How to Add or Change a WhatsApp Group Description

A WhatsApp group description is the short note that sits under the group name when someone opens Group info. It's where you say what the group is for, and for anyone who runs a customer group, a class chat or a community of clients, it's the first thing a new member reads.

I've written this from WhatsApp's own help pages, so the steps match what the app tells you to do. I've also covered the bit that catches admins out: who is allowed to edit the description.

What a WhatsApp group description is for

The description lives in Group info, alongside the group name and icon. WhatsApp's help page treats all three as group information that can be edited together. A good description answers the questions a new member would otherwise put in the chat: what the group is for, what's welcome, and what isn't.

If you run a group for a business, think of it as the notice on the door. Keep it short, say what the group is for, and add one or two house rules. Members who read it are less likely to post something you then have to delete.

Adding a WhatsApp group description on Android

WhatsApp's help page for Android gives these steps for adding or changing the description.

1. Tap Chats and open the WhatsApp group chat.
2. Tap the group name. Alternatively, tap and hold the group in the Chats tab, then use the menu to open Group info.
3. Tap the current group description, or tap Add group description if there isn't one yet.
4. Type your new description, then tap OK.

You can add emojis by tapping the emoji button while you type. The help page doesn't give a length limit for the description. It only states a limit for the group name, which is 100 characters, so keep the description to what a member can take in at a glance.

Changing the WhatsApp group description on iPhone

The iPhone version of the help page didn't show separate wording for the description when I read it, so I won't pretend there's a different button to find. The pattern is the same as on Android: open the group chat, tap the group name to reach Group info, then tap the description or the prompt to add one. WhatsApp changes menus between app versions, so if your screen looks a little different, look for the word description on the Group info screen.

Edits are saved when you confirm them. If you don't see an edit option at all, skip down to the section on permissions, because that's the usual reason.

Editing the WhatsApp group description on a computer

On WhatsApp Web or the desktop app, WhatsApp's steps are slightly different.

1. Click Chats, then open the group chat and click the group name.
2. Click the more options icon and choose Group info.
3. Click the edit icon next to the group description, or click Add group description.
4. Type the new description, then click the tick to save it.

The same emoji button is available there too. If you manage a group from a laptop all day, this is the quickest way to tidy a description, because you can paste in text you've drafted elsewhere.

Who can change a WhatsApp group description

By default, WhatsApp says any group member can send messages and change the group name, icon and description. A group admin can change that. Open the group, tap the group name, go to Group permissions and look at the Edit group settings switch.

• When Edit group settings is turned on, members can edit the group settings, including the name, icon and description.
• When it's turned off, only admins can edit them.

WhatsApp's help page also says that if a group was started with fewer than 33 members, all members can add others, send messages and change group information. If a group has more than 256 members, Edit group settings defaults to Only admins. So a large group may already be locked down without anyone having touched a setting.

If you can't edit the WhatsApp group description

If the description is greyed out, or tapping it does nothing, run through this short list.

• Check whether you're an admin. Open Group info and look for the word Admin beside names in the member list.
• Ask an admin whether Edit group settings is turned off in Group permissions.
• Check the group size, because larger groups default to admin-only editing.
• Update WhatsApp from your app store and try again, as the edit screen can differ between versions.

If you're an admin and you want to hand over the job, WhatsApp lets you make another member an admin from Group permissions, then Edit group admins. That's often easier than giving everyone editing rights.

Managing a WhatsApp group description as a small business owner

If you use groups to keep in touch with clients or a team, the description is worth a few minutes. I'd keep three things in it: the purpose of the group, who it's for, and the one thing you'd like people to do or not do. If you're also setting up a business profile, my guide to writing a WhatsApp Business description shows how I'd word the profile side of things, which is a separate field from a group description.

WhatsApp also reminds you that you can't hide group members' phone numbers in a group, and that a new member's profile name may be visible to others when they're added. That's worth saying in the description if the group is for people who've never met.

WhatsApp group description versus group name and icon

People mix these up, so here's the short version. The name is the title, with a limit of 100 characters. The icon is the picture shown next to the group in your chats list. The description is the longer note inside Group info. The same Group permissions switch controls all three, so if you can change one you can usually change the others.

If you'd like to know more about adding people once the description is in place, I've covered adding someone to a WhatsApp group separately.

A quick WhatsApp group description checklist

• Open the group and tap the group name.
• Tap the description or Add group description.
• Write one clear line on what the group is for, then any rules.
• Save with OK on Android or the tick on a computer.
• If you can't edit it, check admin status and Group permissions.

If you want the full set, start at the WhatsApp Help: 43 Guides to Transfers, Backups, Business and Privacy.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a description to a WhatsApp group?

Open the group chat, tap the group name, tap Add group description, type what you'd like to say and tap OK on Android. On a computer, click the edit icon next to the description and click the tick to save.

Why can't I change my WhatsApp group description?

The most likely reason is that an admin has turned off Edit group settings in Group permissions, so only admins can make changes. Larger groups with more than 256 members default to admin-only editing.

Can any member edit a WhatsApp group description?

By default, yes. WhatsApp's help page says any group member can change the group name, icon and description unless an admin changes the group settings.

Is there a limit on the length of a WhatsApp group description?

WhatsApp's help page gives a limit of 100 characters for the group name but doesn't state a limit for the description, so I'd keep it short and clear.

Can I add emojis to a WhatsApp group description?

Yes. WhatsApp's help page says you can add emojis to the description by tapping or clicking the emoji button while you edit it.

How do I make someone else a group admin?

Open the group, tap the group name, go to Group permissions, choose Edit group admins and select the members you'd like to make admins.