WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. WhatsApp groups allow you to communicate with multiple people at once by adding them to a group chat. If you want to add someone new to your existing WhatsApp group, it’s a quick and easy process.
Prerequisites for Adding Someone to a WhatsApp Group
Before adding someone to a WhatsApp group, there are a few prerequisites:
- You need to be a group admin of the WhatsApp group you want to add people to. Only admins can add new participants.
- You need the mobile number of the person you want to add. WhatsApp requires a phone number to set up an account.
- The person you’re adding should have WhatsApp installed on their phone.
Steps to Add a New Person to an Existing WhatsApp Group
Follow these simple steps to add a new member to your WhatsApp group:
- Open the WhatsApp group you want to add someone to.
- Tap on the Group name at the top of the screen to open the Group info screen.
- Tap on the Add participants option.
- A list of your WhatsApp contacts will appear. Tap on the contact you want to add to the group.
- Tap on the Add button at the bottom to send an invite to the contact.
That’s it! The invite will be sent as a private WhatsApp message to that person. They can then accept the invite to join your group.
How to Add Someone to WhatsApp Group Via Invite Link
Apart from adding members manually, you can also generate a group invite link and share it with the person you want to add:
- Go to the WhatsApp group and tap on the group name.
- Tap on Invite via link option.
- Tap on Generate link. This will create a private link for the group.
- Tap on Share link. Choose how you want to share the link via WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.
- Send the link to the person you want to add.
The advantage of using invite links is that you can share it with multiple people at once. Anyone with the link can directly join the group without needing admin approval.
How to Add Someone to WhatsApp Group Via QR Code
You can also use a QR code to add someone to a WhatsApp group:
- Open the WhatsApp group and tap on the group name.
- Tap on Invite via QR code.
- Point your phone’s camera at the QR code to scan it.
- The WhatsApp group link will open. Tap on JOIN GROUP.
The person you want to add just needs to scan this QR code using their phone’s camera and they will be instantly added to the group.
Tips for Adding New Members to a WhatsApp Group
Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when adding people to WhatsApp groups:
- Only add people who you know want to be a part of the group. Don’t spam add numbers.
- Mention in the group once you’ve added someone new so other members are aware.
- Set group rules and remind members to follow them when adding new people.
- Don’t overwhelm new members by adding too many people at once.
- If someone wants to leave, allow them to exit gracefully.
How Many Members Can Be in a WhatsApp Group?
WhatsApp has the following group size limits:
| Group Type | Maximum Members |
|---|---|
| Regular group | 256 members |
| Broadcast list | 256 members |
Once the maximum limit is reached, you will not be able to add any more members to that WhatsApp group.
Can You Add Someone to a WhatsApp Group Without Admin Rights?
No, only administrators of a WhatsApp group can add new members. Non-admin members cannot add or remove people from the group. If you want to get admin privileges, you have to request the group admin to grant you admin rights.
How Does a New Member Know They Were Added to a WhatsApp Group?
When a new member is added to a WhatsApp group, they receive a private message with details about the group.
This message will show who added them, the group name, and the list of current group participants. They can then choose to join the group by tapping on the message. If they do not want to join, they can simply ignore the message.
Can You Be Added to a WhatsApp Group Without Your Consent?
Yes, it is possible to be added to a WhatsApp group without your consent if someone adds your number. When you get the “You were added” message, you have the choice to exit the group if you do not wish to participate.
To avoid this, you can change your WhatsApp privacy settings to control who can add you to groups. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy and disable “Groups” to restrict unauthorized adds.
How to Remove Someone From a WhatsApp Group
If you need to remove someone from a WhatsApp group as an admin, here is how to do it:
- Open the group and tap on the group name/photo.
- Go to Group Members and tap on the member you want to remove.
- Tap Remove [member name].
- Confirm removing the member when prompted.
The member will immediately be removed from the group once they receive the confirmation message. As admin, you can remove any member at any time.
What Happens When You Remove Someone From a WhatsApp Group?
Here is what happens when you remove someone from WhatsApp group:
- The removed member will no longer be able to send or receive any messages in the group.
- All previous messages from that member remain in the group chat history.
- The removed member’s name is deleted from the group participants list.
- Although removed, the person’s number will still be part of the admin’s contacts list.
- Other group members are notified when someone is removed with a message saying “[Name] was removed from the group”.
Can a Removed Member Rejoin WhatsApp Group?
No, once a member is removed from a WhatsApp group they cannot rejoin the group on their own. Only a group admin can add removed members back to the WhatsApp group manually.
Even if the removed member is sent a new group invite link, they will not be able to rejoin using that link. The admin has to personally add them back via their contact number.
Conclusion
Adding new members to a WhatsApp group is quick and convenient for group admins. With just a few taps, you can add someone to your group using their contact number, group link invite, or QR code. Make sure to only add relevant people who want to join the group and follow proper etiquette.
Remember that only admins have the ability to add or remove members. Explain group rules to new members and remind existing ones to keep the conversations helpful for everyone in the WhatsApp group.