How to Set Up a Group Chat on Android

Group chats on Android let you message multiple people in a single conversation. Whether you are coordinating a family dinner, planning a trip with friends, or keeping coworkers in the loop, a group text keeps everyone on the same page.

Most Android phones use Google Messages as the default texting app. If your phone uses a different messaging app (like Samsung Messages), the steps are similar. The basic idea is the same: create a new message, add multiple recipients, and start typing.

To create a group chat in Google Messages, open the app and tap "Start chat" at the bottom-right (or the compose button, which looks like a pencil or plus sign). Then tap "New group." You can search for contacts by name or phone number. Tap each person you want to add — a checkmark appears next to their name. When you have selected everyone, tap "Next."

You will be prompted to give your group a name. This is optional but helpful, especially if you have multiple group chats. Type a name like "Family," "Book Club," or "Weekend Plans," then tap "Next" or "Create." Your group chat is ready.

Type your first message in the text field and tap the send button. All members receive the message and can reply to the group. If anyone in the group uses RCS (Rich Communication Services, which is like iMessage for Android), you will see features like read receipts, typing indicators, and higher-quality photos.

To manage the group later, open the conversation and tap the group name at the top. You can add or remove members, change the group name, or mute notifications. Muting is helpful if the group gets chatty — you will still see messages when you open the conversation, but your phone will not buzz for every new text.

If you are using Samsung Messages instead of Google Messages, the process is almost identical: tap the compose button, add multiple contacts, and send your first message. Samsung Messages also supports group naming and management.