Open Snapchat and tap the compose button to begin a group

To create a group on Snapchat, open the app and look for the compose icon — a pencil and paper symbol in the top-left corner of the screen. Tap it, and you'll see options to start a chat. Select "Group Chat" from the menu that appears.

Snapchat will then show you a list of your contacts. You can add as many people as you want to the group, though groups work best with a smaller number of people who actually want to talk to each other. There's no hard limit, but a group with 50 people you barely know will feel chaotic.

Name your group and add the people you want

After you tap "Group Chat," Snapchat asks you to name the group. Pick something that tells people what the group is for — "Weekend Plans," "Work Project," "Fantasy Football League." The name appears at the top of the chat, so everyone knows what conversation they're in.

Next, search for and tap the names of the people you want to add. You can type their username or real name if you have them saved as a contact. As you add each person, their name appears in a list below the search box. Once you've added everyone, tap "Create" or the checkmark button to finish.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the compose icon (pencil and paper) in the top-left corner, then select "Group Chat" to start.
  • Name your group something that describes its purpose so members understand what they're joining.
  • Search for and add people by their username or contact name — you can add as many as you want, but smaller groups stay more focused.
  • Once you tap "Create," the group chat opens and you can send your first message when ready.
  • Anyone in the group can add new members later, so you don't have to include everyone at the start.

What happens after you create the group

Once the group is created, you land in the chat screen. You can send text messages, photos, videos, voice notes, or stickers just like you would in a one-on-one chat. Everyone in the group sees everything you send.

The group stays in your chat list on the main Snapchat screen. You can swipe left on the group name to mute notifications, delete the conversation, or change settings. If you mute the group, you'll still see messages, but you won't get alerts every time someone writes something.

How to add or remove people from an existing group

You don't have to decide on the final member list when you create the group. Tap the group name at the top of the chat to open the group info screen. From there, you can tap "Add Friends" to bring in new people, or tap the X next to someone's name to remove them.

Any member of the group can add new people, which means someone might add someone you don't want in the chat. If that happens, you can remove them yourself, or you can leave the group entirely by tapping "Leave Group" at the bottom of the info screen.

The difference between a Snapchat group chat and a Snapchat group

Snapchat has two different things that sound similar but work differently: a group chat and a Snapchat group (sometimes called a "Stories group"). A group chat is what we've covered here — a private conversation between you and the people you invited.

A Snapchat group is something else entirely. It's a shared space where members post Stories that only the group can see. You create a group by going to the Stories tab, tapping the plus icon, and selecting "Create Group." If you just want to message people back and forth, you want a group chat, not a group.

Troubleshooting: Why your group chat might not be working

If you create a group and someone doesn't see it, they may not have accepted it yet. New members sometimes get a notification asking them to join before the group appears in their chat list. They have to tap "Accept" before they can see the conversation.

If the group chat disappeared from your list, you may have accidentally deleted it. You can create a new group with the same people — Snapchat doesn't prevent you from making duplicate groups. If someone is missing from the group and you can't add them, they may have blocked you or changed their privacy settings to not accept group invites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the group name after I create it?

Yes. Tap the group name at the top of the chat, then tap "Edit Group Name" and type the new name. Anyone in the group can do this, so the name might change without your permission.

What happens if I leave a group chat?

You stop receiving messages from that group, and the chat disappears from your list. The group continues without you — other members can still message each other. You can rejoin if someone adds you back, or you can create a new group with the same people.

Can I make a group chat with just two people?

Snapchat treats a conversation between two people as a one-on-one chat, not a group. If you want to call it a group, you can add a third person, but there's no practical reason to do so. A two-person chat works exactly the same way.

Do people in the group see when I'm typing?

No. Snapchat doesn't show typing indicators in group chats the way some other apps do. People only see your message once you send it.

Can I see who added me to a group?

No. When you get added to a group, you see the group name and the list of members, but Snapchat doesn't tell you who created it or who added you specifically.