WhatsApp groups allow easy communication between multiple people at once. However, as a group admin, you may want to control who can join your group chat. There are a few ways to do this on both iPhone and Android devices.
Quick Answers
– Set your group to “invite-only” so only people you invite can join
– Turn on “approvals” so you have to approve each request to join
– Frequently review your group members list and remove anyone unwanted
– Be selective when sharing your group invite link publicly
– Create a “closed” group for private conversations with certain people only
Setting Your WhatsApp Group to Invite-Only
The easiest way to control your WhatsApp group membership is to make it invite-only. This prevents anyone from joining without your approval first.
Here’s how to make your group invite-only:
On iPhone:
- Open the WhatsApp group chat
- Tap on the group name at the top
- Tap Invite Members
- Change from “All participants” to “Only admins”
On Android:
- Open the WhatsApp group chat
- Tap on the group name at the top
- Tap Group settings > Edit group info
- Change from “All participants” to “Only admins”
Now only you or other admins can add new people to the group. To add someone, open the group chat and tap the “Add member” icon in the top right.
Requiring Admin Approval to Join
Another option is requiring your approval for anyone to join the WhatsApp group. This keeps the group public so anyone can request access, but you retain control over who actually gets in.
To enable approvals:
iPhone:
- Open the group chat
- Tap on the group name
- Tap Invite Members
- Turn on Approvals
Android:
- Open the group chat
- Tap on the group name
- Tap Group settings > Edit group info
- Turn on Approvals
Now when someone tries to join via your group link, their request will be pending until you or another admin approves it. You’ll get a notification when there is a request to review.
Reviewing and Removing Group Members
No matter your join settings, it’s a good idea to periodically review your members list and remove anyone unwanted. Here’s how:
iPhone:
- Open the group chat
- Tap on the group name
- Review the list of members
- Tap the “X” icon next to any member to remove them
Android:
- Open the group chat
- Tap on the group name
- Tap Group settings > Participants
- Review the list and tap the “Remove” icon next to unwanted members
You can remove members at any time, but be careful not to remove active members by accident.
Being Selective When Sharing Group Links
When you create a WhatsApp group, a group invite link is generated that allows anyone to join. Be careful where you share this link publicly:
- Don’t post it on social media or public forums where anyone can access it
- Only share privately with selected people you want to join
Even if you change to an invite-only or approval group later, anyone who already joined via your public link will remain in the group.
Creating Closed Groups
If you want a private group with selected members only, don’t create a public joinable group at all. Instead, make a closed group:
iPhone and Android:
- Tap on New Group at the top of your chats
- Manually select each contact you want to include
- Tap the checkmark to finalize the group
This will create a closed group with no way for people to join on their own. You remain in full control of all membership. Closed groups are best for small private discussions.
Conclusion
Controlling your WhatsApp group membership takes a bit of work, but is important to maintain a comfortable environment. Set your join settings to invite-only or approval mode, be selective when sharing your group invite link, periodically review the members list, and consider a closed group for private chats.
With these tips, you can ensure only the people you want are able to join and participate in your WhatsApp groups.
WhatsApp’s group features make it easy to communicate with many people at once, but also require some management as the admin. Take a bit of time to configure your settings and member list, and your groups will remain useful and engaging places for discussion.
Some key takeaways:
- Restricting your group to invite-only or requiring admin approval prevents unwanted joins
- Don’t share group links publicly on social media or forums
- Review and remove group members periodically
- Use closed groups of selected contacts for private chats
With a bit of extra effort, you can have peace of mind that your WhatsApp groups contain the members you actually want in them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I prevent someone from joining a WhatsApp group?
Yes, as a group admin you have control over who can join your WhatsApp group chat. Set the group to invite-only or require admin approval for new members. You can also remove existing members at any time.
Should I share my WhatsApp group link publicly?
No, avoid sharing your joinable group link on public social media posts or forums. This allows anyone to join your group without approval. Share more selectively via PMs to control membership.
How do I make a private WhatsApp group?
You can make a private, closed group by manually selecting each contact you want included when creating the group. This prevents anyone from joining on their own via a group link.
