How to Create Broadcast in WhatsApp: Android and iPhone

Overview: A WhatsApp broadcast list lets you send one message to multiple contacts at once, with each recipient receiving it as a private individual conversation -- not as a group chat. Recipients cannot see who else received the message. Creating a broadcast list takes under two minutes on Android and iPhone. This guide covers what a broadcast is, how to create and send from one, how to manage your lists, the 256-contact limit and what to do when you exceed it, and how to fix broadcast messages that do not deliver.

The WhatsApp broadcast list is built into the app and is free to use. For contacts beyond 256 or for lists where recipients have not saved your number, a WhatsApp bulk message sender free tool like Roklo handles those sends from your browser. This guide covers the built-in broadcast list process first.

A WhatsApp broadcast is a feature that lets you send the same message to multiple contacts simultaneously. Each contact receives it as a direct private conversation with you -- not as a group message. The recipient has no way to know that the same message was sent to other people.

Broadcasts are used for announcements, promotions, reminders, updates, and any communication where you want to reach multiple people privately rather than creating a group chat. The list of contacts you send to is called a broadcast list.

WhatsApp supports two forms of broadcast: the in-app broadcast list (covered in this guide, limited to 256 contacts and requires recipients to have your number saved) and external broadcasting tools that remove both of those constraints.

The broadcast list and WhatsApp group serve different communication needs. The table below shows which to use and when.

Broadcast lists work best when you want to share the same information with many people privately, such as a flash sale alert or an appointment reminder. WhatsApp groups work best when you want recipients to interact with each other or have a shared conversation.

Also Read: How to Read Deleted WhatsApp Messages: 6 Methods to Try in 2026

• Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.
• Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
• Tap New Broadcast.
• A contact selection screen appears. Type a name in the search bar to find contacts, or scroll through the list and tap each contact you want to add.
• Selected contacts appear with a checkmark. You can select up to 256 contacts per list.
• Tap the green checkmark or arrow to create the list.
• Your new broadcast list appears in the Chats tab, labeled with the names of the first few contacts or a custom name you set.

• Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
• Tap Chats at the bottom left.
• At the very top of the Chats screen, tap Broadcast Lists.
• Tap New List in the top right.
• Type contact names in the search bar or scroll through the list. Tap each contact to select them.
• Tap Create after selecting up to 256 contacts.
• Your broadcast list is created and appears in the Broadcast Lists section at the top of Chats.

Creating the broadcast list is only the first step. Here is how to actually send a message from it.

• Open WhatsApp and find your broadcast list. On Android, it appears in your Chats tab. On iPhone, it is under Chats > Broadcast Lists at the top.
• Tap the broadcast list to open it.
• Type your message in the input field at the bottom. You can include text, emojis, images, videos, documents, or links -- the same media types as a regular WhatsApp message.
• Tap the Send button.
• WhatsApp sends individual copies of the message to every contact on the list. Each recipient receives the message as a private direct conversation.
• Replies from recipients land in your individual conversations with each contact, not in the broadcast list screen. Check your main Chats tab to see replies.

Edit contacts in the list:

• Open the broadcast list.
• Tap the list name at the top (Android) or the "i" info button (iPhone).
• Tap Edit on the broadcast list info screen.
• Add contacts by searching and tapping them. Remove contacts by tapping their name and selecting Remove.
• Save changes.

Rename the list:

• Open the broadcast list and tap the name at the top.
• On Android, tap Edit List. On iPhone, tap Edit.
• Update the name field and save.

Delete the list:

• From your Chats tab, long-press the broadcast list.
• Select Delete Broadcast List and confirm.
• Deleting the list does not delete any conversations with individual contacts -- it only removes the list itself.

No. WhatsApp Web and the WhatsApp Desktop app do not include a broadcast list feature. Broadcast lists can only be created and sent from the WhatsApp mobile app -- Android or iPhone.

However, if you have already created a broadcast list on your phone, it appears in your linked WhatsApp Web session. You can open existing broadcast lists and read their history on WhatsApp Web, but you cannot create new ones or send from them on the desktop.

