How to Use Broadcast Lists on WhatsApp (& WhatsApp Business)

WhatsApp is a cross-platform messaging app that enables users to chat using Internet data or Wi-Fi, without paying for SMS. The app also lets users send broadcast messages: a type of mass message sent to many people simultaneously (up to 256, in fact). Additionally, recipients can reply individually to your broadcasts without seeing each other’s messages. Broadcast messages are ideal for personal announcements, invitations, or even business dispatches. In this article, we’ll show you how to send broadcast messages, as well as edit or delete broadcast lists. Let’s get started!

Sending a Broadcast Message on WhatsApp: Quick Steps

iOS: Tap Settings → Broadcast messages → New list. Select the contacts you want to add and tap Create. Then, you can type out messages and send them.
Android: Tap Chats → ⁝ → Broadcast lists. Select the contacts you want to add and tap the checkmark button. Then, you can type out messages and send them.
WhatsApp Business: Sending broadcast messages from WhatsApp’s business app works the same as it does on the regular app (using the processes above).

Section 1 of 5:

Sending a Broadcast Message on WhatsApp (iOS)

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Launch WhatsApp from your iPhone or iPad and tap Settings on the navigation bar (at the bottom of the screen). This will bring you to the Settings menu, where you can create your new broadcast list.^{[1]
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You’ll see Broadcast messages near the top of the Settings menu, just below Lists. Tap Broadcast messages, then tap New list at the bottom of the next page.^{[2]
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Select the contacts you want to include and tap Create. After tapping New list, you’ll see a list of all your WhatsApp contacts. Tap the names of contacts you want to receive your broadcast message; you’ll see a green check mark appear next to the contacts you select. When you’re done, tap the Create button at the top right corner of the screen.^{[3]
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- You can send a broadcast message to a maximum of 256 contacts.
- You can also search for contacts in the search bar at the top of the contacts list.
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Type out your message and send it to the entire broadcast list. Once your broadcast list is created, you can start sending messages! Type out the message you want to send to everyone, and when it’s ready, simply tap the Send button (which resembles a paper airplane in a green circle) to send it off!
- Attach a photo, video, location, or contact to the message if you wish.

Section 2 of 5:

Sending a Broadcast Message on WhatsApp (Android)

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Launch WhatsApp from your smartphone and select Chats from the navigation bar (if the app doesn’t already open on the Chats tab). Then, tap the More Options button (which looks like three dots stacked on top of each other); this will open up a drop-down menu.^{[4]
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In the More Options menu, you’ll see Broadcast lists as an option. Tap it to open a new page with all your WhatsApp contacts listed.^{[5]
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Select the contacts you want to add and tap the check mark. Go through your WhatsApp contacts and select the ones you want to send your broadcast message to. When you’re done, simply tap the green checkmark button at the top of the screen to finalize the list.^{[6]
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- You can send a broadcast message to a maximum of 256 contacts.
- You can also search for contacts in the search bar at the top of the contacts list.
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Type out your message and send it to the entire broadcast list. With your broadcast list created, all that’s left to do is write a message! Type it out, and when it’s ready, press the Send button to send it to your contacts.
- Attach a photo, video, location, or contact to the message if you wish.

Section 3 of 5:

Editing a Broadcast List on WhatsApp

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iOS Access your broadcast lists by tapping Settings → Broadcast messages in the app. Find the list you want to edit and tap the “i” icon next to it. You’ll be brought to the List Info screen, from which you can change the name of the broadcast list, add new recipients, or remove contacts from the list.^{[7]
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- To change the broadcast list’s name, tap the existing name (or List name) and then enter a new one.
- To add or remove recipients, tap Edit list… on the List Info page.
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Android Open WhatsApp to the Chats tab and select the broadcast list you want to edit. Then, tap the More Options button (with three vertical dots) →, Broadcast list info. From the info screen, you can change the broadcast list’s name and add or remove recipients.^{[8]
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- Change the list’s name by tapping the More Options button again → Change broadcast list name.
- Add or remove contacts by tapping Edit recipients. There, you’ll be shown a list of your contacts.
- You can select the contacts you want to add, or tap the “x” in the contact’s profile picture to remove them.

Section 4 of 5:

Deleting a Broadcast List on WhatsApp

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Access your broadcast lists by tapping Settings → Broadcast messages in the app. Find the list you want to delete and swipe left on it. A Delete option will appear; tap Delete to remove that broadcast list from WhatsApp.
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Android Open WhatsApp to the Chats tab and select the broadcast list you want to delete. Then, tap the More Options button (with three vertical dots) → Broadcast list info → Delete broadcast list. Finally, tap the Delete button to finalize the action, and your broadcast list will be deleted!
- You can also check the box if you want to delete media received in that broadcast list from your device’s gallery.

Section 5 of 5:

Sending Broadcasts on the WhatsApp Business App

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Creating business broadcasts works the same as basic ones. Basically, you can follow the steps on creating, editing, and deleting broadcast lists in WhatsApp above, even if you’re on the business app, because the processes are pretty much identical. Still, if you need a refresher on sending broadcasts for WhatsApp Business, here are instructions for the iOS and Android platforms:^{[9]
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- iOS:
  - In the app, tap Settings → Broadcast messages → New List.
  - Scroll down the list and select the contacts you want to add (or search for them).
  - Tap Create to finalize the broadcast list.
  - Send business broadcast messages to your contacts from the new list!
- Android:
  - In the Chats tab, tap More Options (the three dots) → New Broadcast.
  - Scroll down the list and select the contacts you want to add (or search for them).
  - Tap the green checkmark to finalize the broadcast list.
  - Send business broadcast messages to your contacts from the new list!

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Can I have voice conversations?

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Yes, in a way. There is a button next to the text message box. If you click on it, you can record a voice message. When you release the button, you can send it. The other person can then record their message and send it back to you.

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How do I send a voice message on WhatsApp?

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If you are using an iPhone, chances are when you open your Whatsapp app, you will see "Broadcast Lists" at the top left hand corner under "Edit". Tap on "Broadcast Lists" then tap on "New List" at the bottom.

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How do I send or forward a message I received on WhatsApp to other people?

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Press on the message you wish to forward until it turns a shade of blue. On the top, there will be a bar with multiple icons. On the right of the bar there will be an arrow pointing to the right. Press that arrow, which is the forward button, and select the contact or group you want to forward that message to.

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Tips

All contacts on your broadcast list must have your number saved in their phone’s address book to receive your messages. This is intended to prevent spam; so, if someone doesn’t receive your broadcast, ensure you’re added to their contacts.

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You can make as many broadcast lists as you want in WhatsApp—there’s no limit!

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Messages received from a broadcast list appear like individual messages in the recipient’s Chats tab. You’ll also get their replies like a regular message; in other words, replies aren’t sent to the other contacts in a broadcast list.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you want to broadcast to people who aren't in your contacts list, use a third-party website or app. There are a lot of options out there for mass mailing messages on WhatsApp.
Don't worry about people forwarding your broadcast and interacting with your contacts. You can't forward broadcasted messages on the platform.
Just FYI, this only works on the phone. You can't send broadcast messages on the WhatsApp desktop app or browser.

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