Quick Answer
To add someone to a WhatsApp group and allow them to see the previous chat history, you need to be the admin of the group. Open the group chat, tap on the group name at the top, then tap “Add participants”. Select the contact you want to add from your contacts list. Once they’ve been added, tap on their name in the participant list, then “Send chat history”. This will send them the last few messages from the group chat so they can catch up on what they missed before joining.
Explaining the WhatsApp Group Chat Feature
WhatsApp group chats allow you to communicate with multiple people at once in the same conversation thread. When you create a WhatsApp group or get added to one, all members can see and participate in the group chat. This makes it easy to coordinate plans, share information, or just generally keep in touch with family, friends, coworkers, or any other group.
Some key features of WhatsApp group chats include:
- Up to 256 participants can be added to a single group.
- All members can see messages from everyone else in the chat.
- You can name and customize the group chat.
- Admins can add or remove participants.
- You can share photos, videos, documents, and other media.
- Group members can reply with text, emojis, voice messages, and more.
- Read receipts allow you to see if your message has been viewed.
WhatsApp groups are end-to-end encrypted, so the conversations stay private to only the members. This makes it more secure than group SMS texting. Overall, WhatsApp group chats provide a simple yet powerful way to connect multiple contacts in one place.
Adding New Members to a WhatsApp Group
When you create a new WhatsApp group chat, you can immediately add participants by selecting contacts. However, you may want to add someone new later on after the group has already been used for a while. Here are the steps for adding members to an existing WhatsApp group:
- Open the WhatsApp group chat that you want to add someone to.
- Tap on the group name at the top of the screen to open the group details.
- Tap on “Add participants” to view your contacts list.
- Check the box next to each contact you want to add to select them.
- Tap “Add” when finished selecting all the new members.
You can repeat this process to keep adding new people over time. As the group admin, only you will have the ability to add members – other participants can’t add or remove people.
Sending Chat History to New Members
When someone new joins a WhatsApp group, they won’t automatically see the previous messages from before they were added. To allow new members to read the earlier parts of the conversation, the admin needs to send them the chat history. Here’s how:
- Add the new member to the WhatsApp group through the steps above.
- Once they appear in the participant list, tap on their name to open their contact profile.
- Tap “Send chat history” which will share a summary of recent messages.
- Adjust the time period back to when you want the history to start, then send.
The new member will then receive all those earlier messages in rapid succession as if the conversation had just happened. This catches them up so they have context on what had been previously discussed in the group.
The amount of chat history shared can be customized – you don’t have to send everything since the beginning of the group if it’s been a long time. Find a logical point to provide relevant context for the new member.
Who Can Add Members to a WhatsApp Group?
On WhatsApp, group control settings are tied to admin status:
- Group Admins – Can add new members, remove members, change group settings
- Group Participants – Cannot add or remove members, limited permissions
When a group is first created, the person who started the group is the original admin. Only they will have the ability to add members at first. However, admin privileges can be transferred to others.
To make someone else an admin:
- Open the Group Details
- Tap their name in the participant list
- Select “Make Group Admin” to grant permissions
Now multiple people can control the group. But removing admin status prevents that member from adding new participants.
Generally the creator starts as the sole admin, then adds trusted contacts as co-admins for broader group management. Participants without admin rights cannot add members directly.
Steps to Add Admins to a WhatsApp Group
Follow these steps to give other members admin privileges for your WhatsApp group:
- Open the group chat and tap on the group name to view info.
- Tap on the current list of participants.
- Tap on the name of the person you want to make admin.
- Tap “Make Admin” which will grant them permissions.
You can repeat this to add multiple admins. All group admins will then have the ability to:
- Add or remove participants.
- Change the group’s icon, name, description.
- Pin messages to the top of the chat.
- Enable disappearing messages.
It’s a good idea to have more than one admin in case the original creator leaves the group or deletes their account. Multiple admins help ensure smooth transitions when changes need to be made.
Being a group admin also carries more responsibility. Admins should act respectfully when managing members and settings. With great power comes great responsibility!
Requirements to Add Someone to a WhatsApp Group
There are a few key requirements both for the person adding a new member to a WhatsApp group and the contact being added:
- The person adding must be a group admin.
- The contact must be in the phone’s contacts list.
- The contact must have an active WhatsApp account.
First, only admins have the ability to add members. If you try adding someone as a regular participant, it will fail.
Second, the contact must exist in the phone’s contacts list with a valid mobile number. WhatsApp links contacts using phone numbers, so there needs to be a number associated with the invitee.
Finally, the person being added must have an active WhatsApp account. If the contact doesn’t yet use WhatsApp, they can download it and register using the same mobile number in order to join groups.
Essentially, being in each other’s networks is key. It won’t work to add someone randomly who isn’t already a contact. Following these requirements allows successfully onboarding new members.
Troubleshooting Issues Adding WhatsApp Contacts
Sometimes issues pop up when trying to add a contact to WhatsApp. Here are some common problems and troubleshooting tips:
Can’t find the contact: They may not exist in your phone’s contacts list. Add their number first before trying to add to a group.
Invalid number error: Double check you entered their number correctly and they registered using that number.
Contact not on WhatsApp: Invite them to download the app and register with their phone number.
Contact has invalid number: Their registered WhatsApp number may have changed. Ask them to update their info.
Access denied: You may lack admin permissions in the group. Ask an admin to add the member instead.
Group full: WhatsApp groups are limited to 256 participants max. The group will need to remove inactive members to make space.
Banned member: Previously banned members cannot be added again. This restriction must be reset by an admin in group settings.
Following proper procedures and checking settings typically resolves most new member issues. Make sure to get admin help if your app lacks permissions.
How to Add Someone to WhatsApp Using a Group Link
Along with directly adding members, WhatsApp also offers invitation links to join groups. Here’s how they work:
- Admins can generate a group link under Group Settings > Add Member > Generate Link.
- They share this link with the contact they want to add.
- The invitee clicks on the link to join the group directly.
Group links provide a quick way to bring people on board. However, it’s less secure since anyone with the link can join. For better control, most admins stick to manual adding using contacts lists.
Some benefits of group links include:
- Don’t need someone’s number to add them.
- Faster way to add multiple new people.
- Great for public groups that want open membership.
Drawbacks involve less oversight, spam risks, and more chances of unwanted members joining. Evaluate whether an open or closed group suits your needs.
Allowing Only Admins to Add Members
For more controlled group membership, WhatsApp lets you restrict adding members to just admins:
- Open the Group info by tapping the group name.
- Go into Group Settings.
- Tap on Add Members.
- Enable “Only admins can add members”.
Now participants won’t see the Add Member option. This limits new additions to approved admins only.
You can still generate a group link for quick adding, but it’s best to disable this after initial setup:
- Go back into Group Settings.
- Tap on Generate Invite Link.
- Select Revoke Link to disable.
Revoking the invite link and restricting member adding secures your WhatsApp group. Participants can request to add someone, but admins stay in charge of approvals.
Conclusion
Adding new members is easy for WhatsApp group admins. Simply open group details, tap “Add Participants”, and select the contacts you want to include. Once added, use the “Send chat history” option to get them caught up on previous messages.
Manage group membership carefully. Add other trusted contacts as co-admins to help with moderation and growth. Set permissions so only admins can admit new participants for more control.
WhatsApp groups thrive when you build an engaged community. Welcoming new additions following proper procedures helps ensure a fun, productive, and secure environment.