WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. WhatsApp groups allow people to communicate and collaborate with multiple users at once. Each WhatsApp group has one or more admins who manage the group and have control over certain settings.
One common question people have is whether it’s possible to change the group admin in WhatsApp. The short answer is yes, the original group admin can pass on the admin role to someone else in the group. Here’s a more in-depth look at how to change WhatsApp group admins.
Overview of WhatsApp Group Admins
When a WhatsApp group is first created, the person who creates it becomes the original admin. The admin has the ability to:
- Add and remove participants
- Change the group’s icon, name and description
- Pin messages to the top of the chat
- Enable disappearing messages
The admin essentially oversees the group and has moderation abilities. Being the admin gives a certain level of power over how the WhatsApp group functions.
Passing Admin Rights to Someone Else
While there can only be one original admin, that person has the ability to pass on admin rights to someone else in the group. This gives control of the WhatsApp group to a different participant without having to recreate the group.
To change the admin, the current admin needs to open the WhatsApp group and tap on the Group Info or Group Settings. There will be a list of the current participants; the admin simply needs to tap on the name of the person they want to make admin and select “Make Admin.”
The original admin will remain an admin after making someone else an admin. There is no limit to how many other people can also be given admin privileges. However, the original admin is the only one who can remove admin rights from others.
Steps to Make Someone Else Admin
- Original admin opens the WhatsApp group
- Taps on Group Info/Settings
- Opens list of Participants
- Taps on the contact they want to make admin
- Selects option to “Make Admin”
It’s that simple! The person who was given admin rights will now have the same abilities as the original admin from now on.
Removing Admin Privileges
If an admin wants to remove someone else’s admin status in the group, they can do so through the same Group Info/Settings. Next to each participant’s name, there will be an indication if they are an admin. The original admin simply needs to tap “Remove Admin” to take away privileges.
The only exception is that no one can remove admin privileges from the original admin who created the group. The original admin will always retain control over the WhatsApp group.
Steps to Remove Admin Rights
- Original admin opens Group Info/Settings
- Tap on name of admin they want to demote
- Select option to Remove Admin
After completing these steps, that participant will no longer be a group admin. Only the original admin who created the group has the power to add or revoke admin rights.
Transferring Original Admin Status
Some WhatsApp group admins may eventually want to transfer the original admin status to someone else and leave the group. Unfortunately, there is no direct way for the first admin to officially transfer their role entirely.
However, there is a workaround. They can make someone else an admin, then leave the group. The other admin will retain their privileges. While they won’t technically be the “original” admin, they will have the same abilities.
The new admin can then add the old admin back to the group if desired. But the old admin won’t have any special powers since they weren’t the one who created the group. The new admin will have full control.
Unofficial Steps to Transfer Original Admin Status
- Original admin makes another person an admin
- Original admin leaves the WhatsApp group
- New admin adds old admin back to the group (optional)
- New admin now has control over the group as the main admin
What Happens if Admin Leaves on Their Own
If an original WhatsApp group admin chooses to leave the group on their own, here is what will happen:
- All other admins in the group will remain as admins.
- The first person who was given admin rights by the original admin will become the new original admin.
- If there are no other admins, the first member who joined will gain admin rights.
- If the original admin wants to rejoin, they’ll no longer have admin privileges.
Essentially, the “power” will transfer to the next qualified person. When an original admin leaves, someone has to gain control over the group, even if the transfer isn’t official.
Removing Yourself as Admin
An original WhatsApp group admin can remove their own admin rights, but they must first assign another admin to take over. Here are the steps:
- Go to Group Info/Settings and make another person an admin
- Tap on your own name and select Remove Admin
At this point, you will no longer be an admin. The other admin you assigned will become the main admin. You will not be able to regain admin privileges since you were the original admin.
Conclusion
Changing the group admin is possible in WhatsApp through the Group Info/Settings. The original admin can pass on the torch by making other participants admins or removing those privileges entirely. While there can only be one original admin, admin rights can be given to multiple participants.
The only way to fully transfer original admin status is for that person to leave and have the next main admin take over the group. Overall, manipulating WhatsApp group admins is fairly straightforward for those with the proper authority.
| Action | Steps |
|---|---|
| Make Another Participant an Admin |
|
| Remove Admin Privileges |
|
| Unofficially Transfer Original Admin Status |
|
In summary, WhatsApp group admins hold important powers over groups they manage. But proper procedures must be followed to shift that control from one person to another. While convoluted, transferring the original admin status is possible.
WhatsApp groups rely on admins to moderate conversations, manage settings, add/remove people, and take overall responsibility for the group. That’s why understanding how to change WhatsApp group admins is useful knowledge to have!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can there be more than one original admin?
No, each WhatsApp group can only have one original admin who first created the group. However, that person can give official admin privileges to multiple other participants. But the original admin remains the only one with full control.
What if I’m the only admin and I leave the group?
If you’re the original or only current admin of a WhatsApp group and you voluntarily leave, the first member who joined the group after you will automatically become admin. If there are no other members, the group will be deleted entirely.
Can I give someone else official original admin rights?
Unfortunately, there is no direct way to officially pass on the original admin status to another person. Even if you leave and put someone else in charge, you will always be the original admin in WhatsApp’s system. The only way to fully transfer power is to have the new admin take over unofficially when you leave.
What happens if I delete a group as admin?
If you delete a WhatsApp group as the admin, the group will be permanently deleted and inaccessible for all participants. No one will be able to retrieve the group unless it is backed up on someone’s device and recreated from scratch.
Can I find out who the original admin is?
There is currently no way to tell who the very first admin of a WhatsApp group was once that person has left. The only indication will be which current admin has the ability to add or remove other admins. But there is no definitive indicator.
WhatsApp Group Admin Best Practices
To ensure a WhatsApp group thrives, the admin(s) should follow these best practices:
- Establish group rules and etiquette from the start
- Act swiftly when group guidelines are violated
- Avoid spam messages and encourage valuable discussions
- Don’t forward fake news or misinformation
- Regularly clear out old media and files to save space
- Enable privacy settings and disabled links if needed
- Respect members’ boundaries and communication preferences
Following these principles will help WhatsApp group admins properly manage active groups. Maintaining strong policies and engagement is key to healthy online communities.
WhatsApp Tips and Tricks
Beyond just manipulating admin roles, there are many helpful tricks all WhatsApp users should know. Here are some of the top tips for improving your messaging experience:
- Pin important conversations to the top of your chat list
- Star messages you want to easily refer back to later
- Forward messages privately to a contact instead of a group
- Hide your online status and profile photo from specific people
- Back up conversations to Google Drive to restore chat history
- Bold, italicize, and strikethrough text to emphasize words
- Send GIFs, documents, contacts, and location in chats
Mastering these WhatsApp tips will enhance how you navigate conversations. You’ll become a pro at chatting in no time!
Conclusion
WhatsApp groups are a staple of how people communicate today. Learning how to properly manage groups as an admin is crucial to creating a positive environment. Similarly, understanding how admin roles are transferred gives you more control.
Now you know how to change WhatsApp group admins by granting privileges or removing them. While the original admin status is permanent, workarounds do exist. Use your admin powers wisely as you enforce the rules and keep conversations constructive!