> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.z-api.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating groups

> Creates a group with its respective participants

## Overview

This method is responsible for creating a group with its respective participants.

<Tip>
  It is not possible to add an image during creation, but you can add one afterwards using the update group image method.
</Tip>

<Info>
  You must not pass the connected number in the participants list. At least one contact is required to create a group, just like on WhatsApp Web.
</Info>

<Warning>
  When creating a new group, you must use phone numbers exclusively. The @lid identifier is not supported for group creation — if provided, the group will be created normally, but the participant with @lid **will not be included** and their identifier will be returned in the `phonesNotAdded` field.
</Warning>

***

## Attributes

### Header

<ParamField path="instanceId" type="string" required>
  Your instance ID. Available in the Z-API panel under **Instances**.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="token" type="string" required>
  Your Z-API instance token.
</ParamField>

### Required

<ParamField body="autoInvite" type="boolean" required>
  Defines whether a private invite will be sent to participants who cannot be added directly
</ParamField>

<ParamField body="groupName" type="string" required>
  Group name
</ParamField>

<ParamField body="phones" type="array" required>
  List of participant phone numbers
</ParamField>

***

## Request Body

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"poimandres"}}
{
  "autoInvite": true,
  "groupName": "Z-API Group",
  "phones": ["5544999999999", "5544888888888"]
}
```

***

## Response

### 200

<ResponseField name="phone" type="string">
  ID/Phone of the created group
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="phonesNotAdded" type="array">
  List of identifiers that were **not** added to the group. A participant may appear here for two reasons:

  * **Use of @lid**: identifiers in the `@lid` format are not supported for group creation. The group will be created normally, but the participant with @lid will be left out and their identifier will be listed here.
  * **Permission issue (autoInvite)**: when a number cannot be added directly to the group and `autoInvite` is enabled, a private invite is sent to them. Until the invite is accepted, the number is returned in this field.
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="invitationLink" type="string">
  Group invitation link
</ResponseField>

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"poimandres"}}
{
  "phone": "120363019502650977-group",
  "phonesNotAdded": [
    "2111897971174599@lid",
    "5544777777777"
  ],
  "invitationLink": "https://chat.whatsapp.com/GONwbGGDkLe8BifUWwLgct"
}
```

### 405

In this case, make sure you are correctly specifying the request method — check whether you sent POST or GET as specified at the beginning of this topic.

### 415

If you receive a 415 error, make sure to add the "Content-Type" header to your request with the type of object you are sending, most commonly "application/json".