Can someone rejoin after I remove them from a WhatsApp group?
No, once you remove someone from your WhatsApp group they cannot rejoin on their own. To add them again, you or another admin must directly add that contact again.
Is there a maximum number of people in a WhatsApp group?
Yes, currently WhatsApp caps group sizes at 256 participants maximum. To have more than 256 people, you’d need to create multiple linked groups.
Comparing Group Control Options
| Option | How it Works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public, Open Group | Anyone can join via the shareable group link | Easy to share and add new members | No control over who joins |
| Invite-Only Group | Only invited members can join | Full control over new members | Harder to add new people |
| Approval Mode | New member requests must be approved | Maintains open group but vets members | Extra steps to approve members |
| Closed Group | Only manually added members | Maximum privacy and control | No way for members to join themselves |
As you can see, each group type has advantages and disadvantages. Choose the one that best fits your needs based on the amount of control you want versus join convenience.
Step-by-Step Guide to Manage Your Group
Follow this step-by-step guide to take full control of your WhatsApp group:
- Set your group to invite-only or approval mode – this prevents unwanted joins
- Share your join link selectively – don’t post it publicly on social media
- Review member list weekly – remove inactive or unwanted members
- Create closed groups for private chats with limited people
- Use admin tools – mute, pin, etc to manage interactions
- Communicate rules – set expectations for members about conduct
Following these tips will help ensure you retain full control over your WhatsApp groups and their membership. You’ll be able to maintain active, engaging groups that stay on topic.
Removing Inactive Members
Here are some best practices for removing inactive members from your WhatsApp group:
- First, warn members you plan to remove inactive users
- Clearly explain what “inactive” means, e.g. no posts for 30 days
- Slowly ramp up warnings before removing members
- Double check they are truly inactive before removing
- Let them know they can request to rejoin if engaged again
Some other tips:
- Keep notes on member activity level
- Remove members in batches vs all at once
- Be understanding of life events like vacations
- Thank valuable members who remain engaged
With patience and clear communication, pruning inactive members can improve group engagement and vitality over the long run.
WhatsApp Group Size Limit
WhatsApp has a maximum group size limit of 256 participants:
| 256 | Maximum members currently allowed |
| 100 | Maximum with all members admins |
If you try to add more members beyond the limit, you’ll get an error message that the group is full. Some tips to work around this:
- Remove inactive members to free up space
- Create multiple linked groups for larger teams
- Use WhatsApp broadcast lists to message large groups
While 256 is a decent size, very large groups can become chaotic and hard to manage anyway. Smaller, focused groups often work best.
How Do I Join a WhatsApp Group?
To join a WhatsApp group, you need to be invited by a current member or admin. There are a few ways this can happen:
- Get a private invite link from an admin and click it
- Get added directly by an admin
- Have an admin scan your QR code
- Find a joinable public group via search engines
If the group has approvals enabled, the admin will still have to approve your request after you try joining. You can’t join most groups on your own – you need that invite link or admin approval.
How to Generate a New Group Link
If your WhatsApp group link stops working, you may need to generate a new one. Here’s how:
On iPhone:
- Open the group and tap the group name
- Tap Invite Members > Regenerate Link
- Tap Generate Link to create new join link
On Android:
- Open the group and tap the group name
- Tap Group settings > Invite members
- Tap Regenerate link
This will give you a fresh invitation link to share for joining your WhatsApp group. Remember to share it selectively and enable approvals if needed.
Creating WhatsApp Broadcast Lists
If you need to message large groups of people on WhatsApp, broadcast lists are useful since groups max out at 256 members. Here’s how to make a broadcast list:
- Open the Chats tab in WhatsApp
- Tap New broadcast at the top
- Select all contacts to include
- Tap the checkmark to create the list
You can now send a broadcast message to your list. People can’t see each others’ numbers or reply privately.
Conclusion
WhatsApp groups are great for connecting with multiple people, but can get out of control without the right settings and management. As the admin, take steps to limit membership, prune inactive users, and structure discussions. With the proper controls, your group will thrive as an engaging community.