Getting Started with Grūps App

Everything you need to get up and running in a few minutes.

Two ways to start

You'll begin in one of two situations:

• Starting a new group — you want to create a group and invite others to join.
• Joining an existing group — someone sent you an invitation link, or you're requesting to join a group that allows it.

Both paths start with creating a Grūps App account. If you already have one, you can skip to joining or skip to creating a group.

Create your account

1. Open Grūps App
   Open the Grūps App on your phone or visit the Grūps App website in your browser.
2. Tap "Create account"
   On the login screen, tap the link to register a new account.
3. Enter your name and email
   Type your first name, last name, and email address. Use an email you can access — you'll need it to verify your account.
4. Choose a password
   Create a password. It must be at least 8 characters long.
5. Tap "Create account"
   Grūps App creates your account and signs you in.

Already have an account?

Tap Sign in on the login screen, enter your email and password, and you're in.

Forgot your password?

On the login screen, tap Forgot password? and enter your email address. You'll receive a link to reset your password.

Your demo group

When you create a new Grūps App account, a Demo Group is automatically created for you. It comes pre-loaded with realistic content — posts, chat messages, a calendar event, a poll, Q&A boards, a shared list, a recognition, and a web page — so you can explore every feature before setting up a real group.

The demo group appears in its own "Your Demo Group" section at the top of your groups list, styled with a teal border so it's easy to spot. Inside the group, a banner across the top reminds you it's a demo and offers a quick link to create your own group when you're ready.

What's inside

The demo group has all features enabled and contains sample content that describes what each feature does:

• Posts — several posts explaining how posts work, including a pinned one and examples of different post types
• Chat — a short welcome conversation to show what group chat looks like
• Calendar — a sample event with a description explaining how events work
• Polls — a poll whose answer options describe what polls can do (go ahead and vote)
• Q&A — four subjects, one for each board type (Help Desk, Notice Board, Feedback, Community Q&A), each with sample questions and answers
• Lists — a shared list with items that describe what lists are for
• Recognitions — a recognition sent to you from the Grūps App Bot to get you started
• Web Page — a sample custom page explaining the web pages feature

How long it lasts

The demo group expires 90 days after your account is created. An expiry pill on the group card counts down the days remaining. At day 75, you'll receive a warning notification and email reminding you to create a real group before the demo expires.

What happens at day 90 depends on whether you've interacted with the demo group:

• If you created any content (posted, chatted, added an event, etc.) — the group is archived. Your content is preserved in read-only form.
• If you never interacted — the group is deleted silently.

Limitations

The demo group is read-only in one respect: you cannot invite other members to it. It's designed for solo exploration. When you're ready to collaborate with others, create your own group.

When you're ready

Tap Create a Group in the demo banner (or tap + New Group from your groups list) to start your own group. The demo group will continue to exist alongside it until it expires.

Join a group

There are two ways to join an existing group.

Via invitation link

If a group admin invited you, they'll have sent you an invitation link — usually by email, text message, or another messaging app.

1. Tap the invitation link
   Tap the link in the message or email you received. It will open Grūps App (or the Grūps App website if you're on a desktop).
2. Create an account or sign in
   If you don't have an account yet, tap Create account and follow the steps above. If you already have an account, tap Sign in.
3. Accept the invitation
   After signing in, you'll see a confirmation screen showing the group you've been invited to. Tap Accept to join.
4. You're in
   You'll be taken directly into the group. Say hello in chat!

Via a join request

If you have the group's link or URL but haven't been invited, and the group allows join requests:

1. Visit the group's page
   Open the group URL in your browser or app. If you're not a member, you'll see a "not a member" page.
2. Tap "Request to Join"
   You'll be prompted to optionally write a brief message introducing yourself to the admin.
3. Wait for approval
   The group admin will review your request. You'll receive a notification when they approve or reject it.

Create your first group

Creating a group takes about two minutes. A setup wizard walks you through the steps.

1. Tap "New Group"
   From your groups list, tap the + New Group button. The group creation wizard opens.
2. Name your group
   Enter a name for your group (e.g. "Smith Family", "Friday Football", "Marketing Team"). You can also add a short description.
3. Choose a group type
   Select the type that best fits your group: Family, Standard, Club, Team, or Org. Each type has its own member limit and admin slot allocation per plan. See Group Types for a full breakdown.
4. Pick a look
   Choose a color theme and icon for your group. These appear on your group card and throughout the app.
5. Choose your features
   Select which features you want enabled — Chat, Calendar, Photos, Posts, and more. You can change this later in settings.
6. Review and create
   Check the summary and tap Create Group. Your group is ready.

