How to Make a Group on TikTok

Looking to create a private space on TikTok to connect with your closest friends or build a mini-community for your top fans? You're in the right place. This guide will walk you through exactly how to make a group on TikTok, step-by-step. We'll also cover smart ways creators and brands can use this feature to build a more engaged and loyal following.

What is a TikTok Group Chat (and Why Should You Bother?)

A TikTok group chat is exactly what it sounds like: a private group message within the TikTok app. Think of it like a group text, but one that lives inside the platform where you're already discovering and sharing content. Instead of direct messaging (DMing) one person, you can bring a handful of people together into a single conversation. It’s a simple feature, but its value lies in its exclusivity and directness.

So, why would you want one? The reasons split into two main camps: personal use and community building.

• For Personal Use: It’s the perfect, low-effort way to create a dedicated chat with your friends. You can easily share funny videos you find, react to each other's posts, and make plans without ever leaving the app. It keeps your TikTok-related conversations organized and separate from your main messaging apps.
• For Creators and Brands: This is where things get interesting. A group chat is a powerful tool for fostering a deeper connection with your audience. It turns passive followers into an active community. Imagine having a private "VIP room" for your most dedicated supporters. Here, you can offer an exclusive experience that makes them feel seen and valued, which is the cornerstone of building a strong brand organically.

Four Ways Creators Can Use TikTok Groups to Deepen Engagement

If you're building a brand or a following on TikTok, a group chat can be a game-changer. It's a direct line to the people who care most about what you do. Here are a few creative ways to use it:

1. Create a "Top Fan" Feedback Group

Invite your most engaged followers - the ones who always comment, share, and support your content - into an exclusive group. Use this space as a personal think tank. Ask for their opinions on video ideas, get feedback on a new editing style, or poll them on what kind of content they want to see next. They get to feel like part of your creative process, and you get direct, high-value feedback from your target audience.

2. Offer Exclusive Content and Early Access

Make your group members feel special by giving them a first look at new content. Before you post a video publicly, drop it in the group for them to see. Announce giveaways or promotions to them before anyone else. This creates a sense of exclusivity and rewards their loyalty, encouraging more people to engage with your content in the hopes of getting an invite.

3. Share Behind-the-Scenes Access

Your main TikTok feed is for polished content. Use the group chat for the raw, unedited, human moments. Share a quick video of a blooper, a picture of your chaotic workspace, or a text update about your day. This kind of content humanizes your brand and builds a genuine, personal connection that public-facing content can rarely achieve.

4. Foster a True Community Space

Encourage members to chat with each other. If your brand is about a specific niche (like pottery, vintage fashion, or board games), your group can become a place where like-minded people connect. Pose questions to the group, encourage them to share their own work or tips, and celebrate their wins. When your group becomes a valuable social space on its own, their loyalty to your brand multiplies.

How to Make a Group Chat on TikTok: The Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to create your own group? The process is very straightforward. Just follow these simple steps to get your first group chat up and running in a couple of minutes.

Just a heads up: To add someone to a group, you generally need to be mutuals (meaning you follow each other). If their privacy settings are more open, you might be able to add them without a follow-back, but the mutuals rule is the most common condition.

Step 1: Go to Your Inbox

Open the TikTok app and look for the Inbox icon at the bottom of your screen. It looks like a little speech bubble with a lightning bolt, or sometimes like a paper airplane. Tap it to open your direct messages.

Step 2: Start a New Chat

Once you're in your inbox, look for the icon in the top right corner that lets you start a new message. It usually looks like a square with a pencil inside it or a plus sign (+). Tap this icon.

Step 3: Select Your Group Members

You’ll see a list of your friends and followers. To add someone to the group, simply tap the small circle to the right of their name. A red checkmark will appear, indicating they've been selected. Scroll through your list and select everyone you want to include in your chat. Keep in mind that TikTok groups currently have a member limit, often around 35 people, so they are best suited for smaller, tight-knit communities.

Step 4: Launch the Group Chat

After you've selected at least two other people, a red button will appear at the bottom of the screen labeled "Start group chat." Tap it, and you'll be taken directly into your newly created group conversation.

Step 5: Name Your Group (This Is Important!)

By default, your group will have a technical name like "Group Chat 3." That’s not very exciting. To give it a custom name, tap the three dots (...) in the top right corner of the chat window. From there, select the option to "Change group name."

Choose a name that reflects the group’s purpose. Simple and fun names like "Weekend Crew" work for friends, but for a brand, be more strategic. Try something like "Sarah's Creative Corner" or "Bike Life Crew" to create a strong sense of identity. A good name makes the group feel like a real club.

Step 6: Send Your Opening Message

That's it! Your group is now live. Send a welcome message to get the conversation started. Say hello, remind everyone why you created the group, and maybe ask a fun icebreaker question to encourage people to start chatting.

Managing Your Group for Long-Term Success

Creating the group is just the first step. To keep it from fizzling out, you need to manage it effectively. This doesn’t mean being a strict moderator, but rather a good host who keeps the space active and positive.

Lay Down Some Ground Rules

In your welcome message or a pinned note (if the feature is available), set a few simple guidelines. This is particularly important for creator-led groups. Your rules can be as simple as:

• Be kind and respectful to everyone.
• No spamming or self-promotion.
• Keep conversations relevant to the group's purpose.

This simple structure prevents the chat from becoming chaotic and ensures it remains a valuable place for everyone involved.

Adding and Removing Members After Creation

Your group can evolve over time. To add new people, go into the chat, tap the three dots (...) menu in the corner, and find an option like "Add members." From there, you can select more friends to invite.

If you need to remove someone, go to the group's participant list by tapping the member count at the top. Next to each person's name, you'll see another three-dot menu. Tap it, and you should see an option to "Remove from group."

Remind People How to Mute Notifications

An active group chat can mean a lot of notifications, which can become annoying and lead people to abandon the group. Be a helpful admin by showing your members how to manage notifications. In the three-dot menu, there is an option to "Mute notifications." Pointing this out proactively can improve everyone's experience and encourage them to stick around.

Final Thoughts

Creating a group on TikTok is a simple, direct way to build tighter connections, whether it’s with a small circle of friends or your most dedicated followers. For creators, it’s an underutilized tool for transforming a passive audience into an engaged community, giving you a direct line for feedback, exclusive content, and fostering genuine loyalty.

As that dedicated community grows, keeping up with comments, direct messages, and consistently scheduling the content they love becomes the next big challenge. That’s why we built Postbase from the ground up to handle today's social media. We created a visual calendar to help you plan and schedule your TikToks and short-form videos across all platforms, along with a unified inbox to manage all your public comments and DMs in one place. It helps you focus less on back-end logistics and more on nurturing the connections you’re working so hard to build.