Group admins control the group: who can send messages, who can change the name and photo, who can add people, and whether new members need approval. All of this is in the group's info screen under Group permissions (Android) or Group settings (iPhone).
Open the admin settings
- Open the group chat.
- Tap the group name at the top to open Group info.
- Scroll down and tap Group permissions on Android, or Group settings on iPhone. Only admins see the switches; other members can only read them.
What each setting does
- Edit group settings: when it is off, only admins can change the group name, photo and description (and some other settings). Turn it off to stop pranks like renaming the group.
- Send new messages: when it is off, only admins can post. This turns the group into an announcement board, useful for schools, societies and shops.
- Add other members: when it is off, only admins can add people.
- Approve new members: when it is on, anyone who joins with the invite link waits in a list until an admin taps approve. You see the requests in Group info under Pending participants or a similar banner.
Menu names can differ a little between app versions. If you can't find a switch, look for it with a similar name in the same screen.
Make someone an admin or remove admin rights
- Open Group info and scroll to the members list.
- Tap the person's name.
- Tap Make group admin. To undo it later, tap the person again and choose Dismiss as admin.
The person who created the group can't be removed as admin by other admins on most versions. Keep at least two admins so the group still works if one person leaves or loses their phone.
Remove a member
- Open Group info and tap the member's name.
- On Android tap Remove (it may show the name, for example "Remove Ravi"). On iPhone tap Remove From Group.
- Confirm. The group sees a short notice that the person was removed.
Delete a message for everyone as an admin
Admins can delete other people's messages in the group: press and hold the message › tap the bin icon › Delete for everyone. The group then shows that an admin deleted it. See also deleting messages.
If it doesn't work
- You don't see the switches: you are not an admin. Ask an admin to make you one.
- Changes don't show for others: they may be on an old version of WhatsApp. Ask them to update from the Play Store or App Store.
- Someone keeps rejoining: reset the invite link (see invite links) and turn on Approve new members.
Safety tip
Give admin rights only to people you know in real life. An admin can remove everyone, including you if you are not the creator, and can change the group name to something harmful.
This is GroupChatOn’s own easy guide. We are not WhatsApp and are not linked with WhatsApp or Meta. WhatsApp sometimes changes its menus: if a button looks different on your phone, update WhatsApp from the Play Store or App Store.
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