How to Make a Group Chat on Instagram (and Run It)

That admin role matters more than people expect. Instagram's admins can approve who joins, add or remove members and switch on an invite link, so the person who starts the chat ends up running it.

Below are the steps to start one, name it, add people, share a link, manage it and leave. Every step comes from Instagram's Help Center, read in October 2026.

How to make a group chat on Instagram, step by step

1. Tap Messages at the bottom of the app.
2. Tap Compose in the top right.
3. Tap Group chat.
4. Select two or more people from the list, or search for their usernames at the top.
5. Type your first message, or add a photo or video, then tap Send.

How to name your group chat

Instagram lets you name or rename group chats of three or more people:

1. Open Messages and tap the group.
2. Tap the group name at the top.
3. Tap Change name & image, then tap Group name.
4. Type the name and tap Done.

Everyone in the chat can see that you've renamed it, so it's not something you can do quietly. Pick a name that tells members, at a glance, what the group is for.

How to add more people

1. Open the group and tap the group name at the top.
2. Tap Add.
3. Search for and select the people you want, then tap Add and confirm.

Instagram says you can add people to group chats that already include three or more people.

How to share an invite link

If you'd rather let people join themselves, the admin can switch on an invite link:

1. Open the group and tap the group name at the top.
2. Tap Invite link and turn it on.
3. Tap Copy to share it anywhere, Send in Instagram to send it to someone directly, or use the QR code.

Three details worth knowing. Once the link is on, anyone in the group can share it, not only the admin. Only up to 250 people can join with the same link each day. And if the admin resets the link, or the admin changes, the old link stops working.

What the admin can do

Admin can	Member can
Approve who joins the group	Send messages, photos and videos
Promote members to admin and demote admins	Share the invite link once it's switched on
Add and remove members	Leave whenever they like
Create, reset or turn off the invite link	See when the group is renamed

You can become admin of a group you didn't create if a current admin promotes you. If your group is for a business, a course or a community, make a second trusted person admin early, so you're not the only one who can approve people.

How to leave a group chat

1. Open Messages and tap the group.
2. Tap the group name at the top.
3. Tap Options, then Leave, and confirm.

After you leave, you won't get messages from the group unless someone adds you back. Instagram doesn't describe a way to leave without the group noticing, so assume members will see you've gone.

Group chat problems and quick fixes

Problem	Likely reason	What to do
You can't see the Add option	The chat only has two people in it	Start a new group chat from Compose instead
Your invite link stopped working	The admin reset it, turned it off, or the admin changed	Ask the current admin for the new link
Someone can't join with the link	The same link has hit its daily joins, or admin approval is on	Try again the next day, or ask the admin to approve the request
You can't rename the group	Naming only applies to chats of three or more people	Add a third person first

Most of these come down to two rules from Instagram's help pages: groups need three or more people for the extra features, and the admin controls the link.

Starting a group chat from a computer

Instagram's desktop steps are almost identical, which helps if you're organising a group for work:

1. Click Messages on the left.
2. Click Compose in the top left.
3. Select two or more people or search for their usernames, then click Chat.
4. Type a message or click Add photos/videos to upload from your library, then click Send.

Instagram notes that adding photos and videos this way currently isn't available on Meta Quest devices, so use a phone or computer if you want to share images in the group.

My advice for business groups

Group chats work brilliantly for small, warm audiences: a VIP customer list, a launch team, a workshop cohort. Keep them small enough that people still talk, and always post something in the first hour so the group doesn't start silent. Use the admin approval setting so random accounts can't drift in, and give the group a clear name so it doesn't get lost in a busy inbox. If you want your chat list to look tidier, you can also set nicknames in Instagram chats, and if you'd rather people didn't see exactly when you've read their messages, here's how to turn off read receipts on Instagram.

Frequently asked questions

How many people do you need to start an Instagram group chat?

Instagram says you can start a group chat to send a message to two or more people, so it's you plus at least two others.

Who is the admin of an Instagram group chat?

Whoever creates the group chat is automatically the admin. A current admin can also promote other members to admin.

How many people can join an Instagram group chat with a link?

Instagram says only up to 250 people can join the chat with the same invite link each day.

Does Instagram tell the group when you rename it?

Yes. Instagram says people in the group chat will be able to see that you've renamed it.

What happens when you leave an Instagram group chat?

You won't get messages from the group anymore unless someone adds you back to the conversation.