To create a Messenger community, open the Messenger app, tap Menu, then Communities, choose a category, add a name, image and description, decide whether to require approval to join, and tap Create community. Communities hold up to 5,000 members, but Messenger says creating one isn't available to everyone yet.
A Messenger community is a step up from a group chat: one place with several chats inside it, for up to 5,000 people. Think of a local business network, a school parents' community or a customer club. It isn't a Facebook group, and it works differently from one. Here's how to create a community, invite people, and decide whether it's the right tool.
Steps to create a Messenger community
- Open the Messenger app on your phone or tablet and tap Menu.
- Tap Communities. The first time, you may need to tap Get started.
- Choose a category that describes your community.
- Add an image, a name and a description.
- Toggle Require approval to join if you want to approve each new member.
- Tap Preview, choose any existing chats to add, then tap Create community.
- Invite people by name, or share a QR code or link.
Messenger says that whoever creates the community automatically becomes its admin. It also notes that creating a new community isn't available to everyone or on every platform yet, so if you don't see Communities in the menu, it may not have reached your account yet. Check again after the next app update.
Community or group chat?
| Group chat | Messenger community | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | A small group | Up to 5,000 members |
| Structure | One conversation | Several chats in one place |
| Who can find it | Only people added | Visible and may be suggested to anyone on Messenger |
| Best for | Friends, small teams | Local groups, clubs, customer communities |
Privacy: what outsiders can see
This is worth reading before you create one. Messenger says communities are visible to, and may be suggested to, anyone on Messenger. Only members can see who's in them and what's sent. But non-members can preview some details, including the community's name and description, chat names, names of mutual friends in a chat, and the admin's name and profile picture. Choose a name and description you're happy for strangers to see, and keep personal details out of chat names.
Adding members
- Tap Menu, then Communities, and open your community.
- Tap Add member.
- Search for people, select a suggested group chat to invite all its members, or tap Copy link to share an invite.
Messenger says that, depending on the approval settings, people are either added straight away or receive an invite. Admins manage approvals in Member requests. Members can invite people too.
It's not a Facebook group
Messenger is clear that communities are not Facebook groups and don't have the same features. If you need posts, files, events and long-form discussion threads, a Facebook group may suit better. If your members already live in Messenger and want real-time chat, a community keeps everything there.
Turn an existing group chat into a community
If you already run a busy group chat, you don't have to start from scratch. Messenger says you can create a community from an existing group chat, and during set-up it asks which chats you want to add. That's the easiest way to grow a group that's outgrown one conversation: bring the original chat in, then add a few new chats around it, such as introductions and announcements, so the main conversation stops getting swamped.
When a community is the wrong choice
- For private family chats, a normal group chat is simpler and less visible.
- If you need long posts, files and events, a Facebook group has more tools.
- If you can't commit to moderating, an open community can become noisy quickly.
Running a community well
- Turn on Require approval to join if the community is for a specific audience, like customers or local residents.
- Create a few clearly named chats, such as announcements, introductions and questions.
- Write a short welcome message explaining what the community is for.
- Add a second admin so you're not the only one keeping it running.
Leaving a community
Members can leave at any time by tapping Information, then Leave community. That's worth telling new members up front, so nobody feels trapped in a busy community.
For smaller groups, see my guides to leaving a group chat on Messenger and making a poll on Messenger, which works well for quick decisions in community chats.
My verdict
Tap Menu, Communities, and follow the steps: category, name, image, approvals, chats, invites. It's the right tool for groups too big for one chat, up to 5,000 people. Remember outsiders can see your community's name, description and admin, and that Messenger is still rolling the feature out, so not everyone can create one yet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a community on Messenger?
In the Messenger app, tap Menu, then Communities, choose a category, add details and tap Create community.
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How many people can join a Messenger community?
Up to 5,000 members.
Why can't I create a Messenger community?
Messenger says creating a community isn't available to everyone or on all platforms yet.
Can anyone see my Messenger community?
Communities are visible to anyone on Messenger, but only members see who's in them and what's sent.
Is a Messenger community the same as a Facebook group?
No. Messenger says communities aren't Facebook groups and don't have the same features.
Can I turn a group chat into a Messenger community?
Yes. Messenger says you can create a community from an existing group chat and add chats during set-up.
Who can add members to a Messenger community?
Admins and members can invite people. Approval settings decide whether they join straight away or are sent an invite.
Can I require approval before people join?
Yes. Toggle Require approval to join when creating it, and manage requests in Member requests.
How do I leave a Messenger community?
Tap Information, then Leave community.
