Creating a group starts with opening a chat and adding multiple people at once

To create a Snapchat group, open the app and tap the chat icon at the bottom left. Then tap the compose icon (a pencil and paper) in the top right corner. Type the names of the people you want to add, or scroll through your contacts and tap each person individually. Snapchat lets you add up to 32 people to a single group. Once you've selected everyone, tap "Create" and your group chat will appear in your chat list.

The group doesn't need a name to function — Snapchat automatically names it based on the first few people you added. You can change this name later by opening the group, tapping the group name at the top, and selecting "Edit Group Name." The new name will show for everyone in the chat.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the compose window from the chat screen and add up to 32 people by typing their usernames or selecting them from your contacts.
  • Snapchat automatically names the group, but you can change it by tapping the group name and selecting "Edit Group Name."
  • Any member can add or remove people from the group without asking permission first.
  • You can send photos, videos, voice messages, and text in a group chat just like you would in a one-on-one conversation.
  • Leaving a group removes you from the chat, but the group continues without you.

Adding and removing people from an existing group

To add someone to a group that already exists, open the group chat and tap the group name at the top. Scroll down and tap "Add Friends," then select the people you want to add. They'll receive a notification that they've been added to the group and will see all future messages, but they won't see the chat history from before they joined.

Removing someone works the same way. Open the group, tap the group name, scroll to see the member list, and swipe left on the person you want to remove. Tap the trash icon to confirm. That person will no longer see new messages in the group, but they'll still be able to see the messages they received while they were a member.

Sending different types of messages in a group

Group chats work like regular Snapchat conversations. You can send photos and videos by tapping the camera icon, type text messages, or hold down the microphone icon to send a voice message. All members see everything you send in real time.

One difference from one-on-one chats: when you send a photo or video to a group, everyone sees it at the same time, and you can't control how long each person views it. The message stays in the group chat history unless you delete it. To delete a message you sent, press and hold it, then tap "Delete."

Changing group settings and notifications

Open any group chat and tap the group name at the top to see your options. From there, you can change the group name, see who's in the group, and manage notifications. Tap "Notifications" to choose whether you want to be notified for every message, only when someone mentions you, or not at all.

If a group is too noisy, you can mute it without leaving. Swipe left on the group in your chat list and tap the speaker icon with a line through it. You'll still be in the group and can read messages, but you won't get notifications. Unmute the same way by swiping left and tapping the speaker icon again.

Leaving a group or removing it from your chat list

To leave a group entirely, open it and tap the group name at the top. Scroll down and tap "Leave Group." You'll be removed from the chat, and you won't see new messages. The group continues for everyone else without you.

If you want to keep the group but hide it from your chat list, swipe left on the group and tap the trash icon. This removes it from your view but doesn't remove you from the actual group — you can find it again by searching for it or by having someone add you back. Leaving the group is permanent unless someone adds you again.

Troubleshooting common group chat problems

If someone isn't receiving messages in a group, have them check that Snapchat is fully updated in their app store. Outdated versions sometimes have trouble with group chats. Ask them to close the app completely and reopen it, then check if the messages appear.

If you can't add someone to a group, they may have blocked you, set their privacy settings to block group invites, or removed you as a friend. You'll need to be friends with someone before adding them to a group. If you think they've blocked you, try adding them as a friend first — if that fails, they've likely blocked you and you won't be able to add them to groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a group with just two people?

Snapchat doesn't prevent you from creating a two-person group, but it's not necessary — a regular one-on-one chat works the same way. Most people use groups when they need to message three or more people at once.

What happens to messages when someone leaves a group?

The person who left can still see all the messages they received while they were in the group. They just won't see any new messages sent after they leave. If they rejoin later, they won't see the messages from the time they were gone.

Can I see who read my message in a group?

Snapchat doesn't show read receipts in group chats the way it does in one-on-one conversations. You can see that a message was sent, but you can't tell who has opened it or when.

Is there a limit to how many groups I can create?

Snapchat doesn't set a public limit on the number of groups you can create. You can make as many as you need, though having too many active groups can make your chat list harder to navigate.