Starting a group chat takes three steps
Open Messenger and tap the pencil icon (on iPhone) or the plus sign (on Android) at the top of your chat list. Select "New Group" or "Create Group". Type the names of the people you want to add — you can search by first name, last name, or username — then tap each person to add them. Give the group a name and tap "Create" or "Done".
The group chat appears in your chat list immediately. Everyone you added receives a notification that they have been added to the group, and they can start messaging right away. You do not need anyone's permission to create the group or add them to it.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the pencil icon (iPhone) or plus sign (Android) at the top of your chat list, then select "New Group" to begin.
- Search for people by name or username and tap each person you want to add to the group.
- Give the group a name before you create it, or you can name it later by opening the group and tapping the group name at the top.
- Everyone in the group sees all messages sent after they were added, but not messages sent before.
- You can add or remove people from an existing group at any time by opening the group and tapping the members list.
How to add people after you create the group
Open the group chat and tap the group name at the top of the screen. Scroll down to "Members" and tap "Add Members" or the plus icon next to the member count. Search for the person you want to add and tap their name. They will be added immediately and will see a notification.
You can add as many people as you want to a group. There is no hard limit, though very large groups (over 500 people) may load more slowly. If you created the group, you can remove people the same way — open the group, tap the member's name, and select "Remove from Group".
Naming and renaming your group
When you create a group, you can type a name before you tap "Create". If you skip this step, Messenger automatically names the group after the first few members — for example, "You, Sarah, and Marcus". You can change this name at any time.
To rename a group, open the chat and tap the group name at the top. Tap "Edit Group Name" or the pencil icon next to the current name. Type the new name and tap "Save" or "Done". Everyone in the group will see the new name immediately.
Setting a group photo and other group details
Open the group chat and tap the group name at the top. You will see options to add a group photo, change the theme color, or turn on notifications. Tap "Add Photo" or the camera icon to upload an image from your phone or take a new one. The photo appears as the group's avatar in your chat list.
You can also customize the chat theme by tapping "Theme" and choosing a color or emoji. These changes are visible only to you — other members see the group with their own theme choices. To control notifications, tap "Notifications" and choose whether to get alerts for every message, important messages only, or none at all.
Removing yourself from a group
Open the group chat and tap the group name at the top. Scroll down and tap "Leave Group". You will be removed from the chat immediately and will no longer see messages sent to that group. The other members will see a notification that you left.
Once you leave, you cannot see the group in your chat list anymore. If someone adds you back later, you will only see messages sent after you were re-added. You will not be able to read the conversation history from before you left.
Troubleshooting common group chat problems
If you cannot find the "New Group" option, make sure you are using the latest version of Messenger. Go to your phone's app store (Google Play on Android, App Store on iPhone) and check for updates. Close Messenger completely and reopen it, then try again.
If someone you added does not see the group, ask them to check their "Message Requests" folder — sometimes new group invitations land there instead of the main chat list. They can tap "Accept" to move the group to their regular chats. If the group still does not appear, have them restart Messenger or reinstall the app.
If you cannot add a specific person, they may have blocked you, turned off message requests from people outside their friends list, or deactivated their account. You will not be able to add them until they change these settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a group chat with just two people?
Yes, but Messenger calls it a group chat rather than a one-on-one conversation. You can create a group with two members if you want to use group features like a shared group name or theme. Most people use regular one-on-one chats for two people because they work the same way.
What happens if I add someone to a group without asking them first?
They receive a notification that they have been added and can see all messages sent after that point. They can leave the group at any time by tapping the group name and selecting "Leave Group". There is no way to prevent someone from being added without their consent.
Can I see messages sent before I was added to a group?
No. When you are added to a group, you only see messages sent after that moment. You cannot view the conversation history from before you joined. If you need to know what was discussed, ask someone in the group to fill you in.
Is there a limit to how many people I can add to a group?
Messenger does not have a strict limit, but groups with hundreds of members may load slowly or have performance issues. For most purposes, groups with 50 or fewer people work smoothly. If you need to reach a very large audience, consider using a Facebook page or community instead.
Can I delete a group chat?
You can leave the group, which removes it from your chat list, but you cannot delete the group itself for everyone. The group continues to exist for other members. If you want to end a group conversation, you can leave and ask others to do the same, but the group will remain unless everyone leaves.