WhatsApp group invite link: create, copy, QR code, reset and errors
Everything about link invites: where to find them, who can create them, how to protect the group when a link leaks and what to do when it won't open.
Direct answer: To get a group link, open the group, tap its name and choose Invite via link. From there you can copy the link, send it on WhatsApp, share it in another app or open the QR code. If the link leaks, use Reset link: the old one stops working immediately and cannot be restored.
In short:
- The link and QR code are in Group info > Invite via link.
- Resetting the link kills the old link and the old QR code.
- A link that "doesn't work" was usually reset, the group is full or it needs approval.
How to get and copy the group link
- Open the group and tap its name.
- Tap Invite via link.
- Choose Send link via WhatsApp, Copy link, Share link or QR code.
By default, admins and members of groups with fewer than 33 members can create the link, according to the Help Center. Admins can restrict this in Group permissions by turning off invites via link or QR code for members.
Want ready-made invite text or a QR code? Use 9bot's free tools: group invite generator and QR code generator.
Group QR code: how to view, save and share it
The QR code sits on the same screen as the link. Anyone who scans it with their camera or WhatsApp sees the invite and confirms. It is just another form of the same link: if you reset the link, a printed or posted QR code stops working too. For posters and print, prefer a QR code that points to a page you control (and can update) rather than the direct link.
Resetting the link when it leaks
If the link ended up on a group directory or started bringing in spammers, an admin opens Invite via link and taps Reset link. The previous link is deactivated and cannot be restored. Then:
- Turn on Approve new members so anyone using the new link goes through an admin.
- Share the new link only where your audience is.
- Remove people who joined just to promote. A bot with anti-link deletes invites to other groups automatically: see how to filter links in a group.
Why the group link doesn't work
| Message or symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "The invite link was reset" | An admin created a new link | Ask an admin for the current link or to add you |
| Request sent but you can't get in | The group requires member approval | Wait for an admin to approve |
| Can't join | The group reached 1,024 members | The admin needs to free spots or use a community |
| Link opens in the browser, not the app | Link copied incompletely or outdated app | Copy it again and update WhatsApp |
Official causes: "Can't join group" and "Can't join group with invite link".
Link security
Anyone with the link can join and pass it on. Groups with public links attract scams and unwanted promotion, as covered in how to avoid scams in groups. The safest combination: link sharing for admins only, member approval on and a bot that welcomes people with the rules and deletes third-party links.
Read also
FAQ
Where is the WhatsApp group link?
Can regular members create the group link?
What happens when I reset the link?
Why does it say the invite link was reset?
Can I see who joined through the link?
