Creating a group in Messenger takes three steps: open a new chat, add the people you want, and give the group a name

Open Facebook Messenger on your phone or computer. Tap or click the pencil icon (or the "+" icon on some versions) to start a new message. Select Create a group from the menu. Then choose each person you want to add by tapping their name — you can add as many as you want, though Messenger works best with groups under 100 people. Once you've picked everyone, tap Next, type a name for the group, and tap Create. The group chat opens immediately and everyone you added will see it in their Messenger inbox.

The group name is optional — if you skip it, Messenger will show the members' names instead. You can change the name later by opening the group, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting Edit group name.

Key Takeaways

  • Start a new chat by tapping the pencil or "+" icon, then choose Create a group from the menu.
  • Add people one at a time by tapping their name; you can add as many as you want in a single group.
  • Give your group a name so everyone knows what it's for, or leave it blank and Messenger will list the members instead.
  • Everyone you add will see the group appear in their Messenger inbox right away, and they can start messaging immediately.

Adding people after you create the group

You don't have to add everyone at the moment you create the group. Open the group chat, tap the group name at the top, and scroll down to Add members. Tap it and select the people you want to add. They'll receive a notification that they've been added to the group.

If someone leaves the group or you want to remove them, open the group, tap the group name, scroll to the member list, and tap the person's name. You'll see an option to Remove from group. The person will be notified that they've been removed.

Changing group settings and notifications

Once the group exists, you can customize how it works. Open the group, tap the group name at the top, and you'll see options to change the group photo, edit the name, or mute notifications. Tap Notifications to choose whether you want alerts for every message, only mentions of your name, or no alerts at all.

You can also set a group photo by tapping the current photo icon. Choose an image from your phone's camera roll, or take a new photo. This helps everyone recognize the group at a glance in their chat list.

Pinning messages and managing group chat

In a group chat, you can pin important messages so everyone sees them at the top. Long-press (or right-click on desktop) any message, then tap Pin in chat. The message stays pinned until someone unpins it. This is useful for sharing deadlines, addresses, or decisions the group needs to remember.

You can also react to messages with emoji by long-pressing a message and choosing a reaction. Replies to specific messages appear as threads, keeping conversations organized when multiple topics are happening at once.

Group chat on desktop versus mobile

Creating and managing groups works the same way on the Messenger app and on Facebook's website, but the buttons are in slightly different places. On desktop, the pencil icon appears in the top left of the Messenger window. On mobile, it's usually at the bottom right. The steps after that — selecting people, naming the group, and changing settings — are identical.

If you're using Messenger on a web browser, you may see a "+" icon instead of a pencil icon. Click it and select Create a group the same way you would on mobile.

Leaving a group or deleting it

To leave a group, open it, tap the group name at the top, scroll down, and tap Leave group. You'll no longer see the group in your chat list, though you can still search for it if you need to find old messages. The group continues without you — other members won't be removed.

Messenger doesn't have a "delete group" button that removes it for everyone. If you're the only person left in a group, it will eventually disappear from your chat list. If you want to end a group conversation, you can remove all members one by one, but the simplest option is usually just to leave it yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone to a group without them knowing?

No. When you add someone to a group, they receive a notification and the group appears in their Messenger inbox. They'll see the group name, the other members, and any messages that were sent after they were added. They won't see messages from before they joined.

What's the maximum number of people I can add to a group?

Technically, Messenger allows very large groups, but the platform works best with groups under 100 people. Larger groups can become slow or hard to follow. If you need to reach many people, consider whether a Facebook page or event might work better for your purpose.

Can I make a group chat private so only certain people can see it?

Group chats in Messenger are private by default — only the people you add can see the messages. There's no option to make them more private than that. If you want to share something with just one person, use a direct message instead.

Can I change who created the group or transfer ownership?

Messenger doesn't have a formal "owner" or "admin" role for groups. Everyone in the group has equal ability to add people, change the name, and remove members. There's no way to give one person more control than others.

What happens to the group if I delete my Facebook account?

The group will remain for other members, but your messages will show as coming from a deleted account. Other members can continue using the group normally. If you want to remove your messages before deleting your account, you'll need to delete them individually.