Quick Answer
No, WhatsApp does not allow users to tag everyone in a group chat all at once. The messaging platform limits group sizes to 256 participants to prevent spamming and abuse. However, there are some workarounds to tag or mention multiple people efficiently in a group chat on WhatsApp:
- Tag up to 5 people per message by typing @ followed by their name
- Mention everyone who has participated in the chat so far by typing @everyone
- Create a group announcement to notify all members at once
- Use a third-party app like Tags for WhatsApp to tag more than 5 people
So while there is no single tag that notifies an entire WhatsApp group, it is possible to find creative ways to reach most or all members through combinations of built-in and third-party features. Proper etiquette should be followed to avoid spamming group members.
Tagging Individuals
WhatsApp allows users to tag up to 5 specific people in a group chat message. To tag someone, type the @ symbol followed immediately by their contact name or phone number registered on WhatsApp. Their name will appear highlighted and they will receive a notification of being mentioned.
For example:
@John @Jane @Bob @Alice @Monica
This is useful for attracting the attention of particular members in a busy chat with many participants. However, the 5-person limit prevents overly tagging the group.
@everyone Mention
In any group chat, you can type @everyone to mention all members who have sent at least one message in the current conversation. This serves as a way to notify all active chat participants at once to draw their attention to an announcement or question.
However, @everyone will not tag members who have not participated in the chat yet. It also does not work in groups with more than 10 participants. So while handy, @everyone has significant limitations.
Group Announcements
Group admins have the ability to make announcements in WhatsApp groups of any size. When posting an announcement, all members of the group will receive a notification highlighting the message.
To use this feature on Android:
- Tap the group subject line at the top of the chat
- Tap Group info > Send an announcement
- Type your announcement message
- Tap Send to post it to the group
On iPhone:
- Swipe up on the group chat to access menu
- Tap Broadcast Lists > New Announcement
- Type your announcement
- Tap Send to post it to the group
The process is slightly different on WhatsApp Web:
- Click the group name at the top of the chat
- Click Group info > Send an announcement
- Type your announcement message
- Click Send to post it to the group
This is the closest built-in WhatsApp feature to tagging everyone at once. The downside is that only admins can use it.
Third-Party Apps
While WhatsApp itself limits mass tagging, some third-party apps unlock the ability to tag more than 5 people at once in a group chat message:
- Tags for WhatsApp – Android app allowing you to create predefined tags that can mention up to 200 people with a single tap inside WhatsApp.
- WamR – Android app with the Tag All feature to tag every member in groups up to 256 people.
- WhatsApper – Android app providing a Tag All option to tag all members in groups of any size.
These tools fill the gap left by WhatsApp’s built-in tagging restrictions. However, all group members must have the same third-party app installed for the tags to work.
Comparison of WhatsApp Tagging Methods
| Method | Group Size Limit | Maximum Tags per Message | Admin Only? |
|---|---|---|---|
| @mention | 256 members | 5 people | No |
| @everyone | 10 members | All active chatters | No |
| Group announcement | No limit | All members | Yes |
| Third-party apps | No limit | All members | No |
Tips for Proper Tagging Etiquette
When mentioning multiple people in a WhatsApp group, keep these etiquette tips in mind:
- Only tag people if the message is highly relevant to them.
- Avoid tagging excessively as it can be annoying.
- Do not tag people unrelated to the conversation.
- Check if a group announcement could replace tagging.
- Make sure tags are spaced normally within sentences.
- Tag thoughtfully and judiciously.
Abuse of @everyone and similar mass tags is often frowned upon and banned in many groups. Use proper judgment when mentioning multiple members at once.
Conclusion
Tagging everyone in a WhatsApp group chat simultaneously is not natively supported due to anti-spam limits. But features like @everyone, group announcements, and third-party apps provide partial workarounds to tag many members efficiently. Exercise good etiquette when mentioning multiple people to avoid irritating other group members with pointless notifications. With creative use of different tools, it is possible to effectively notify most or all of a WhatsApp group when necessary.