Want to help manage a WhatsApp group but don’t have admin rights? You’re not alone. Thousands of people search for how to become WhatsApp group admin every day, whether it’s for their family chat, work team, or community group.
Here’s the reality: you can’t just make yourself an admin. Someone with existing admin privileges needs to promote you. But don’t worry—I’ll show you exactly how the process works, what you need to do to get promoted, and how to handle admin responsibilities once you get there.
Understanding WhatsApp Group Admin Roles
Before we get into the how-to, let me break down what being an admin actually means.
Every WhatsApp group has at least one admin—the person who created the group. But groups can have multiple admins, and there’s no limit to how many you can have.
Admins can do things regular members can’t:
- Add or remove participants
- Change group settings and permissions
- Edit group info, photo, and description
- Promote other members to admin status
- Delete messages for everyone
- Approve join requests (if the group is set to require approval)
Regular members can only send messages and view group content. That’s it.
The Only Way To Become A WhatsApp Group Admin
Let me be straight with you—there’s only one legitimate way to become a group admin: an existing admin has to promote you.
No app, trick, or hack can make you an admin without this step. Anyone telling you otherwise is either misinformed or trying to scam you.
Here’s what needs to happen:
The current admin opens the group, taps on the group name at the top, scrolls to your name in the participant list, taps it, and selects “Make group admin.”
That’s the entire process from their end. Once they do this, you instantly get admin privileges.
How To Get Promoted To Group Admin
Now for the practical part—how do you actually convince someone to make you an admin?
Be An Active And Helpful Member
The best way to get noticed is by being genuinely helpful in the group. Answer questions when you know the answers. Share useful information. Keep conversations on track.
Admins notice members who make their job easier, not harder.
Volunteer To Help
If you see the admin struggling to manage the group, offer to help. Maybe they’re in a different time zone and can’t respond quickly. Maybe the group is growing and they need support.
A simple message like “Hey, I’ve noticed the group’s gotten busy. Happy to help moderate if you need an extra hand” goes a long way.
Build Trust With Current Admins
This one takes time, but it matters. Admins promote people they trust. They’re handing over real power to control the group, so they need to know you won’t abuse it.
Show that you respect the group rules. Don’t create drama. Demonstrate good judgment in your interactions.
Ask Directly (When Appropriate)
Sometimes the simplest approach works best. If you have a legitimate reason to be an admin—maybe you’re co-organizing an event or managing a work project—just ask.
Be clear about why you need admin access and what you plan to do with it. “I’m helping coordinate the reunion, so it would be easier if I could add people directly” is a reasonable request.
Suggest Multiple Admins For Large Groups
If the group has grown large and there’s only one admin, you can suggest adding more admins as a general improvement. This positions you as thinking about the group’s needs, not just your own status.
Large groups genuinely benefit from multiple admins across different time zones.
What Happens After You Become An Admin
You got promoted—great! Now what?
First, you’ll see new options appear when you tap the group name. You can now access group settings, add participants, and manage permissions.
Your first move should be understanding the current group rules and settings. Don’t immediately change things. Talk to the other admins first about how they want the group managed.
Key Admin Responsibilities
Managing members: You can now add people or remove those who violate rules. Use this power carefully—removing someone creates conflict.
Moderating content: You can delete messages that break group rules. Some groups need heavy moderation, others barely any. Match your approach to the group’s culture.
Setting permissions: You control who can send messages, edit group info, and more. These settings are in Group Settings > Edit Group Info and Group Settings > Send Messages.
Handling conflicts: Members will sometimes argue or complain. As an admin, you’re now the referee. Stay neutral and focus on maintaining a positive environment.
Common Admin Settings You Should Know
Let me walk you through the key settings you’ll actually use.
Send Messages: You can restrict who sends messages to “Only Admins” or allow “All Participants.” Use admin-only mode for announcements; use all participants for discussions.
Edit Group Info: Control who can change the group name, icon, and description. I recommend setting this to “Only Admins” to prevent confusion.
Approve New Participants: When enabled, people can’t join via invite link until an admin approves them. This is useful for maintaining group quality.
Add Members: By default, any participant can add members. Change this to “Only Admins” if you want to control group growth.
