Some of the information here, as well as in the manuals, is incorrect since the release of the new User Interface on April 27, 2024.
Help for members, would-be group members, and group managers (unofficial)
GMF's wiki is a place where we can collect reference material about Groups.io that goes beyond what's available through Groups.io's Help Center. It is an adjunct to the discussions in this group, and a place to collaborate. Hopefully this wiki will become a useful peer-to-peer collection of reference content for group moderators and owners.
GMF members can help by writing or correcting wiki pages or just by commenting in a message to the group.
And don't forget about the official Help Center (see the Help link in the top and bottom bars on every page).
Note: In various places in this wiki you might see links or references that contain GroupName, YourGroup, or something similar. Those references should always be replaced with the actual name of your group.
Quick-Start Guide for Group Members
If you're new to Groups.io, or just thinking about joining a group on the Groups.io service, here's some info to help you get started.
- Joining a group - whether you are new to Groups.io or already a member
- How to log in to your groups
- Reading messages on the group's website
- Reading messages by email - Your friend, the Footer
- Replying to messages - by email or the group website
- Replying privately (or off-group)
- Starting a new topic or sending a message on a new topic
Tips for Group Members
Links to how-to guides and other helpful pages for users of Groups.io groups.
(a) Your Groups.io Account
- Logging in and setting a password
- Customizing your account and your own subscription: changing email address, password, adding an email alias, preferences; your subscription preferences
- Getting Notificatons for group activity, by email or pushed to your web browser or mobile device.
- Merging accounts
(b) Managing Your Group Subscriptions
- Controlling your email subscription preferences
To choose subscription options, go to your Subscriptions page on the group's website: GROUPNAME.groups.io/g/main/editsub (substitute your group name for GROUPNAME) - Email commands: You can use email to join a group, change your subscription, contact the group owner. No need to visit the group website.
- Spam: Removed for Marking Messages as spam
- Muting and following topics to reduce inbox overload (controlling the volume of email messages you receive from a group)
See Managing muted and followed topics for screenshots. - Getting a "Help" email
(c) Topics and Messages
- Search Engine
- How to stop getting two copies of emails you send
- Message composition - tips and tricks
- Message drafts and how they work
- Topics and the threading algorithm
- Your friend, the footer
- Problems receiving group emails
- Complaints about messages
- Editing your sent message
(d) Web Features
- Help! I can't find any group content!
- Directory and Members list
- How to make a photo album
- Photo search
- Bulk file upload
- Setting up a database
- Using your database at Groups.io
- How RSVPs work
- Chat overview
- Wikis - How to Create a Wiki: Guide for Users and Editors
- Adding calendar events by email
- Locking a group (or subgroup)
(e) Email providers - issues and tips
Best Practices for Group Management
Topics of interest to group owners and moderators.
(a) Creating Groups
- Group features - features and limitations depend on free, premium, or enterprise, and the date you started your group
- Quick start for group formation
- Transferring from another Group site
- Direct Add members (Premium or Enterprise)
- Inviting new members - for all plans
- The 20-invitation limit
- Renaming a group
- Why use a subgroup
- Subgroups
(b) Managing Members
- Message moderation - Setting it up for your group
- Status badges in the Members list
- Group Rules, Guidelines, and Codes of Conduct
- Member Notices
- Screening New Members - Pending Subscription Notice
- Member List Download
- Dealing with Bouncing
- Banned Domains
- URL query parameters usage
(c) Managing Moderators
- Making a moderator or owner: Promotion, Status or Permissions Change to Moderator or Owner
- Owner Emails
(d) Managing Topics and Messages
- Pending Messages - using the Pending list and Message Approval Needed email notice to handle pending messages
- How To Merge Topics (Threads)
- How to Split Topics (Threads)
- Creating and Using Hashtags
- Editing a message or topic
- Moderating an individual member
(e) Managing Web Features
- Groups.io features for basic, premium and enterprise groups
- Attachments, Files and Photos - Management
- Part 2: Settings for attachments and how they appear (In Preparation)
- Deleting attachments, files and photos
- Donations (Premium and Enterprise groups only)
- Polls
- Wikis - creating a wiki
- Promote your group
(f) Managing Calendars
- Calendar repeating events
- Sync with your Google Calendar and other calendars
- Adding calendar events by email (Premium and Enterprise groups only)
(g) Managing Integrations
The official Groups.io user documentation is in the Groups.io Help Center.