What Does Edit Group Admin Mean on WhatsApp?
The “Edit Group Admin” feature on WhatsApp allows the creator or admin of a WhatsApp group to change the other admin(s) in that group. When a WhatsApp group is created, the person who creates it automatically becomes the admin. The admin has the ability to add other participants as admin and remove admin privileges as well. The Edit Group Admin feature gives the admin the control to modify who else has admin rights in the group.
Adding a New Admin
To add a new admin to a WhatsApp group as an admin, the current admin can tap on the group name at the top of the chat window to open the Group Info screen. At the bottom of the screen there is an “Edit group info” option. Tapping on this will open a screen with various options like changing the group icon, name, description etc. One of the options here is “Edit group admins”.
Tapping on the “Edit group admins” option will open a list of all current participants in the group with a toggle switch next to their names. The admin can tap on the toggle switch next to a participant’s name to toggle their admin status on or off. Toggling it on for any participant will make them an admin for the group in addition to the current admin(s). Multiple users can be made admins through this method.
Removing Admin Privileges
To remove admin privileges from a participant who currently has admin rights, the process is the same. The current admin can go to the Group Info screen, tap on “Edit group admins” and then simply toggle off the switch next to the name of the admin they want to demote. This will remove their admin privileges and make them a regular participant.
It’s important to note that the creator of the group cannot be removed as an admin by any other admin. Only the group creator will always retain the admin role. But all other admins can be edited or removed as required.
Why Edit Group Admins?
Here are some common reasons why the Edit Group Admin feature is useful in WhatsApp groups:
- Adding new admins – When a group grows, having multiple admins to manage it is helpful. New trusted participants can be made admins.
- Removing inactive admins – If an existing admin becomes inactive, their privileges can be revoked.
- Banning abusive admins – Admins who misuse privileges can be demoted by the group creator.
- Changing responsibilities – Rotating admin duties among active members keeps things efficient.
In summary, the Edit Group Admin feature enables the admin team of a WhatsApp group to be modified over time as per the evolving needs of the group. It provides flexibility in assigning and revoking admin privileges within a group.
How to Use the Edit Group Admin Feature in WhatsApp
WhatsApp has made it very easy to use the Edit Group Admin feature for your groups. Just follow these simple steps:
On Android Phones
- Open the WhatsApp group and tap on the group name at the top of the screen
- Tap on “Edit group info”
- Tap on “Edit group admins”
- A list of all participants will open with toggle switch next to their names
- Toggle the switch ON next to anyone you want to make admin
- Toggle the switch OFF next to existing admins to remove their privileges
- Tap OK to confirm the changes
On iPhones
- Open the WhatsApp group and tap on the group name
- Tap on “Info”
- Scroll down and tap “Edit admins”
- Tap the plus icon next to anyone to make them an admin
- Tap the X icon next to existing admins to remove their privileges
- Tap Done to confirm changes
That’s it! The steps are very straightforward on both Android and iOS devices. Just remember that only the group creator can edit the admin list, no one else can modify it.
Some Key Points About Editing Admins
Here are some important things to keep in mind about utilizing the Edit Group Admin feature:
Only Admins Can Edit Admins
The ability to add or remove admins is available only to the current admin(s) of the group. Regular participants without the admin role cannot edit the admin list.
Creator Remains Admin
The person who created the group remains an admin regardless of any other changes. The group creator cannot be removed as an admin.
Notify Users About Status Change
When changing a participant’s admin status, it’s best to notify them over chat. Since there is no automatic notification, a quick message avoids confusion.
Admins Can Add or Revoke Admins
Any existing admin can add more admins or revoke admin rights of others. No approval is needed from the group creator.
Edit Only If Necessary
Avoid changing the admin list frequently without reason. Having a stable set of admins is good for group management.
Admins Can Make Changes Anonymously
The WhatsApp interface does not show who made admin edits. It just shows “Admin” as the changer.
Pros and Cons of Multiple Admins
Adding multiple admins for a WhatsApp group has both advantages and disadvantages. The group creator should carefully consider these before modifying admin privileges.
Potential Advantages
- Share management workload for large groups
- Admins can be in different time zones to cover more hours
- Additional trustworthy members can help moderate conversations
- Temporary admins can manage groups for specific events
Potential Disadvantages
- Too many admins could lead to confusion
- Admins may override or contradict decisions of other admins
- More admins increase chances of misuse of privileges
- Difficult to coordinate actions of multiple admins
The advantages often outweigh the disadvantages for larger groups. But for smaller groups, having just 1 or 2 admins is likely sufficient and ideal.
Best Practices for Multiple WhatsApp Group Admins
If you are adding multiple admins for your WhatsApp group, keep these best practices in mind:
- Start with just 1-2 additional admins
- Designate specific roles and duties for each admin
- Maintain open channels of communication between all admins
- Don’t make drastic changes without consulting other admins
- Agree on rules of conduct and etiquette for members
- Temporarily add admins only when required
- Remove inactive or uncooperative admins if needed
Following these practices will help prevent issues that can arise from having too many unfocused admins. Maintain a lean and active admin team for best results.
WhatsApp Group Admin Powers and Limitations
Here is a quick overview of key powers as well as limitations of WhatsApp group admins:
Powers of Group Admins
- Add new members
- Remove existing members
- Edit group info like name, icon, description
- Edit group admins
- Ban members from posting in group
- Delete messages in group chats
- Promote the group by sharing invite link
Limitations of Group Admins
- Cannot view deleted messages
- Cannot edit messages of other members
- Cannot remove creator from group
- Cannot access personal info of members
- Cannot determine message forwarding outside group
WhatsApp tries to strike a balance by providing useful admin powers while also limiting the potential for misuse. Understanding these capacities helps optimize group management.
Conclusion
The Edit Group Admin feature on WhatsApp empowers admins to easily modify the administrative team for their groups. Adding or removing other participants as admins should be done when truly required and not unnecessarily. Having multiple admins can be beneficial for larger groups provided coordination and communication is maintained between them. Following best practices while utilizing this feature will lead to effective group management.