We’ve all been there: you’ve been added to a WhatsApp group that you have no interest in or that has outlived its purpose, and you’re being peppered with inane notifications on a daily basis.
You want to leave, but you’re worried that doing so would make a scene, so you just mute the chat and try to ignore it (even as it keeps resurfacing to the top of your conversations).
Meta has answered your prayers. A recent update means that frustrated chatters can now exit a conversation without the drama of announcing their departure to the other group members.
Thanks to the update, rather than a note saying “X has left the chat”, only group admins will be notified. That may not be completely helpful if, say, the admin in question is your boss — but it’s still undoubtedly better than the previous system that broadcasted your exit to everyone, leaving them to chat about your departure in the very group you just left.
Of course, if nobody has heard from you for a while, they can still check the list of group participants, where your name will no longer be. But it’s still a lot less dramatic than what came before.
Here’s how to exit WhatsApp groups quietly.
How to quietly exit WhatsApp chats on iPhone
There are two ways to leave noisy WhatsApp chats on the iOS version.
The first is within the chat itself.
- Tap the group name at the top of the chat.
2. Scroll down to the very bottom of the options page. The second-to-last option is “Exit Group”. Tap it.
3. A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm. Crucially it says: “Only group admins will be notified that you left the group.”
Alternatively, you can leave chats via the main menu.
- Find the chat you want to leave. Swipe left on it, until three dots appear.
2. Tap the three dots, and press “Exit Group” from the pop-up menu that appears.
3. You’ll be presented with the same message as above, reassuring you that only group admins will be alerted. Press “Exit Group” to confirm and leave quietly.
How to quietly exit Whatsapp groups on Android
The process is pretty similar on Android, but with subtle differences when done from the main menu.
From within a chat group:
- Tap the group name at the top of the chat.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the options page, and tap “Exit Group”.
3. A confirmation pop-up will appear, once again confirming that only admins will be alerted to your exit.
From the main menu:
- Long press the chat group you want to exit. A tick will appear on the icon.
2. Press the three dots in the top-right-hand corner of the chat group to bring up a submenu. Press “Exit group”.
3. Confirm your departure on the pop-up by pressing “Exit”.
