How to add a bot to a WhatsApp group: step by step and admin permissions
Find out which number the bot uses, how to connect it, add it to your group and give it the right permissions, and what to do when it doesn't reply.
Direct answer: To add a bot to a WhatsApp group, connect a WhatsApp number you control to the bot (in 9bot, with a pairing code or QR code), add that number to the group like any contact and make it a group admin. Then type .menu in the group to check that it replies. Without admin rights, the bot can't delete other members' messages or approve join requests, because WhatsApp only lets admins do that.
How a bot joins a WhatsApp group
On WhatsApp, a group bot isn't an “app” installed inside the group. It's a WhatsApp number connected to a system that reads messages and replies automatically. To the group, that number is just another participant: someone has to add it and, for moderation, make it an admin.
Here's how it works in 9bot:
- You connect a WhatsApp number to the dashboard with a pairing code or QR code, the same way you link WhatsApp Web.
- That number becomes the “bot number”. That's the one you add to your groups.
- Automations (welcome messages, anti-link, commands, schedules) are set up in the Dashboard, group by group.
What is the “bot number”? It's the number you connect. 9bot asks that this WhatsApp account be used only by the bot and not on another device at the same time, so the safest option is a number separate from your personal one.
Before you start
- A WhatsApp number for the bot, with the app installed on a phone you control. It will be used only by the bot.
- Admin rights in the group (or help from an admin), since you need to add the number and promote it.
- A 9bot account. The free trial lasts 7 days, has no setup fee and you can cancel anytime. See the details on the plans page.
Step by step: how to add the bot to your group
Step 1: Connect the number to 9bot
- Create your account and follow the onboarding in the Dashboard.
- Choose to connect with a pairing code or a QR code.
- On the bot number's phone, open WhatsApp and go to Linked devices > Link a device to scan the QR code or enter the code (WhatsApp Help Center).
Step 2: Add the number to the group
- Save the bot number in an admin's phone contacts.
- Open the group, tap its name and choose Add members.
- Select the bot number and confirm.
Can't see the option? If only admins can add members to the group, ask an admin. You can also open the group's invite link on the bot number's own phone.
Step 3: Make the bot a group admin
- Tap the group name, then the bot number.
- Choose Make group admin (how to manage admins).
- There's no limit on admins per group, so you don't need to remove anyone.
Step 4: Test it in the group
- Type
.menuin the group. - If the bot replies with the menu, the connection and the group setup are working.
- Now set up that group's automations in the Dashboard.
Why the bot needs to be an admin (and what it does with it)
Several moderation actions are reserved for admins in WhatsApp itself. If the bot number isn't an admin, it can't do them for you:
| Action | Admin required? | What 9bot uses it for |
|---|---|---|
| Delete another member's message | Yes. In the app, only up to 2 days after it was sent (source) | Anti-link, word filter and strikes |
| Approve join requests | Yes (source) | Automatic member approval |
| Remove participants | Yes | Penalties, inactivity removal and timed access |
| Reply to commands and send messages | Depends on group permissions | Welcome messages, commands, schedules and announcements |
Want to understand every built-in group permission? See how to configure participant permissions.
The bot isn't replying in the group: what to check
- Is the number connected? If 9bot disconnects, go to the Dashboard and reconnect. According to the WhatsApp Help Center, linked devices are logged out if the primary phone goes unused for more than 14 days, so keep the bot number's phone active.
- Is the number open somewhere else? The connected WhatsApp account should be used only by 9bot. Don't use the same number on another device at the same time.
- Is the group admins-only? If Send new messages is turned off under Group permissions, only admins can post. Make the bot an admin.
- Did you type the right command? Use
.menuwith the dot in front. Custom commands only work after you create them in the Dashboard. - Is the automation on for that group? Settings are per group. Check that the right group is selected in the Dashboard.
Build your own bot or use a ready-made one?
People searching for “how to create a WhatsApp group bot” usually find two routes:
Code your own bot
- You need programming skills and a server running 24/7.
- You handle updates whenever WhatsApp changes something.
- Moderation, a dashboard and reports are all on you to build.
Use a ready-made bot (like 9bot)
- Connect the number and it works, no code required.
- Per-group settings in a dashboard, with ready commands and automations.
- Servers, updates and support are handled by the service.
The same rule applies either way: use the bot to manage groups that want it, not to send mass messages. WhatsApp states in its Help Center that automated or bulk messaging violates its Terms of Service.
What to set up first
Once the bot is in the group, start with the basics and add the rest gradually:
- Automatic welcome message with 3 to 5 short rules.
- Anti-link and anti-spam to delete invites to other groups and repeated messages.
- Commands like
.rulesand.menu, so members can help themselves. - Reports to track joins, exits and messages.
9bot comes with more than 120 built-in commands plus member approval, schedules, RSS and live stream alerts. See the full list in WhatsApp group bot: a look inside 9bot.
Tip: automate just a few things at first and tell the group the bot has arrived. Members accept rules more easily when they've been explained.
Read also
FAQ
Which number should I use for the group bot?
Can I add the bot to several groups?
Does the bot need to be a group admin?
Does the bot take up a spot in the group?
How do I create a WhatsApp group bot without coding?
Can the bot read members' private messages?
