Open a new chat and add multiple people at once
To create a group chat on Snapchat, open the app and tap the chat icon at the bottom left of the screen. Then tap the compose button (the pencil and paper icon) in the top right corner. A list of your contacts appears. Tap the names of the people you want to add — you can select as many as you want, and checkmarks will appear next to each name you choose. Once you've selected everyone, tap "Create" at the bottom right.
Snapchat will open a new group chat with all the people you selected. The group name appears at the top of the chat window. By default, Snapchat names the group after the first few members, but you can change this name at any time by tapping the group name at the top and selecting "Edit Group Name."
Key Takeaways
- You create a group chat by opening the compose window, selecting multiple contacts, and tapping Create — the whole process takes about 30 seconds.
- Group names are auto-generated from member names but you can rename the group by tapping the group name at the top of the chat.
- You can add or remove people from an existing group by tapping the group name, then tapping the member list or the plus icon.
- Messages in group chats disappear by default after they are read, just like one-on-one Snapchat messages, unless you change the chat settings.
- Only the group creator can delete the entire group, but any member can leave at any time.
Add or remove people from a group that already exists
If you want to add someone to a group chat after you've created it, tap the group name at the top of the chat window. A menu appears showing the group members. Tap the plus icon next to "Add Friends" and select the person you want to add. They will be added to the group when ready and can see all future messages.
To remove someone from the group, tap the group name, find the person you want to remove in the member list, and swipe left on their name. A red "Remove" button appears — tap it to remove them from the group. Removed members can no longer see new messages, but the old conversation history remains in the group for everyone else.
Change the group name and other settings
Tap the group name at the top of the chat to open the group menu. You'll see options to edit the group name, see all members, and adjust notification settings. To change the name, tap "Edit Group Name," type a new name, and tap the checkmark to save it.
In the same menu, you can turn notifications on or off for that group. If you turn notifications off, messages will still arrive in the group chat, but your phone won't alert you when they do. This is useful if you're in a group that sends frequent messages but you don't need to respond right away.
Understand how messages disappear in group chats
By default, messages in Snapchat group chats disappear after they are read, just like messages in one-on-one chats. This means once everyone in the group has opened and read a message, it vanishes. However, if someone in the group hasn't opened the message yet, it stays visible for everyone until they do.
If you want messages to stay in the chat permanently, you can change this setting. Tap the group name, then look for "Retention" or message settings. You can choose to keep messages visible for a set time (like 24 hours) or permanently. Keep in mind that changing this setting affects the entire group, not just your view of it.
Know who can do what in a group chat
The person who creates the group chat is the group creator. Only the creator can delete the entire group — if they do, the group disappears for everyone. Any member of the group can leave at any time by tapping the group name and selecting "Leave Group."
All members can send messages, share snaps, and add new people to the group (depending on group settings). If the creator has restricted who can add members, only the creator can add new people. You can check these settings by tapping the group name and looking at the permissions listed there.
Troubleshoot common group chat problems
If someone you added to a group doesn't appear in the member list, they may have blocked you, deleted their Snapchat account, or their username may have changed. Try searching for them by their current username and adding them again.
If messages aren't sending in a group chat, check your internet connection and make sure you have the latest version of Snapchat installed. Close the app completely and reopen it. If the problem continues, try removing and re-adding yourself to the group by leaving and asking someone else to add you back.
If you accidentally deleted a group chat, you can sometimes recover it by opening your chat list and scrolling down — deleted groups sometimes appear at the bottom. If it's not there, the chat is permanently gone, but you can create a new group with the same people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see old messages in a group chat after I leave?
No. Once you leave a group, you can no longer see any messages in that chat, including old ones. If you rejoin the group later, you'll only see messages sent after you rejoin. If you need to keep a record of important information shared in a group, take screenshots before you leave.
What happens if the group creator deletes the group?
The group disappears for everyone when ready. All members lose access to the chat and its history. If you want to continue talking to those people, you'll need to create a new group or start individual chats with them.
Can I make a group chat with just two people?
Snapchat doesn't require a minimum number of members, so technically yes — but a two-person group chat works the same as a one-on-one chat. Most people just use regular one-on-one chats for two people since the experience is identical.
Do all group members have to accept an invitation to join?
No. When you add someone to a group, they're added when ready without needing to accept anything. They'll see the group in their chat list right away and can start reading and sending messages.
Can I hide a group chat without leaving it?
Yes. Swipe left on the group chat in your chat list and tap "Hide." The group will disappear from your main chat view, but you're still a member and can find it by searching for the group name. You can unhide it the same way.