How to change group privacy settings

Android
iOS
KaiOS
Mac
Web
WhatsApp has always allowed anyone with your phone number to message you or add you to a group. Just like how anyone can send you an SMS message or email if they have your contact information.
By default, your group privacy settings are set to Everyone. This way, you can easily connect with friends and family, even if they’re not in your contacts list.
For additional privacy, you can control who can add you to a group by adjusting your WhatsApp Settings.
Note:
  • Changes to group privacy settings can’t be made on WhatsApp Web or Desktop. When you change the settings on your phone, they will be synced with WhatsApp Web and Desktop.
  • This setting doesn't apply to community Announcements. When you're in a community, you'll always be added to community Announcements.

Change group privacy settings

  1. Tap
    more options
    > Settings.
  2. Tap Privacy > Groups.
  3. Select one of the following options:
    • Everyone: Everyone, including people outside of your phone's address book contacts, can add you to groups without your approval.
    • My contacts: Only contacts in your phone's address book can add you to groups without your approval. If a group admin who's not in your phone's address book tries to add you to a group, they'll get a pop-up that says they can't add you and will be prompted to tap Invite to group or press Continue, followed by the send button, to send a private group invite through an individual chat. You'll have three days to accept the invite before it expires.
    • My contacts except...: Only contacts in your phone’s address book, except those you exclude, can add you to groups without your approval. After selecting My contacts except… you can search for or select contacts to exclude. If a group admin you exclude tries to add you to a group, they’ll get a pop-up that says they can’t add you and will be prompted to tap Invite to group followed by the send button to send a private group invite through an individual chat. You'll have three days to accept the invite before it expires.
  4. If prompted, tap Done.

Related resources:

How to block and report contacts

Does this answer your question?

Yes
No