# How to Make a Group Chat on TikTok (and Send Pictures in DMs)

> How to create a TikTok group chat with up to 32 people, add or remove members, send pictures and videos in DMs, and whether you can see deleted messages.

Canonical: https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-make-a-group-chat-on-tiktok
Last updated: 2026-10-28

Category: TikTok. 

To make a group chat on TikTok, open **Inbox**, tap the **new message** icon (a pencil or plus in the top corner), select **two or more people**, then tap **Chat** or **Create group chat**. TikTok group chats hold up to **32 people**, and you need to be **16 or older** to use direct messages at all. You can also start a group from a video: tap **Share**, then **Create group**, and the video becomes the first message.

Menu labels change between app versions, so yours may differ slightly.

## Group chat rules at a glance

| What | At the time of writing |
| --- | --- |
| Maximum members | 32 |
| Minimum age for DMs and group chats | 16 |
| Who you can add | Usually friends (people who follow each other) |
| Teens aged 16-17 | Can only be added by mutual follows; new joiners need approval by default |
| Photos and videos | Up to 9 at once in a chat |
| Voice messages | Up to 60 seconds |

Group chats aren't available in every region yet. If there's no option to create a group, update the app; if it's still missing, it hasn't reached your account.

## How to create a group chat step by step

1. Tap **Inbox** at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the **new message** icon at the top.
3. Tick the people you want to add. You'll usually only see friends and people you message.
4. Tap **Chat** (or **Create group chat**).
5. Optional: open the chat, tap the **three dots** or the group name, and set a name and photo.

### Add or remove people

Open the group, tap the **three dots** or group name, and choose **Add members** or tap a member to **Remove** them. The person who created the group manages it; others can leave at any time with **Leave group**.

### Invite with a link

Some versions let you share an invite link to the group. Teens can only join through a link if the group already includes someone they follow mutually.

## How to send pictures on TikTok

Since 2025 you can send photos and videos in one-to-one and group chats.

1. Open the chat.
2. Tap the **image** or **camera** icon next to the message box.
3. Pick up to nine photos or videos from your camera roll, or take one with the camera. You can edit before sending.
4. Tap **Send**.

You can't send a photo or video as the first message to someone who hasn't accepted your message request. Sharing a TikTok video is different: tap **Share** on the video and pick the person or group.

## Can you see deleted messages on TikTok?

No. There's no way to recover a message once it's deleted, either yours or someone else's. What deleting does depends on how fast you act:

- **Delete for everyone** removes the message from both sides, but only for a short window after sending.
- **Delete for me** removes it from your inbox only. The other person still sees it.

So treat anything you send as permanent once that window has passed. Apps or sites that promise to "recover deleted TikTok messages" are not something TikTok supports; avoid giving them your login.

## Privacy controls for group chats

In **Settings and privacy > Privacy > Direct messages** you can choose who can message you and who can add you to groups. If someone keeps adding you to a group you don't want, leave it and change that setting. You can also turn off read status here; see [what nudge means on TikTok](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/what-does-nudge-mean-on-tiktok) for read receipts and other chat features.

## TikTok for teams

Group chats are handy for passing around ideas, but they're not a publishing workflow. If a team shares a TikTok account, Schedule For You lets everyone draft and queue videos and photo posts in one place, with approvals, so nobody needs the login on their phone. See the [TikTok scheduler](https://scheduleforyou.com/tiktok) for what it can publish.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many people can be in a TikTok group chat?
Up to 32, at the time of writing.

### Why can't I make a group chat on TikTok?
You must be 16 or older, the people need to be friends or people you can message, and the feature may not be live in your region yet. Update the app and check your direct message settings.

### Can people see if I leave a TikTok group chat?
Yes. The chat usually shows a note that you left.

### Can you send pictures in TikTok DMs?
Yes. Tap the image icon in a chat to send up to nine photos or videos. You can't send them as a first message request.

## Related

- [All guides](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog)
- [Pricing](https://scheduleforyou.com/pricing)