Managing large messaging groups can sometimes be challenging, especially when many people join through invite links or community directories. To give administrators better control over group membership, WhatsApp has introduced a feature called Approve New Participants.

This feature allows group admins to review and approve requests from users who want to join a WhatsApp group. Instead of allowing people to enter the group automatically, the admin can decide whether to approve or reject each request. This helps maintain privacy and prevents unwanted users from joining the group.

The update is particularly useful for large communities, professional groups, or educational groups where moderation is important.

What Is the “Approve New Participants” Feature?

The Approve New Participants feature gives WhatsApp group admins the ability to screen new members before they join the group.

Previously, anyone with a group invite link could join immediately. With this feature enabled, users who click the invite link must first send a request, which will then be reviewed by the group administrator.

Only after approval will the user become part of the group conversation.

Ways Users Can Request to Join a WhatsApp Group

People can request to join a WhatsApp group through several methods, including:

• Using a group invite link
• Being invited by an existing group member
• Accessing the group through a community directory
• Scanning a group QR code

If the approval feature is enabled, all these joining attempts will require admin permission.

What Participants See When Approval Is Required

When this feature is active, users attempting to join a group will see a message saying:

“An admin must approve your request.”

They will also see a Request to Join button. Before submitting the request, participants may:

• Add a reason for joining
• Submit the request to the admin
• Cancel the request if they change their mind

Once the admin approves the request, the group chat will show how the user joined the group.

How Admins Review Join Requests

Group administrators receive notifications whenever there are pending requests from people who want to join the group.

Admins can review these requests in two ways:

• Through a banner notification in the group chat
• By opening the Pending Participants section inside the group information page

From there, the admin can decide whether to approve or reject each request.

Step-by-Step: How to Enable Approve New Participants on WhatsApp

If you are a group admin and want to activate this feature, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open WhatsApp

Launch the WhatsApp application on your smartphone.

Step 2: Select the Group

Open the group where you want to enable admin approval.

Step 3: Access Group Info

Tap the group name at the top of the chat to open the Group Info page.

Step 4: Open Group Settings

Scroll down and tap Group Settings.

Step 5: Enable the Feature

Tap Approve New Participants.

Step 6: Turn It On

Select On from the pop-up menu to activate the feature.

Once enabled, all new members must receive approval from the admin before joining the group.

Important Things to Know

• The Approve New Participants setting is turned off by default.
• When disabled, anyone with the invite link can join the group automatically.
• When enabled, admins must manually review each joining request.

Why This Feature Is Useful

Group chats can sometimes grow very large, making it difficult to monitor who joins. The approval feature helps admins maintain order and prevent spam or unknown users from entering the group.

It is especially helpful for:

• Educational groups
• Professional communities
• Private family groups
• Event-based WhatsApp groups

By adding a verification step, WhatsApp ensures that group admins maintain full control over membership.

WhatsApp continues to introduce features that improve user privacy and group management. The Approve New Participants feature gives administrators better control over who enters their groups, making group chats safer and easier to manage.