How Do I Make a Snapchat Group Without Overcomplicating It?

You're staring at your phone, trying to coordinate a Friday night out or maybe just tired of sending the same ugly-cry selfie to ten different people individually. It’s annoying. We've all been there. You just want everyone in one place so the streaks stay alive and the plans actually get made. If you’re asking how do I make a snapchat group, the good news is that it’s actually hidden in plain sight, though the interface updates every six months just to keep us on our toes.

Snapchat isn't like WhatsApp or iMessage. It feels more temporary, more chaotic. But the group chat function—officially called "Groups" by Snap Inc.—is actually a powerhouse for keeping up with up to 200 people. Yeah, 200. Though, honestly, if you have 200 people in a single Snap group, your phone is going to vibrate itself off the table.

The Step-by-Step of Starting Your Group

First things first: open the app. You’d be surprised how many people try to find this in the settings menu. It’s not there.

Head over to the Chat screen. That’s the little speech bubble icon at the bottom. Once you’re there, look at the top right corner. You’ll see a blue icon that looks like a notepad with a pen. Tap that. This is the "New Chat" button, but it's also the gateway to group heaven. Right at the top of the "To:" field, you’ll see an option that says New Group. Tap it.

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Now comes the part where you pick your victims. Scroll through your best friends or search for specific usernames. You need at least one other person to make it a group, obviously, but you can add up to 199 more. Once you’ve selected the crew, you’ll see a button at the bottom—usually blue—that says Chat with Group.

Naming the Chaos

Before you send that first message, name the group. If you don't, it’ll just be a string of names like "Alex, Sarah, Jordan..." which is boring and makes it hard to find in your crowded inbox. Tap the "New Group" text at the top and type something. Anything. "The Basement Dwellers." "Sunday Brunch (Don't Tell Mom)." Whatever fits the vibe.

Why Your Group Chat Might Feel Broken

Sometimes you follow the steps and it just... doesn't work. Or someone isn't getting the invites. Snapchat has some weird quirks about privacy.

If you can't find a specific person to add, it’s usually because of their privacy settings. If they haven't added you back, you can't force them into a group. That’s a safety feature. Snapchat’s support documentation is pretty clear on this: you can only add friends. If you're "following" a public figure or a creator, you can't just drag them into a group chat with your high school buddies.

Also, keep in mind that group snaps don't count toward individual streaks. This is a massive pain point for people. If you send a snap to the group, it doesn't keep your 500-day streak alive with Sarah. You still have to send her a direct snap. It’s a weird limitation, but it’s how Snap keeps people engaged on a 1-to-1 level.

Managing the Madness (Settings You Actually Need)

Once the group is live, it can get loud. Fast. If your phone is blowing up every three seconds because your friends are arguing about which movie to see, you need to know how to mute it.

1. Tap the group profile icon (the Bitmoji collage) at the top.
2. Tap the three dots (the "More" menu) in the corner.
3. Hit Message Notifications.
4. Set it to Silent.

You'll still see the messages when you open the app, but your pocket won't be buzzing like a swarm of bees. In this same menu, you can also leave the group if it gets too toxic. Just tap Leave Group. But be warned: Snapchat will tell everyone you left. There is no "silent exit" here. Your name will pop up in the chat saying "User has left the group," which is always a little awkward.

The 24-Hour Rule

By default, messages in a Snapchat group disappear after 24 hours. This is different from one-on-one chats where they disappear immediately after viewing (unless you change settings). In a group, the 24-hour window gives everyone a chance to catch up on the conversation.

You can actually change this! If you want things to disappear faster, you can set it to "after viewing." But for groups, the 24-hour mark is usually the sweet spot. If someone says something legendary, you can Press and Hold on the message to save it. Saved messages get a grey background, and everyone in the group can see that you saved it. No secret saving here.

Group Stories vs. Group Chats

People often get confused between a Group Chat and a Custom Story. They aren't the same thing.

A group chat is for talking. A Custom Story (often called a Private Story) is for posting snaps that only a specific group of people can see on their Stories page. If you want to share your day without clogging up the chat, make a Private Story. To do that, go to your profile, tap + New Story, and select Private Story.

The Technical Side of Snap Groups

Snapchat’s infrastructure for groups is built on the same ephemeral logic as the rest of the app. When you send a snap to a group, the media is stored on Snap’s servers until everyone has viewed it or the 24-hour timer runs out.

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According to Snap’s own privacy disclosures, they don't look at your group messages, but they do have automated tools to flag "harmful content" if it's reported by a member. Basically, don't do anything illegal.

One thing that’s really cool? Group video calls. You can have up to 16 people on a live video call at once (and up to 32 if you’re just doing audio). Just tap the camera icon inside the group chat. It’ll ring everyone in the group. It’s chaotic, it’s loud, and it’s probably the best way to handle a "How do I make a snapchat group" moment when you actually need to see faces.

Actionable Tips for Better Groups

Don't just make the group and let it die.

• Use the Map: If your friends have Bitmoji and Location Sharing on, you can see where everyone in the group is directly from the group profile. It makes meeting up way easier.
• Assign Roles (Kind of): Only the creator can do certain things initially, but anyone can add new members unless the settings are locked down.
• Check the Read Receipts: In a group, you can see exactly who has viewed your snap. Tap and hold on your sent snap to see the list of names. It’s the ultimate way to see who’s ghosting the plans.

If you’ve followed along, you should have a functioning group by now. Just remember that the "New Chat" icon is the key. Everything else is just managing the volume of notifications and making sure you don't accidentally leave yourself on "read" for three days.

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The next step is to actually get the group moving. Send a poll (using the sticker menu) to decide on your next hangout spot or drop a link to a shared memory. The group is only as good as the stuff you put in it.