8 Steps To Stop Others From Adding You To WhatsApp Groups

Do you have challenges on how to stop others from adding you to WhatsApp groups without your approval? WhatsApp is one of the most used instant messaging social media platforms that allow any other WhatsApp user with your WhatsApp phone number to message you, share content with you or add you to a Whatsapp group.

WhatsApp usually allows every WhatsApp user irrespective of whether they are in your contact list or not to add you to WhatsApp groups.

Adding people to Whatsapp groups without their approval can be irritating and frustrating sometimes.

Thanks to the recent WhatsApp update that enabled people to exist WhatsApp groups without other members of the WhatsApp group knowing, except the admin of the group.

However, You don’t need to exist a Whatsapp group if you were not added to the group.

You can stop others from adding you to WhatsApp groups without your approval by changing your Whatsapp privacy settings on your WhatsApp phone app.

How to Stop Others From Adding You to WhatsApp Groups

To stop others from adding you to WhatsApp groups via the WhatsApp app, follow the steps below for android and iPhone devices.

How to Stop Others From Adding You to WhatsApp Groups on Andriod devices

Step 1. Open your WhatsApp on your android device

Step 2. On the home page tap on the three vertical dots (more options/menu), on the top right border of your screen

Step 3. Tap on settings

Step 4. Tap on account

Step 5. Tap on Privacy

Step 6. Tap on groups then, 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.

Step 7. 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.

Step 8. Tap Done or okay.

Note: After the above setting if someone in your contact tries to add you to a Whatsapp group, 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. You will have three days to accept the invite before it expires.

How to Stop Others From Adding You to WhatsApp Groups on iPhone

To stop others from adding you to WhatsApp groups on your iPhone follow the steps below:

Step 1. Open your WhatsApp on your iPhone

Step 2. Tap on settings

Step 3. Tap on Privacy

Step 4. Tap on groups

Step 5. 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.

Step 6. 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.

Step 7. Tap Done or okay.

Note: After the above setting if someone in your contact tries to add you to a Whatsapp group, 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. You will have three days to accept the invite before it expires.

Note: You can not change your Whatsapp privacy setting on WhatsApp Web or desktop, however, the settings from the phone app will be synchronised with WhatsApp web and desktop.

Explore: How to use two different WhatsApp on one phone.