In this article, we will be discussing how to stop others from adding you to WhatsApp groups. As one of the widely known and used modes of communication, WhatsApp has some features that can be annoying. This feature is all about other users being able to create WhatsApp groups and add others to the group irrespective of whether you have their contact or not and without their approval. It can be so irritating to wake up and find yourself in a group you know little or nothing about. This is why this article has been developed to show you how to stop others from adding you to WhatsApp groups and the tips to manage such activity.
WhatsApp platform has a feature where you can stop others from adding you to WhatsApp groups. However, for you to be able to use this feature, you must have the latest version of WhatsApp downloaded on your Android phone or any other device you may wish to use.
WhatsApp some years back upgraded and released the privacy feature for WhatsApp beta program 2.91.93. This is one of the important hidden features of WhatsApp that allows users to stop unauthorized invites to random groups Before the upgrade, anyone with your contact can add you to any group on WhatsApp without your permission. Alternatively, you can decide to exit the group without other members of the group knowing except the admin or block the admin but there is still the tendency that you may still be added back again to the group. So the best option is to activate the feature on your WhatsApp privacy settings.
How To Stop Others From Adding You To WhatsApp Groups
The following are the steps that will enable you to stop others from adding you to WhatsApp groups without your approval. Whether you are using iPhone or Android devices, the details of steps relating to the type of device you use have been stated below:
Steps To Stop Others From Adding You To WhatsApp Groups On Android Devices
- Open your WhatsApp on your Android device
- On your WhatsApp home page, click on the three vertical dots (more options/menu), on the top right border of your screen
- Click on settings
- Click on Privacy
- Click on groups,
- Then three options will pop up which are; Everyone (the default setting), my contacts and my contacts except…,. Select My contacts except…, which means that it is only contacted in your address book, except those you exclude, can add you to WhatsApp groups without your approval.
- Select everybody in your contact, by clicking on the check menu button on the top right border of your screen. This automatically prevents anyone on the address book from adding you to any WhatsApp group without your approval.
- Click on Done or Okay.
Note: Once the above settings have been successfully done, if someone in your contact wants to add you to a Whatsapp group, WhatsApp will send them a message they will get a pop-up message that says they can’t add you and will be given the option to Invite you to the Group privately. After sending the invite message to your WhatsApp, you will have three days to accept the invite before it expires.
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Steps To Stop Others From Adding You To WhatsApp Groups On iPhone
The following are steps to stop others from adding you to WhatsApp groups.
- Open your WhatsApp on your iPhone
- Click on settings
- Click on Privacy
- Click on groups
- You will see three options: Everyone (the default setting), my contacts and My contacts except…, Select My contacts except…, which means that only contacts in your address book, except those you exclude, can add you to WhatsApp groups without your approval.
- Select everybody in your address book, by clicking on the check menu button on the top right border of your screen. This automatically prevents anyone on the address book from adding you to any WhatsApp group without your approval.
- Click on Done or Okay.
Note: Once the above settings have been successfully done, if someone in your contact wants to add you to a Whatsapp group, WhatsApp will send them a message they will get a pop-up message that says they can’t add you and will be given the option to Invite you to the Group privately. After sending the invite message to your WhatsApp, you will have three days to accept the invite before it expires.
Also, you can not change your WhatsApp privacy setting on WhatsApp on WhatsApp Web or desktop. If the setting is done on the phone app it will be synchronised with WhatsApp web and desktop.