Also Read: 17 Best Practices and Tips for Using a WhatsApp Bulk Messaging Tool in 2026

The two central limitations of WhatsApp's built-in broadcast list are the contact cap and the saved-number requirement. Both are explained in the WhatsApp broadcast limit guide in full, with the exact ceiling and realistic daily volume guidelines. Here is a summary:

1. Maximum 256 contacts per list: Each broadcast list is capped at 256 recipients. You can create multiple lists to reach more contacts, but managing several lists manually becomes time-consuming at scale.

2. Recipients must have saved your number: This is the more limiting constraint. If a contact has not saved your phone number in their address book, your broadcast message will not deliver to them at all -- even if they are in the list. For marketing to new leads or cold contacts, this makes the broadcast list ineffective.

3. No delivery tracking or analytics: WhatsApp's broadcast list shows basic sent/delivered tick marks. There is no click tracking, open rates, or reply analytics built in.

4. No scheduling: Messages from a broadcast list go out immediately. You cannot schedule a broadcast to send at a specific time within the WhatsApp app.

For businesses regularly reaching contact lists larger than 256, or for campaigns to leads who have not saved your number, a browser-based campaign tool is the practical solution. WhatsApp campaign software like Roklo runs from your existing WhatsApp number through your browser, removes the 256 limit, removes the saved-number requirement, adds message scheduling and delivery tracking, and handles send pacing to avoid spam flags. No API application required and no per-message fee.

The two approaches serve different needs: the built-in broadcast list works well for regular communication with a small, known contact list where everyone has your number saved. A campaign tool works for structured marketing to a larger segmented contact base.

Well-structured broadcast messages follow the same principles as WhatsApp message templates for business: direct opener, a single clear call to action, and the recipient's name at minimum. Here are the practices that improve broadcast results.

1. Use the name variable: Opening with "Hi [Name]" instead of "Hi there" immediately signals a personal message rather than a mass send. In the built-in broadcast list, you cannot auto-insert names -- you would need to personalize each copy manually or use a tool with merge field support.

2. Keep messages under 150 words: WhatsApp is a conversational channel. Long messages are scrolled past. State the point in the first line.

3. One call to action per message: Reply to confirm, click to view, or call to book. One action. Multiple CTAs in a single broadcast produce lower response rates.

4. Include an opt-out line: "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" reduces block rates. Recipients who opt out are one fewer potential spam report against your number.

5. Send during active hours: 9am to 12pm or 4pm to 7pm in the recipient's time zone. Late-night broadcasts see higher ignore and block rates regardless of message quality.

6. Do not send daily: Even a highly engaged contact list starts ignoring or blocking frequent senders. Two to three times per week is a reasonable ceiling for most business types.

Also Read: Best Welcome Greetings Messages for WhatsApp Groups (2026)

Recipient has not saved your number: This is the most common reason. WhatsApp's broadcast list only delivers to contacts who have your number saved. Ask the contact to save your number, then they will receive future broadcasts.

Message shows one tick (sent but not delivered): The contact's phone may be off, their WhatsApp may not be active, or they may have blocked you. A single tick means the message left your device but has not reached theirs.

Broadcast list not appearing on a linked device: Broadcast lists are managed on mobile only. If you are checking WhatsApp Web, you can view existing lists but cannot create or send from them there.

Contact was removed from the broadcast list by mistake: Re-add them by editing the list (open list > list name at top > Edit).

Broadcast is not delivering to new leads at all: New leads who have not saved your number will not receive broadcasts through WhatsApp's built-in feature. A browser-based tool removes this constraint by working through a different send mechanism.

WhatsApp's built-in broadcast list is a straightforward tool for sending the same message privately to multiple contacts. Create it in under two minutes on Android or iPhone, send from the list like a normal message, and manage contacts by editing the list. The two constraints -- 256 contacts and the saved-number requirement -- define when the built-in list is sufficient and when you need a different approach.

For regular communication with a small, warm contact list that has your number saved, the built-in broadcast covers the need. For structured marketing sends to a larger segmented base, leads who have not saved your number, or campaigns that need scheduling and tracking, a dedicated campaign tool is the right path.

Roklo is a free bulk message sender that handles how to send bulk WhatsApp messages to your full contact list from a browser -- no 256 limit, no saved-number requirement, and no per-message charge.

Also Read: How to Send Bulk WhatsApp Messages Without the API (2026)