Open a new group chat from your friends list
To create a group chat on Snapchat, open the app and tap the chat icon at the bottom left of the screen. This takes you to your messages. At the top right, you'll see a compose icon that looks like a pencil in a square — tap it.
A screen appears asking you to select people. Tap the names of the friends you want to add to the group. You can add as many people as you want, though groups with more than 30 people sometimes move slower. Once you've selected everyone, tap the chat icon at the bottom right to create the group.
Snapchat automatically names the group based on the first letters of everyone's usernames. You can change this name later if you want something more descriptive.
Key Takeaways
- Start a group chat by opening the chat tab, tapping the compose icon, selecting multiple friends, and confirming with the chat button.
- Snapchat names groups automatically using the first letters of usernames, but you can rename the group anytime by tapping the group name at the top.
- Only the person who created the group can remove members, but any member can leave the group at any time.
- Group chats work the same as one-on-one chats — you can send text, photos, videos, voice messages, and snaps to everyone at once.
Rename your group to something you'll recognize
The automatic name Snapchat creates is usually a jumble of letters. To change it, open the group chat and tap the group name at the very top of the screen. A menu appears with options including "Edit Group Name."
Tap that option and type a new name. Keep it short and clear so everyone knows what the group is for — "Weekend Plans," "Work Group," or "Gaming Squad" work better than long descriptions. Tap the checkmark to save the new name.
Add or remove people from an existing group
To add someone new to a group chat that already exists, open the group and tap the group name at the top. Select "Add Friends" and choose the people you want to add. They'll see the group appear in their chat list once you confirm.
Only the person who created the group can remove members. If you created the group, tap the group name, then tap the person's name you want to remove and select "Remove from Group." The removed person will no longer see the chat in their list, but they can still see the messages that were sent before they were removed.
Any member of the group can leave on their own by tapping the group name and selecting "Leave Group." Once you leave, you won't see new messages, but the group continues without you.
Control who can see your messages in the group
Group chats on Snapchat are private — only the people you added can see the messages. Unlike posting to your story, group messages don't appear on anyone's profile or for people outside the group to find.
However, anyone in the group can take a screenshot of what you send, and Snapchat will notify you that they did. If you send a snap (a photo or video taken in the app) rather than a text message, the snap disappears after the person views it, but they can still screenshot it before it goes away.
Send different types of messages to your group
Group chats work the same way as one-on-one chats. You can type text messages, send photos or videos from your camera roll, or create snaps directly in the app. Tap the camera icon to take a photo or video right there, add text or stickers if you want, and send it to the whole group.
You can also send voice messages by holding down the microphone icon and speaking. When you release, the message sends. Voice messages play for anyone in the group who opens them, and like snaps, they disappear after being viewed — though people can still screenshot them.
Reactions work in group chats too. If someone sends a message, you can long-press it and choose an emoji reaction. Everyone in the group sees your reaction next to that message.
Mute notifications from a group that's too active
If a group chat is sending too many notifications and distracting you, you can mute it without leaving. Open the group, tap the group name at the top, and look for "Notifications." You can turn them off completely or set them to mute for a certain amount of time.
When notifications are muted, new messages still arrive in the group and you can read them whenever you want — you just won't get alerts on your phone. This is useful for groups that are active but not urgent, like a friend group planning something over several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a group chat with someone who isn't my friend on Snapchat?
No. Everyone in a group chat must already be on your friends list. If you want to add someone new, you need to send them a friend request first, wait for them to accept, and then you can add them to a group.
What happens if I delete a group chat?
Deleting a group from your chat list removes it from your view, but the group itself still exists for other members. They can still message in it and see all previous messages. If you created the group and want to shut it down completely, you have to remove all members one by one.
Can I see who read my message in a group chat?
Snapchat doesn't show read receipts in group chats the way some other apps do. You can see when someone has opened the chat, but not specifically which messages they've read.
Is there a limit to how many people can be in a group chat?
Technically no, but groups with 30 or more people sometimes experience slower performance. For very large groups, consider whether a private story might work better instead — it lets you share updates with many people at once without the back-and-forth of a chat.