if they look at the member list.
Leaving a group does not delete the messages you already received. You can still see them in your chat history if you add the group back later. If you want to rejoin, you'll need someone in the group to add you again.
Understand what others can see in your group
Everyone in a group can see when you're typing, when you were last active, and your Snapchat username. They can also see your profile picture and any messages or photos you send. If you send a photo or video, it disappears after the person views it — but they can take a screenshot, and Snapchat will notify you that they did.
Group members cannot see your location, your Snapchat score, or your friends list unless you've shared those things separately. They also can't see your Stories unless they visit your profile. Keep in mind that anything you send in a group can be screenshotted or recorded by any member, so only share things you're comfortable with others keeping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rename a group chat in Snapchat?
Snapchat does not let you rename groups within the app itself. The group will always display as a list of member names. You can create a nickname in your phone's contacts if you want a personal label, but other members won't see it.
What happens if I screenshot a message in a group?
Snapchat notifies the sender that you took a screenshot, just like it does in one-on-one chats. The notification shows your username and the time you screenshotted. Other group members won't see that you took a screenshot — only the person who sent the message will know.
Can I make a group private so only certain people can join?
Snapchat groups are private by default — only people you add can see or join them. There's no public group feature or invite link. If you want to add someone, you have to do it manually through the group info page.
Do group messages disappear like regular Snapchat messages?
Text messages in groups stay in your chat history unless you delete them. Photos and videos disappear after the recipient views them, just like in one-on-one chats. You control when you delete text messages by tapping and holding on them.
What if someone keeps adding me to groups I don't want to be in?
You can block that person by opening their profile, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Block." They won't be able to add you to groups or send you messages. You can also delete the group chat from your list without blocking them — they just won't know you left.