Navigating Grūps App

On mobile

The bottom navigation bar is your main way to move around:

• Groups — your list of groups. Tap a group to open it.
• Chat — jump directly into your most recent chat conversation.
• Calendar — view upcoming events across all your groups.
• More — access additional features like Photos, Posts, Bookmarks, and Settings.

Inside a group

Once you open a group, you'll see the group's home page. Navigation within a group depends on which features are enabled, but typically includes:

• Home — an activity feed showing recent posts, events, and announcements.
• Chat — the group's chat conversation.
• Calendar — events for this group only.
• Additional features (Photos, Posts, Q&A, Resources, etc.) appear in the navigation menu or home page grid.

On desktop (web)

On the web version, the left sidebar shows your groups and the main features. The right side displays the content you've selected. The layout is wider but the same features are available.

Set up your profile

Adding a photo and completing your profile helps your group members know who you are.

1. Open your profile
   Tap your avatar or name in the navigation, then tap My Profile (or go to Account → Profile).
2. Add a profile photo
   Tap the camera icon on the avatar placeholder. Choose a photo from your device or take one now. Your photo appears next to your messages and in the member directory.
3. Fill in your details
   Add your display name, phone number (optional), and any other information. Some groups may have custom profile fields — for example, a sports team might ask for your position or jersey number.
4. Save
   Tap Save to apply your changes.

Invite members to your group

Once your group is set up, it's time to get people in. Admin

Invite by email

1. Open your group and go to Admin Dashboard → Members → Invite.
2. Enter one or more email addresses (separated by commas or line breaks).
3. Tap Send Invitations. Each person receives an email with a link to join.

Share an invitation link

1. Go to Admin Dashboard → Members → Invite.
2. Tap Copy Invitation Link.
3. Paste the link into a text message, WhatsApp, email, or wherever your group communicates. Anyone who taps the link can join.

First steps as a member

Joined a group? Here's what to do first:

• Say hello in chat — tap Chat and send a quick message to introduce yourself.
• Check the calendar — see if there are any upcoming events you should know about.
• Set your notification preferences — decide how often you want to hear from this group. Tap your name in the group, then Notification Settings.
• Complete your profile — add a photo and any details the group asks for.
• Explore the features — tap around to see what's available: Photos, Posts, Q&A, Resources, and more.

First steps as a group admin

Created a group? Here's a recommended setup checklist:

1. Enable the features you need
   Go to Admin Dashboard → Settings → Features. Toggle on the features your group will use. Members only see what's turned on.
2. Invite your members
   Use email invitations or share the invitation link. See Invite members above.
3. Post a welcome announcement
   Go to Announcements and create a short welcome post. New members will see it immediately when they join.
4. Create your first event
   Go to Calendar and add your group's next event so it's visible to all members.

Notifications

Grūps App sends push notifications to keep you informed. You control exactly what you're notified about.

Allow notifications when prompted

The first time you use Grūps App, your device will ask if you want to allow notifications. Tap Allow. Without this, you won't receive any push notifications from Grūps App.

Set per-group preferences

Each group can have its own notification level. Inside a group, tap your avatar or name, then Notification Settings:

• All messages — notified for every chat message and activity.
• @Mentions only — only notified when someone mentions you directly.
• Off — no notifications from this group.

You can also mute a group temporarily (1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours, or indefinitely).

For full notification control, see the Notification Preferences guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the demo group I see when I first sign up?

It's a pre-built group created automatically for every new user. It's seeded with sample content across all features so you can explore Grūps App before setting up a real group. See Your demo group above for full details.

Does the demo group count against my group limit?

No. The demo group is excluded from your admin slot usage entirely. You can create your own groups without the demo group affecting how many slots you have available.

What happens when the demo group expires?

After 90 days, the demo group is archived (if you interacted with it) or deleted (if you never used it). You'll receive a warning at day 75 so you have time to create a real group first. Archived demo content is preserved in read-only form — it won't disappear suddenly.

Is Grūps App free?

Yes. Creating an account and joining groups is free. Some advanced features are available on paid plans. See Plans & Limits.

Can I be in more than one group?

Yes. You can join as many groups as you like. Each group is completely separate — members, content, and settings don't overlap.

Can I use Grūps App on my phone and computer?

Yes. Grūps App is available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) and as a web app you can use in any browser. Your account and groups are the same across all devices.

What if I didn't receive my invitation email?

Check your spam or junk folder. If it's not there, ask the group admin to resend the invitation or share the invitation link directly with you. Alternatively, if the group has join requests enabled, you can visit the group's page and request to join directly.

Can I leave a group?

Yes. Open the group, tap the menu (⋯) or your member name, and choose Leave Group. You'll be removed immediately. Admins can also remove members from the Admin Dashboard.

Can I delete my account?

Yes. Go to Account → Delete Account. See the Account Settings guide for details.