WhatsApp allows users to selectively turn on or off notifications for individual chats and groups. This can be useful if you only want to receive notifications from certain important chats and avoid getting distracted by other chats. Here is a guide on how to turn notifications on or off for a specific WhatsApp group on both iOS and Android devices.
On iOS
Follow these steps to turn notifications on or off for a single WhatsApp group on an iPhone or iPad running iOS:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
- Swipe left on the group you want to modify notifications for.
- Tap on the “More” button.
- Tap on the “Mute” option.
- Toggle the “Always” switch off to disable notifications or on to enable notifications.
With the “Always” toggle off, you will not receive any notifications from that group’s messages. You can toggle it back on at any time to resume notifications.
On Android
The process is similar on Android devices running the WhatsApp app:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab
- Long press on the group you want to modify notifications for
- Tap on the three vertical dots menu in the top right
- Tap on the “Mute” option
- Toggle the “Always notify” switch off to disable notifications or on to enable
With notifications muted, you will not get notified for any new messages in that group. You can unmute at any time.
Custom Notification Settings
Beyond fully enabling or disabling notifications, WhatsApp also allows customizing notifications on a per chat basis. You can set different notification tones, override Do Not Disturb, enable pop-up notifications, and more. Here are the steps:
- Long press or swipe left on the chat
- Tap “More” or the three dots menu
- Tap “Custom notifications”
- Configure options like tone, pop-up style, override DND, etc.
This allows really fine tuning notification preferences for individual chats and groups. For example, you could set a specific tone for a Work group so you always know when you get a message from colleagues.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you have turned off notifications for a chat but are still getting notifications, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check that the mute/notification toggle is correctly set in WhatsApp’s chat settings
- Check your device settings to confirm WhatsApp notifications are enabled
- Force close and reopen the WhatsApp app
- Try rebooting your phone
- Check that the chat is not already muted in your phone’s main notifications settings outside of WhatsApp
Notifications not working properly after an app update is also a common issue. Make sure WhatsApp is updated to the latest version.
If the above steps do not resolve it, try clearing the app cache/data for WhatsApp or uninstall and reinstall as a last resort. This will sign you out so make sure to backup chats first.
Silence Group Notifications Temporarily
If you just want to silence a busy group for a short period, there are couple of easy options:
- Mute the conversation – Mute the chat for 8 hours or 1 week. You will not get any notifications during this period.
- Enable Airplane Mode – Switching on Airplane mode blocks all notifications and internet access.
- Do Not Disturb Mode – Enable DND mode on iPhone or turn on Zen Mode on Android.
These are handy temporary options to silence a busy chat without fully disabling notifications.
Conclusion
WhatsApp makes it easy to customize notifications settings for individual chats and groups. Simply access the notification settings for a chat and toggle sound, pop-ups, overrides, etc. on or off as desired. Disabling notifications for a specific chat prevents distraction while still allowing notifications from important chats. With a bit of configuration, you can really tune WhatsApp notifications to your preferences.
| Platform | Steps to Mute Group Notifications |
|---|---|
| iPhone/iPad (iOS) |
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| Android Phone |
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Related Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions related to managing notifications for specific WhatsApp chats and groups:
How do I mute a chat forever?
To permanently mute a chat on WhatsApp, follow the steps to mute the chat and then toggle the “Always” option to off. This will permanently disable notifications from that chat until you manually turn them back on.
Can I mute groups for a specific time period?
Yes, when muting a chat you have the option to mute for 8 hours or 1 week in addition to indefinite mute. Just select the desired timeframe when muting the chat.
How do I mute WhatsApp groups at night?
You can mute groups during night hours by using Do Not Disturb mode on your phone. Configure DND to automatically enable during your sleeping hours and this will mute notifications from all chats during that period.
Why am I not getting notifications from a specific chat?
If you are not getting any notifications from a particular chat, first check that notifications are not disabled for that specific chat. Also check your device notification settings to confirm notifications are enabled for WhatsApp. Finally, make sure that chat is not muted in your main device notification settings outside of WhatsApp.
Can I set custom notification tones for chats?
Yes, WhatsApp has an option to set custom notification tones for individual chats and groups. Long press on the chat, tap “Custom notifications” and select a custom tone.
Summary
- You can selectively mute notifications from specific WhatsApp chats and groups
- On iOS, swipe left and tap “Mute” then toggle “Always” off for a chat
- On Android, long press, tap the menu, select “Mute” and toggle “Always notify” off
- Custom notification settings allow fine tuning pop-ups, tones, overrides etc.
- Use DND mode, Airplane mode, or temporary mute to silence chats temporarily
Per-chat notification controls give you granular control over WhatsApp notifications for improved productivity and less disruption.