Creating a group takes three steps: open WhatsApp, tap the menu to start a new chat, and add the people you want

To create a group in WhatsApp, open the app and look for the button to start a new chat — on iPhone it's a pencil icon in the bottom right, on Android it's a plus sign in the bottom right corner. Tap "New Group" from the menu that appears. Then search for and select each person you want to add, one at a time. Once you've chosen everyone, tap the arrow or next button to move forward, give your group a name, and tap create. The group exists when ready and everyone you added will see it in their chat list.

The whole process takes less than a minute once you know where the buttons are. The confusion usually comes from finding that first menu — it's not always obvious where "New Group" lives, and the location differs between iPhone and Android. After you create the group, you can change the name, add or remove people, and control who can send messages, all from the group settings.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, tap the pencil icon in the bottom right; on Android, tap the plus sign in the bottom right to find the New Group option.
  • You must add at least one other person to create a group — WhatsApp does not allow groups of one.
  • Everyone you add to the group will see all previous messages in that group chat, even if they joined after the conversation started.
  • After creating a group, you can change the name, description, and icon from the group info screen, which you reach by tapping the group name at the top of the chat.
  • The person who creates the group is the admin by default, but you can make other members admins from the group settings if you want to share control.

Finding the New Group button on your phone

The location of the New Group button depends on which phone you use. On an iPhone, open WhatsApp and look at the bottom right corner of the screen — you'll see a pencil icon inside a circle. Tap that icon and a menu will pop up with options including "New Group". On an Android phone, the button is a plus sign in the bottom right corner. Tap it and you'll see the same "New Group" option.

If you don't see these buttons, make sure you're on the Chats tab, which is the first tab when you open WhatsApp. Some older versions of WhatsApp place the button in a different spot, but it's always in the bottom right area of the screen. If you're still stuck, try closing and reopening the app — sometimes the interface needs to refresh.

Selecting people to add to your group

After you tap "New Group", WhatsApp shows you a list of all your contacts. Search for the first person you want to add by typing their name in the search box at the top, or scroll through your contacts and tap their name. A checkmark will appear next to their name. Repeat this for each person you want in the group — you can add as many people as you want, though groups with more than 50 or 60 people can become slow or hard to manage.

You must add at least one other person. WhatsApp will not let you create a group with only yourself in it. If you're trying to save a note or reminder for yourself, use a regular one-on-one chat with yourself instead — you can message yourself by starting a chat with your own number. Once you've selected everyone, look for a button labeled "Next" or an arrow icon and tap it to move to the naming screen.

Naming your group and finishing creation

On the next screen, you'll see a text box where you can type the group name. This is what everyone in the group will see at the top of the chat. Keep the name short and clear — something like "Book Club" or "Project Team" works better than a long phrase. You can also add a group description, which is optional and appears below the name in the group info screen. The description is useful for explaining what the group is for, especially if new people join later.

Below the name field, you may see an option to add a group icon — a small picture that represents the group. You can choose from your photos or use an emoji. This is optional and you can change it anytime. Once you're happy with the name and icon, tap the button to create the group. Everyone you selected will when ready see the new group in their chat list, and they can start messaging right away.

What happens when you add someone to a group

When you add someone to a group, they see the entire chat history from the moment the group was created. This is different from some other messaging apps — there's no way to hide earlier messages from new members. If you've been discussing something private before adding someone, they will see it once they join. Keep this in mind when you're deciding who to add and when to add them.

The person you add will get a notification that they've been added to the group, and the group will appear in their chat list. They can start reading and sending messages when ready. If you add someone by mistake, you can remove them from the group settings — tap the group name at the top of the chat, then look for the members list and tap the minus sign or remove option next to their name.

Changing the group name, icon, and settings after creation

You can change almost everything about a group after you create it. To access the group settings, open the group chat and tap the group name at the very top of the screen. This opens the group info page, where you can see all the members, change the group name by tapping on it, upload a new icon, and add a description. Any of these changes will be visible to everyone in the group when ready.

From the group info screen, you can also control who can send messages, who can change the group icon or name, and who can add new members. By default, everyone can do these things, but you can restrict them to admins only if you want tighter control. You can also mute notifications from the group so you don't get pinged every time someone sends a message, and you can leave the group entirely if you no longer want to be part of it.

Making other people admins of the group

When you create a group, you are the admin by default. An admin can add or remove members, change the group name and icon, and control group settings. If you want to share these responsibilities, you can make other members admins too. Open the group chat, tap the group name at the top, find the members list, and tap on the person you want to make an admin. You'll see an option to "Make Admin" — tap it and they'll have the same powers you do.

You can have multiple admins in one group, and you can remove someone's admin status the same way — tap their name and choose "Remove as Admin". If you leave the group entirely, WhatsApp will automatically promote another member to admin so the group doesn't end up with no one in control. This is useful if you're creating a group for a team or organization where you don't want to be the only person managing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a group with people who don't have me in their contacts?

No. WhatsApp only shows you people who have your number saved in their phone. If someone doesn't have you in their contacts, you won't see their name in the contact list when you're creating a group. They can still join a group if someone else adds them, but you have to add them through the normal contact list.

What's the maximum number of people I can add to a group?

WhatsApp allows up to 256 members in a single group. However, groups larger than 50 or 60 people often become difficult to manage because messages move quickly and notifications become overwhelming. For very large groups, consider whether a broadcast list might work better — it lets you send messages to many people without creating a back-and-forth conversation.

Can I create a group with someone I've blocked?

No. If you've blocked someone, you cannot add them to a group. If you want to include them, you'll need to unblock them first. You can unblock someone by going to Settings, then Account, then Privacy, then Blocked Contacts, and tapping the person's name to unblock them.

What happens if I accidentally add the wrong person to a group?

You can remove them when ready. Open the group chat, tap the group name at the top, find the members list, and tap the minus sign or remove option next to their name. They'll be removed from the group and won't see any messages sent after they're removed, but they will have seen the chat history up to that point.

Do I need to ask people before adding them to a group?

WhatsApp doesn't require you to ask first, but it's considered polite to let people know before adding them to a group, especially if it's a work group or involves people who don't know each other. Some groups are created for specific purposes and people may not want to be part of them. Asking first prevents awkward situations and shows respect for people's time and attention.