How to add, change and remove a WhatsApp group admin
A guide for people who run work groups, customer communities and group networks and need a moderation team without losing control.
How it works in practice
Direct answer: To add an admin, open group info, tap the participant and choose Make group admin. To remove one, tap the admin and choose Dismiss as admin. Any admin can promote another participant and there is no limit on admins per group. The group creator cannot be dismissed as admin and stays admin until they exit the group. There is no "transfer ownership" feature: to change who is in charge, promote the new person and then the creator leaves.
In short:
- Make group admin and Dismiss as admin are in the participant menu.
- No limit on admins; the creator cannot be dismissed.
- To hand over a group, promote the new admin and the creator leaves.
How to make someone an admin
According to the Help Center:
- Open the group and tap its name.
- Tap the participant you want to promote.
- Choose Make group admin.
You can also promote several people at once in Group permissions > Edit group admins by checking their names. Any admin can promote another participant, and WhatsApp does not limit the number of admins.
How to remove an admin
- Open group info.
- Tap the admin.
- Choose Dismiss as admin.
The person stays in the group as a regular participant. To take someone out of the group, use Remove in the same menu. Unchecking the name in Group permissions > Edit group admins has the same effect.
The group creator cannot be dismissed as admin by other admins. They stop being admin only if they exit the group.
How to hand over a group to someone else
WhatsApp has no transfer ownership button. The path is:
- The creator promotes the new person in charge to admin.
- Check there is at least one more trusted admin.
- The creator exits the group.
If the only admin leaves, the Help Center says a participant is chosen at random as the new admin. So promote before you leave. Each case is covered in what happens when the admin leaves the group.
How many admins a group needs
There is no official recommended number. A practical rule for professional groups is to cover every hour the group is active and never depend on one person. To split tasks without giving everyone full access, combine:
| Role | WhatsApp permission | With 9bot |
|---|---|---|
| Owner or lead | Admin | Dashboard and rule access |
| Moderator | Admin | Strikes and automatic removal of banned links |
| Trusted member | Participant | Whitelist to post approved links |
WhatsApp has only two levels (admin and participant). 9bot adds per user permissions inside the group, such as the link whitelist. See security settings for large groups.
Why the make admin option does not appear
- You are not an admin: only admins promote or dismiss admins.
- The person left and came back: people who rejoin come in as participants and must be promoted again.
- You are in a community: community admins and group admins are different roles.
- WhatsApp does not step in: the Help Center says support cannot make anyone an admin.
Less dependence on one person
Much of the admin work repeats: approving joins, deleting links, welcoming people, pointing to the rules. 9bot does this on the connected number, which must be a group admin, and the team keeps the decisions that need a person. 7-day trial; with the coupon FIRST9, monthly plans are 50% off for the first 3 months after the trial. See useful commands for admins. If the group has nothing in writing yet, start with these WhatsApp group rules and adapt them to your topic.
Read also
FAQ
How do I make someone admin in a WhatsApp group?
How many admins can a WhatsApp group have?
How do I remove the group creator as admin?
How do I transfer a group to someone else?
Can WhatsApp make me admin of a group?
