WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the key features of WhatsApp is the ability to create groups where you can communicate with multiple people at once.
Sometimes you may want to share a link to a particular WhatsApp group with someone else online, whether it’s a friend, family member, colleague, etc. However, WhatsApp does not provide a simple way to get a link to a group. So how do you go about sharing a link to your WhatsApp group online?
Why Would You Want to Share a WhatsApp Group Link?
Here are some common reasons you may want to share a link to your WhatsApp group online:
- Invite new members to join the group – Instead of manually adding each new member, you can simply send them the link.
- Promote your group – For example, if you have a WhatsApp group for your business, club, event, etc. you can promote it by sharing the link on your website, social media, etc.
- Temporarily add guests – You may want to temporarily allow guests to join the group by accessing the link, without necessarily adding them as permanent members.
- Switch devices – Share the group link with yourself to easily join the group when switching phones or reinstalling WhatsApp.
- Back up the group – Having the link provides a convenient back up to access the group again if needed.
How to Get the WhatsApp Group Link
There are two main ways to get the invite link for your WhatsApp group:
Using a Third Party App
The easiest way is to use a third party app that can generate a shareable link for your WhatsApp group. Some popular options include:
- Group Links for WhatsApp – Android app that quickly creates a group link. Provides customized links and advanced options.
- WhatsApp Group Link Generator – Web-based tool to create usable WhatsApp links. Easy to use with no registration needed.
- ShareChat – Social media platform in India that provides WhatsApp group link generation. Also creates links for other platforms.
- Kick Group Links – Simple website to generate public or private group invite links. Easy to use on both mobile and desktop.
The main advantage of using such apps and tools is that they provide a quick and straightforward way to get a usable WhatsApp group link. The process typically involves just entering your phone number and group details to generate a link instantly. The link can then be shared wherever needed online.
Creating Link Manually (Not Recommended)
Without a third party app, the only way to manually generate the link yourself is through the following process:
- Open the WhatsApp group and tap on the Group name at the top.
- Tap on the Group Info option.
- Tap on the Invite via link option.
- Enable the toggle for Generate link.
- A private link for the group will be generated. Tap on Copy link to copy it.
- The link can now be shared online with anyone you want to join the group.
The main disadvantage of this method is that it only provides a private link, not a public shareable one. Anyone wanting to join via the link would need approval from a group admin first. There is no option to create a public joinable link manually.
Types of WhatsApp Group Links
There are two main types of group links that can be generated:
Private Link
- This link can only be used by people who have received it directly from the group admin.
- Anyone trying to join via the link would need admin approval before being added.
- Useful for sharing selectively and maintaining control over who joins.
- Links can be reset or revoked by the admin when needed.
Public Link
- A public link allows anyone to directly join the group without admin approval.
- Useful for public groups where anyone can participate by simply clicking the link.
- Provides wider sharing of the group link since approval is not needed.
- Admins have fewer controls and links cannot be reset since they are public.
Third party apps typically provide options to generate both public and private links as per your requirements.
How to Share the WhatsApp Group Link
Once you have generated the WhatsApp group link using any of the methods described above, sharing it online is straightforward:
Via Social Media
Post the link directly on your social media profiles or pages to reach a wide audience instantly. For example share it on:
- Facebook – Post in Groups, Pages and directly on your Profile.
- Twitter – Tweet out the link to your followers.
- Instagram – Add the link in your Profile bio or post it in Stories/Posts.
- LinkedIn – Post or message the link to your connections.
- Snapchat – Share the invite link on your Snap Story or in Chats.
- TikTok – Add it to your Profile bio or post a video with the link.
Via Messaging Apps
Forward or share the WhatsApp group link using other messaging platforms:
- WhatsApp – Forward to existing chats or share in other WhatsApp Groups.
- Telegram – Share in groups/channels or forward to contacts.
- Signal – Instantly share with your Signal contacts.
- Messenger – Send through Facebook Messenger.
- iMessage – Share the link via iMessage on iOS devices.
Via Email
Email the invite link directly to contacts:
- Gmail – Draft a new email attaching the link or paste it in the email body.
- Outlook – Create a new email with the link to share.
- Yahoo – Compose an email with the link in the content.
- Apple Mail – Share the link via Email on MacOS / iOS.
- Other email clients – Most email apps and services allow you to share a link via email.
Via Websites
If you have a website or blog, you can include the WhatsApp group link within the content or share it prominently. For example:
- Add it to your Contact or About Us page.
- Include the link in your website header or footer.
- Insert it in an auto-generated response email.
- Add it to relevant website pages, posts and sections.
This allows visitors to discover and join your WhatsApp group easily.
QR Codes
Some third party tools allow you to generate a custom QR code for your WhatsApp group link. You can then share or distribute the QR code online or offline by:
- Adding it to your social media profiles.
- Embedding it on your website.
- Printing it on promotional materials like pamphlets and flyers.
- Displaying the QR code at physical events or locations.
Anyone who scans the code will be able to access and join your WhatsApp group instantly.
Best Practices for Sharing
Here are some tips to ensure good practices when sharing your WhatsApp group link online:
- Only share the link on platforms and communities relevant to your group’s purpose.
- Disable public links when group capacity is reached to avoid overcrowding.
- Revoke old links and keep generating new ones to improve security.
- Avoid posting public links on platforms with broad visibility unless intended.
- Always preview your group’s latest chat history before sharing a public link.
- Mention house rules and topics when publicly sharing the link for better engagement.
- Restrict membership when sharing private links to maintain exclusivity and privacy.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Group Links
Here are some common troubleshooting issues faced with WhatsApp group links and how to resolve them:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Link not working | Re-generate the link and re-share. Links expire over time. |
| Access denied on public link | The group admin may have changed the settings. Ask to re-enable public access. |
| Unable to create link | Update WhatsApp to the latest version. Older versions may lack link options. |
| Link keeps changing | For security, admins regenerate links frequently. Save latest links shared. |
| Can’t find Group Link option | Only group admins can generate invitation links. Ask an admin to share link. |
| Join requests not getting approved | Notify group admin to accept pending join requests. |
| Getting spammed after sharing link | Revoke old links, generate new private links and share more selectively. |
Conclusion
Sharing WhatsApp group links provides an easy way to expand the reach of your groups by allowing new members to conveniently join online. Using third party tools simplifies the process of generating customizable public or private links. While sharing the links, be mindful of best practices like security, exclusivity and preventing misuse based on your specific group’s purpose. With billions of users worldwide, WhatsApp groups continue to provide a popular platform for people to come together.