WhatsApp’s broadcast feature allows you to send a message to multiple contacts at once, rather than having to select each contact individually. This can save a lot of time when you need to send the same information to a group of people.
How does broadcasting work on WhatsApp?
To broadcast on WhatsApp, you first need to create a broadcast list. This is a list of contacts that you want to send the broadcast message to. You can add individual contacts, or even add entire groups to your broadcast list.
Once your broadcast list is created, you can compose a message as normal within WhatsApp. When you go to send the message, rather than selecting an individual contact or group, you select the broadcast list. This will send your message to all contacts on the broadcast list.
Some key things to know about WhatsApp broadcasting:
- You can create multiple broadcast lists for different purposes (e.g. family, friends, work colleagues etc)
- There is no limit on the number of people you can add to a broadcast list
- Anyone who you send a broadcast to will be able to see the other recipients
- If you make changes to your broadcast list, it will update for future messages but not retroactively
Creating a WhatsApp broadcast list
Follow these steps to create a new broadcast list on WhatsApp:
- Open the WhatsApp app and tap on the Calls tab
- Tap on the Calls tab at the top and select “New broadcast”
- You will be presented with your contacts list. Tap each contact you want to add to the broadcast.
- Once finished selecting contacts, tap “Create” in the top right
- Name your broadcast list something descriptive
- Tap “Create” again to save your new broadcast list
Your new broadcast list will now be saved and accessible any time you want to send a broadcast message.
Sending a WhatsApp broadcast message
Once you’ve created a broadcast list, sending a broadcast is simple:
- Open your WhatsApp chat
- Tap the pencil icon to compose a new message
- Instead of selecting a contact, tap the broadcast list you want to message
- Type your message as normal
- Hit send!
Your message will now quickly deliver to each recipient on your broadcast list. Keep in mind that every recipient will see who else receives the broadcast.
Adding or removing contacts from a broadcast
It’s easy to make changes to your broadcast lists in WhatsApp:
- To add someone, tap the broadcast list name, then “Add Recipient”
- To remove someone, tap the broadcast list name, tap their name, then “Remove”
Updates only apply to future messages sent, not existing ones.
Differences between broadcasting and groups
While WhatsApp groups and broadcast lists can seem similar, there are some notable differences:
| Broadcast Lists | WhatsApp Groups |
|---|---|
| Recipients can only receive messages, not reply | Everyone in the group can reply and engage in discussion |
| Only you can send messages | All members can send messages |
| No shared media between recipients | Media shared is visible to the entire group |
| Message is delivered to each recipient individually | Group message is delivered in a group chat window |
In summary, broadcast lists are best for one way announcements, while groups are better for discussions.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp broadcasts
If you’re having issues with sending WhatsApp broadcasts, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Message failed to send
- Ensure you have an active internet connection on your device
- Check if the recipient’s number is entered correctly in your contacts
- Make sure your broadcast list doesn’t exceed 256 members
- Try removing the recipient and adding them back into the broadcast list
Some recipients not receiving message
- Tap on the broadcast list to see delivery status of each recipient
- Tap “Resend” next to any recipients with a failed status
- The recipient may have you blocked or not have WhatsApp installed
Recipient replies appearing in chat
- This means you accidentally sent to them directly, not via broadcast
- Open the broadcast list and resend the message
Still having issues? Try force closing the WhatsApp app and reopening it. This often resolves temporary glitches.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s broadcast list feature provides a convenient way to get information out to groups of people with just a few taps. By setting up broadcast lists ahead of time, you can quickly message your chosen recipients without hassling with individual conversations.
Broadcasts are ideal for announcements and alerts, while groups are better suited to discussions. Make sure to follow WhatsApp’s best practices around privacy when creating broadcast lists.
With an understanding of how WhatsApp broadcasting works, you can now use it to more efficiently communicate with the people that matter!