WhatsApp polls let you ask a question and get quick answers from a group or one-on-one chat
A poll in WhatsApp is a message that presents a question with multiple choice answers. Recipients tap their choice, and you see the results in real time. Polls work in both group chats and direct messages, though they're most useful in groups where you need input from several people at once. The feature is built into WhatsApp itself — you don't need a separate app or link.
WhatsApp polls are different from regular messages because they're designed to gather responses without cluttering the chat with individual replies. Everyone can see what others voted for, and you can change your vote after you've cast it. The poll stays in the chat history, so people can find it later if they need to.
Key Takeaways
- Open any WhatsApp chat, tap the plus icon or attachment button, and select "Poll" to start creating one.
- Type your question and add between two and twelve answer options, then send the poll to the chat.
- Recipients see the poll as a message they can tap to vote, and results update live as people respond.
- You can change your own vote after voting, but you cannot edit the poll question or options once it's sent.
How to create a poll on Android
On Android, open the WhatsApp chat where you want to send the poll. Tap the plus icon (or paperclip icon, depending on your version) at the bottom of the screen next to the message box. A menu appears with options including "Poll" — tap that option.
A new screen opens where you type your question at the top. Below that, you'll see two blank fields for answer options. Type your first answer, then your second. You can add up to ten more options by tapping the plus button below the second answer. WhatsApp requires at least two answers and allows up to twelve total.
Once you've entered your question and all the answers you want, tap "Create" or the send button. The poll appears in the chat as a message that everyone can see and vote on immediately.
How to create a poll on iPhone
On iPhone, open the chat and look for the plus icon to the left of the message box (or swipe up from the message box in newer versions). Tap it to see a menu of options, then select "Poll."
The poll creation screen works the same way as Android: type your question, fill in at least two answer options, and add more if you need them. The interface is identical, so the process takes the same steps. Tap "Create" when you're done, and the poll sends to the chat.
What happens after you send a poll
Once the poll is in the chat, everyone can see it immediately. They tap on the poll to vote, and their choice registers right away. The poll shows a running count of votes next to each answer, updated in real time as people respond. If someone changes their mind, they can tap a different answer to change their vote.
You can see who voted for what by tapping the poll and looking at the voter list. This is visible to everyone in the chat, not just you — there's no private voting. If you're the one who created the poll, you can vote just like anyone else, and you can change your vote as many times as you want.
Limits and things you cannot do with polls
Once you send a poll, you cannot edit the question or the answer options. If you made a typo or want to change an answer, you have to delete the poll message and create a new one. You also cannot add or remove answer options after sending — the poll is locked as soon as it goes out.
Polls work only in individual chats and groups. You cannot create a poll in a broadcast list or a channel. If you need to poll a large audience, you'll need to send the poll to a group instead. Polls also cannot include images, links, or formatting — just text for the question and text for each answer.
When polls are useful and when they're not
Polls work well for quick decisions: picking a meeting time, choosing a restaurant, voting on which movie to watch, or gathering opinions on a topic. They're fast because people vote with one tap instead of typing out responses. In a group of five or more people, a poll keeps the chat cleaner than asking a question and waiting for everyone to reply separately.
Polls are less useful when you need detailed feedback or explanations. If you ask "What should we do about the budget?" a poll with yes/no/maybe answers won't capture the nuance of what people actually think. For those conversations, regular messages work better. Polls also aren't anonymous — everyone sees who voted for what — so they're not ideal if you need private responses.
Privacy and what others can see
Everyone in the chat can see the poll, the question, all the answer options, and who voted for what. There is no way to make a poll private or anonymous in WhatsApp. If you're asking something sensitive, keep in mind that your vote is visible to everyone else in the group.
The poll itself is encrypted like any other WhatsApp message, so it's protected in transit. But once it's in the chat, anyone with access to that chat can see the full voting record. If privacy is important for what you're asking, consider using a different method or having the conversation outside the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see how many people voted but not who they voted for?
No. WhatsApp polls show both the vote count and the names of who voted for each option. There's no setting to hide voter names. If you need anonymous voting, you'll need to use a different tool outside of WhatsApp.
What if I accidentally voted for the wrong answer?
Tap the poll again and select a different answer. Your vote changes immediately, and the old vote is removed. You can change your vote as many times as you want before the poll closes or the conversation ends.
Can I delete a poll after I send it?
Yes. Long-press the poll message and select "Delete" or the trash icon. This removes it from the chat for everyone. You cannot edit a poll after sending it, so deleting and resending is the only way to fix a mistake.
Do polls work in group chats and direct messages?
Yes, polls work in both. You can send a poll to one person or to a group. The process is the same either way, though polls are more useful in groups where you're gathering input from multiple people.
What's the maximum number of answer options I can add?
WhatsApp allows up to twelve answer options per poll. You need at least two. If you need more than twelve options, you'll have to create multiple polls or ask the question a different way.