After a long wait, WhatsApp has finally enabled the option to prevent you from being added to groups . If you’re worried that someone will add you to a group and you’ll end up getting banned, or you’d simply rather not be added just because, here’s how you can configure WhatsApp so that no one can put you in groups without your permission.
Although in an early version of the WhatsApp feature we were told that there would be a “Nobody” option to completely block someone from adding you to groups, this is not the case in the end. It is still possible to prevent anyone from adding you to groups , although with a couple of additional clicks.
Avoid being put in groups on WhatsApp
Being put into a WhatsApp group without your consent can be quite unpleasant. Luckily, the app allows you to choose who can add you to a group from its privacy settings.
To configure this option you will need to open WhatsApp settings and go to the Account section . Then go to the Privacy subsection and you can configure it in the option called Groups . The default setting is Everyone , which means that anyone can put you in a group.
You will then see three options: Everyone, My Contacts, and My Contacts, Except… If you want to prevent strangers from adding you to groups, checking My Contacts is enough, but if you are afraid that some of your contacts will put you in groups, then you will need to choose My Contacts, Except…
This brings up a screen with all your WhatsApp contacts, and if you want to prevent anyone from adding you to WhatsApp, you’ll need to select them all using the checkbox next to their name. Luckily, there’s a button to select them all in one fell swoop, saving you dozens or hundreds of taps.
Once you’re done, tap the green floating button to complete the process. From now on, no one will be able to add you to groups . Instead, you’ll receive invitations that you can accept… or ignore entirely.
What happens if they try to add you to a group?
The above option prevents you from being automatically added to the group, but they will still be able to invite you. In fact, if someone tries to add you to a group they will receive a message saying that “could not be added to group”, with a shortcut to send an invitation via private message .
This invitation is a normal message sent to the chat and with which you can join the chat group if you see fit. Invitations are valid for three days and before entering a group you can see its name and who is in it. If you want to avoid being invited to groups as well, I’m afraid that for the moment the only option is to block the contact completely.