WhatsApp group admin powers what admins can and cannot do
A reference for admins of professional groups who need to know exactly which powers the admin role has and where they end.
How it works in practice
Direct answer: A WhatsApp group admin can add and remove participants, make other members admins, approve join requests, decide who sends messages and edits group info, reset the invite link, delete messages sent by other members for everyone within two days and delete the group for everyone. An admin cannot read members' private chats, recover deleted messages, remove the group creator as admin or hide from members which admin deleted a message.
In short:
- Admins control members, permissions, the invite link and other people's messages.
- Members' messages can only be deleted by admins within two days.
- Admins cannot read private chats or recover deleted messages.
What an admin can do
| Power | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Add and remove participants | Groups can have up to 1,024 members | Help Center |
| Make and dismiss admins | Any admin can promote another participant | Help Center |
| Set permissions | Who edits info, who sends messages, who adds members, approval of new members | Help Center |
| Delete members' messages | For everyone, within two days of sending | Help Center |
| Delete the group for everyone | Only admins can do this | Help Center |
Permissions in detail: how to set group permissions.
How an admin deletes other members' messages
- Press and hold the message.
- Tap the delete icon.
- Choose Delete for everyone.
According to the Help Center, the message is replaced by "This message was deleted by admin" followed by the admin's name. Members see which admin deleted it, the message cannot be recovered and there is no appeal. The window is two days after sending.
Messages older than two days can no longer be deleted for everyone. In large groups, moderation that depends on someone checking at night often misses this window.
What an admin cannot do
- Read private chats of members or see messages not sent in the group.
- Recover deleted messages: the Help Center says deleted messages cannot be recovered without a backup.
- Remove the creator of the group as admin.
- Delete anonymously: the admin's name appears in place of the message.
- Hide exit notices: when a member leaves, only admins are notified, and this notification cannot be turned off.
For what happens to the role when an admin leaves, see what happens when the admin leaves the group.
How to split the work in large groups
WhatsApp has only two levels: admin and participant. To avoid overloading one person, distribute repetitive tasks. The full list is in 9 tasks every group admin should delegate. With 9bot, the connected number (which must be an admin) removes forbidden links, applies progressive warnings, welcomes members and answers commands, while the team keeps the decisions. 7-day trial; with the coupon FIRST9, monthly plans are 50% off for the first 3 months after the trial.
When you are admin of several groups
The powers are the same in every group, but the work multiplies. Standardize names, rules and welcomes, keep at least two admins per group and bring groups with the same audience into a community (up to 100 groups). See the full method in how to organize multiple WhatsApp groups.
Read also
FAQ
What can a WhatsApp group admin do?
Can an admin delete someone else's message in a group?
Do members know which admin deleted a message?
Can an admin see deleted messages?
Can an admin read my private chats?
Can I be admin of several groups at once?
How do I share admin work across several groups?
