How to make a private group chat without sharing phone numbers

In most group chat apps, joining a group means everyone in it can see your phone number. In a class group, a hobby group or a group of friends of friends, that is a lot of people with your number.

There is another way to do it.

What to look for in a private group

• No phone numbers or real names shown to other members.
• Invite only: people join through a private link, not by being found in a search.
• End-to-end encryption, so only members can read what is posted.
• Control over who is in it: removing someone should take one tap.

Option 1: a small group chat

For up to 5 people, a Saved Room works like a normal group chat. Everyone signs up with just a username, and messages stay until you delete them.

For a one-off conversation, a temporary room needs no accounts at all and deletes itself when time runs out.

Option 2: a private circle for a bigger group

A Private Circle is a private feed for up to 20 people, such as close friends, family or classmates. Members can:

• post photos and updates, and comment,
• vote in polls and plan meetups,
• post anonymously, so members see "Anonymous member" instead of a name, even the owner,
• seal a time capsule post that only opens on a date you choose.

Everything posted is end-to-end encrypted, and there are no public profiles or followers.

How to set it up

1. Create a free account with just a username and a password.
2. Create a room or a circle and give it a name.
3. Share its private invite link with the people you want, and nobody else.
4. Remove anyone at any time, or replace the invite link if it was shared too widely.

A tip for groups

Agree on a few simple rules early: no screenshots of other people's posts outside the group, and no adding people without asking. Privacy in a group depends on everyone in it.