To access these, tap the group name, scroll down to “Group settings,” and you’ll see all options.
Mistakes New Admins Make (And How To Avoid Them)
I’ve seen new admins make the same mistakes repeatedly. Learn from them.
Removing people too quickly: Before removing someone, warn them first unless they’re spamming or being abusive. People make mistakes.
Changing settings without discussion: If there are other admins, coordinate with them before making changes. Don’t go rogue.
Playing favorites: Treat all members fairly. Nothing destroys a group faster than perceived bias.
Over-moderating: Not every off-topic message needs deletion. Let conversations flow naturally unless they violate clear rules.
Ignoring problems: The opposite is also true—don’t avoid dealing with real issues because confrontation is uncomfortable.
Can You Become Admin If The Creator Left?
This is a common question with a frustrating answer: no, you can’t automatically become admin if all admins leave the group.
If the group creator and all admins leave, the group continues to exist but has no admins. Members can still send messages, but nobody can add people, change settings, or promote new admins.
Your only option is creating a new group and migrating everyone over. It’s annoying, but that’s how WhatsApp works.
Tips For Being A Good WhatsApp Group Admin
Want to be the kind of admin people appreciate? Follow these practices.
Set clear rules early: Pin a message with group guidelines so everyone knows expectations.
Respond to issues promptly: Don’t let problems fester. Address rule violations and conflicts quickly.
Use admin broadcasts sparingly: That “Only Admins” message mode is powerful but can feel authoritarian. Use it when needed, not constantly.
Coordinate with co-admins: If there are multiple admins, stay aligned on decisions. Mixed messages confuse members.
Listen to feedback: If multiple members complain about something, consider their perspective. Good admins adapt.
Don’t abuse power: This should be obvious, but some admins let the position go to their heads. Stay humble.
Alternatives If You Can’t Become Admin
What if you ask and get rejected? You have options.
Create your own group: If you have a specific vision for a group that differs from the current one, start fresh. You’ll automatically be the admin of your own group.
Use WhatsApp Communities: If you’re trying to manage multiple related groups, suggest creating a Community instead. This gives you more organizational structure.
Work within limitations: Sometimes you don’t need admin rights to be valuable. Continue contributing as a regular member.
WhatsApp Group Admin FAQs
Can I make myself admin on WhatsApp?
No, you cannot make yourself a group admin. Only existing admins can promote other members to admin status. There’s no workaround or trick to bypass this security feature.
How many admins can a WhatsApp group have?
There’s no limit to the number of admins in a WhatsApp group. You can have as many admins as you need, though having too many can make coordination difficult.
What happens if all admins leave a WhatsApp group?
If all admins leave the group, it becomes admin-less. Members can still send messages, but nobody can add participants, change settings, or promote new admins. The only solution is creating a new group.
Can group admins see deleted messages?
No, admins cannot see messages that users delete before they view them. Admins can delete messages for everyone, but they can’t recover messages that others have already deleted.
How do I remove my admin status from a WhatsApp group?
You can’t directly demote yourself. Another admin needs to remove your admin privileges, or you can leave the group entirely. If you’re the only admin, consider promoting someone else first before leaving.
Can admins read private messages between group members?
No, WhatsApp group admins cannot read private messages between members. They can only see what’s posted in the group chat. All personal chats remain encrypted and private.
Is there an admin approval feature on WhatsApp groups?
Yes, admins can enable a setting that requires them to approve new members before they join via invite link. This is found in Group Settings under “Approve New Participants.”
Can someone remove a group admin?
Only other admins can remove an admin’s privileges. Regular members cannot demote admins. The group creator can be removed as admin by other admins, but they remain the group creator.
Conclusion
Becoming a WhatsApp group admin isn’t complicated, but it requires someone with existing admin rights to promote you. You can’t hack your way in or use third-party apps to give yourself admin access.
The best approach is being an active, helpful group member who builds trust with current admins. Offer to help when you see a need, and be direct about why you’d make a good admin if the situation calls for it.
Once you get promoted, take the responsibility seriously. Good admins make groups better for everyone. Bad admins create drama and drive people away.
Remember that being an admin is about serving the group, not wielding power. Keep that mindset, and you’ll do fine.