Key settings to make WhatsApp groups not so annoying

One of the famous features of WhatsApp and hated by many users is groups. In the end, almost no one can escape WhatsApp groups, because they are often needed to communicate with people from work, from a classroom or even with the family.

The problem is that on various occasions, groups can become overwhelmed if you don't know how to manage them so that they don't become a torment while using a smartphone.

In order to lead a calmer life dealing with WhatsApp groups, the popular messaging application offers a series of options and settings that allow users to control from their notifications, received messages that are archived or who can add to new groups, as Infobae will show continuation:

This way you can avoid being added to more groups

If you don't want to be added to groups without any consent, go to Settings > Accounts > Privacy > Groups. There you can configure who can add you to the group: anyone (everyone), only your contacts, only certain people or no one.

In the option 'My contacts, except... ' is where you can choose which contacts can have the permission to add you to a group.

If 'All Contacts' is selected (icon at the top right), no one can add you to the group and this person will have to invite you with a link so that you can accept and join the group.

Disable automatic downloading of media files

This option can prevent automatic downloading of photos, videos, audios and documents from your group.

To do this, go to Settings > Storage and Data and configure automatic downloads with mobile data and WiFi, unchecking all options so that you have to manually download each file received.

Adjust media visibility

Thanks to groups, dozens of photos and videos, and sometimes unwanted content, can be received every day.

To prevent these photos and videos from appearing in the iPhone or Android camera roll, you need to access Group Information by clicking on the group name and in Viewing Mode media files, and finally activate the option that you do not want to download multimedia files from this chat in the gallery.

Archive groups that cannot be left

If a person was added to a group they don't want to belong to, but don't want to leave them either, they can be archived so that the group no longer appears in the chat overview.

In case of an Android phone, select the group by long pressing and clicking on the file icon. The group will move to the new Archived section. Archived chats are muted and will remain archived by default even if new messages are received.

On the other hand, on iPhone, you just have to go to the 'Chats' section (within Settings) and select the option that says 'Keep chats archived'.

Mute notifications

Muting group notifications is one of the necessary options to configure. To do this, enter a group, and in the options menu choose Mute notifications.

There you can choose 8 hours, 1 week or Always. By default it won't show notifications either, but if all you want to do is stop playing the sound and viewing the messages, you have to enable the 'Show notifications' option.

Customize notifications

Finally, for those important groups, you can customize their notifications to make each one sound different.

To do this, you have to join the group and tap the name of the group to see more information. There you will be able to find the option 'Customize notifications' and choose notification tones, vibrations and whether they are high priority notifications or not.

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