Instagram Group Chat: Create, Join, and Manage
By Kushagra Kumar, founder of Shre. Updated 1 July 2026.
An Instagram group chat lets you message several people in one thread, so friends, a team, or a community can talk in the same place. Everyone can send messages, share posts, react, and see each reply as it comes in.
This guide covers how to create a group chat, how to join one through an invite link, how to name and leave a group, and how the admin controls work. Some options move around between app versions, so we flag where steps may vary.
To create an Instagram group chat, tap the new message icon, select two or more people, and send a message. To join a group, open a group invite link or accept an invite from a member. You can name, mute, or leave the group from its chat settings.
How to create a group chat
Starting a group chat takes a few taps. Open your Direct inbox with the paper plane icon, tap the pencil or new message icon, then select two or more people from your list. Type a message and send it, and the group is created automatically.
Once the thread exists, everyone in it can reply, react, and share posts or Reels. You can add more people later from the group's chat settings.
- Select at least two people to turn a chat into a group.
- Add members later from the group's settings, if you have permission.
- Share a post into the group by tapping the paper plane under it.
New to Direct? See what Instagram Direct is first.
Name a group and use invite links
Naming a group makes it easy to find. Open the group, tap the name or members at the top to open chat settings, and look for the option to add or edit the group name. In most versions this sits near the top of the settings panel.
Many versions of Instagram also support a group invite link. From the group's settings you can create a link and share it, so anyone with the link can join without being added one by one. Where an approval option is available, new members wait for an admin to let them in. Steps and availability vary by version.
- Set a clear group name so members recognise the thread.
- Share an invite link to let several people join at once.
- Regenerate or turn off the link if you no longer want new joiners.
Join a group and leave one
There are two common ways to join a group. You can tap a group invite link that a member shares, which opens Instagram and lets you join, or you can be added directly by someone already in the group. Some accounts also share a chat sticker on a story that opens a group to join. Availability depends on your version.
To leave a group, open it, go to chat settings, and choose Leave chat. In some versions you can leave silently so others are not notified. If you only want quiet, mute the group instead of leaving so you stay in the thread without the alerts.
- Join through an invite link or a direct add from a member.
- Leave a group from its chat settings with Leave chat.
- Mute a busy group to stop notifications without leaving.
Admin controls and busy inboxes
Group chats include light admin controls. The person who created the group, and sometimes others, can remove members, manage the invite link, and in some versions approve who joins. These options live in the group's chat settings and vary by app version.
If you run a creator or business account, groups and one to one chats together can flood your inbox. Automation keeps the first reply instant so no one waits. An Instagram auto reply greets new messages, and auto DM turns a keyword comment on your post into a private message automatically, all on the official Instagram API.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a group chat on Instagram?
Tap the new message icon in your Direct inbox, select two or more people, type a message, and send. The group is created as soon as the first message goes out.
How do Instagram group invite links work?
In many versions you can create an invite link from the group's chat settings and share it. Anyone with the link can join. Availability and approval options vary by version.
How do I leave an Instagram group chat?
Open the group, go to chat settings, and tap Leave chat. In some versions you can leave silently. To stay but stop alerts, mute the group instead.
Can I join a group chat from a story?
Some accounts share a chat sticker on their story that lets you tap to join a group. Whether this appears depends on your app version and the account's settings.
Related
Source and reference: Instagram Platform, Meta for Developers. Shre sends messages through the official Instagram Graph API within Instagram's rules.