How Do You Use Tags On WhatsApp Correctly In 2025?

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Make Sure Your Message Gets Seen With Targeted Tags

Tagging people in groups ensures they get a notification, even if they’ve muted the chat. I use this daily for team projects, and it’s saved me tons of follow-up messages.

Tag a Single Person in a Group Chat

This is the most basic tag, but there’s a trick to doing it quickly.

Type @ plus name: Start by typing the @ symbol followed by the first few letters of the person’s name. WhatsApp will auto-suggest names from the group—click the right one, and they’ll get a ping. I do this when I need my designer to approve a mockup; they never miss it.

Add context after tag: Don’t just tag someone without explaining why. For example, “@Lila can you share the client feedback doc?” is way better than just “@Lila”. This helps them act fast without asking for more details.

Check notification status: After sending, tap the message to see if they’ve read it (blue ticks). If not, you can follow up with a direct message—but tags usually do the trick.

Tag Multiple People at Once Without Typing Names

For group updates, tagging multiple people saves time. Here’s how to do it efficiently:

Use @everyone shortcut: If you’re an admin, type “@everyone” to tag all group members. This works on WhatsApp Web (https://www.ws-whatsappsweb.com/) too—great for quick meeting reminders.

Select multiple names: On mobile or Web, type @ then hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) to pick several names from the auto-suggest list. I use this for my project subgroup—no need to type 10 names manually.

Save common groups: If you often tag the same set of people, create a broadcast list. This lets you send a message to all of them at once without a group chat.

Organize Your Chats and Find Information Faster With Tags

Tags aren’t just for getting attention—they help you organize messages so you can find them later.

Use Hashtags to Tag Messages for Easy Search

WhatsApp doesn’t have native message tags, but hashtags (#) work as a workaround.

Add hashtag to message: End your message with a relevant hashtag like #Q3Goals. Later, search for that hashtag in the chat to find all related messages. I use this for client invoices—#InvoiceReminder pulls up all my reminder texts.

Pin hashtagged messages: Long-press a hashtagged message and tap the pin icon. It stays at the top of the chat for 24h/7d/30d—perfect for important deadlines.

Global search for hashtags: Type the hashtag in WhatsApp’s global search bar to find it across all chats. This is a lifesaver when I need to reference old project notes.

Tag Contacts With Custom Notes for Personal Organization

You can add tags to contacts to categorize them (like #Vendor or #Family).

Edit contact to add tag: Open a contact’s profile, tap “Edit”, then add a tag in the “Notes” section. For example, I tag all my freelance writers as #Freelancer.

Create broadcast lists: Use the tagged contacts to make a broadcast list. This way, I can send a message to all vendors at once without a group.

Sync with other apps: Export your WhatsApp contacts (with tags) and import them into your CRM or notes app. This keeps your organization consistent—though it’s manual for now.

WhatsApp Web Common Questions

Q: Can I use tags on WhatsApp Web the same way I do on mobile?

Yes, most tag features work identically on WhatsApp Web as on mobile. When you’re in a group chat on Web, type @ followed by a name to see auto-suggestions—click the name to tag them. For multiple tags, hold Ctrl/Cmd while selecting names. One small difference: the auto-suggest list loads faster on Web with a stable internet connection. Using hashtags as message tags also works the same—type the hashtag, then search for it later. I use this all the time on my laptop; tagging colleagues and adding hashtags is easier with a keyboard than a touchscreen. The only thing you can’t do on Web is add custom notes to contacts (as of 2025), but that’s a minor issue. Also, the @everyone shortcut works for admins on Web too—great for quick team updates.

Q: Why can’t I tag everyone in a group using WhatsApp Web?

There are three main reasons. First, the @everyone shortcut is only for admins—if you’re not an admin, you can’t use it. This prevents spam in large groups. Second, some groups disable the @everyone tag in settings (Group Settings > Send messages > Allow @everyone tag). I’ve been in groups where this is off to avoid annoying all members. Third, very large groups (over 100 people) might limit the @everyone tag, but I haven’t seen this often. If you’re not an admin, use the Ctrl/Cmd method to select multiple names—this works for up to 50 people. Another workaround: create a smaller subgroup, then tag everyone there. Just ask the admin if you need to use @everyone often—they might grant you rights.

Q: How do I find all tagged messages across chats on WhatsApp Web?

Use the global search bar at the top of the Web interface. Type @ followed by your name to see all messages where you were tagged. For hashtagged messages, type the hashtag (like #MeetingNotes) to find them across all chats. I use this daily to find old team notes. You can also star tagged messages: long-press the message, click the star icon, then go to Starred Messages (three dots menu) to see all saved tags. Be consistent with hashtags—if you use #ProjectX for all related messages, searching for it will always bring up the right content. The search is case-insensitive, so you don’t have to worry about uppercase/lowercase. This makes finding tagged messages quick and efficient when you’re busy.

If you try these tag tricks, let me know how they work for you! I’m always looking for new ways to make WhatsApp more organized.