Open the chat, tap the attachment icon, choose Poll, type your question and up to 12 options, then tap send. That is all it takes to create a WhatsApp poll, in a private chat or in a group. Since August 2026, group polls can also hide voter names, close automatically at an end time and let you fix the question within 15 minutes. This guide shows the exact steps on iPhone, Android and desktop, explains every poll setting, and ends with how to keep using WhatsApp with your Belgian number when you travel, so the group trip you planned with a poll does not cost you your connection.
How to create a poll on WhatsApp, step by step
Follow the same five steps on every device; only the attachment icon looks different.
Step | iPhone | Android |
|---|---|---|
1. Open the chat | Any private chat or group | Any private chat or group |
2. Open attachments | Tap + next to the text field | Tap the paperclip in the text field |
3. Choose Poll | Tap Poll | Tap Poll |
4. Fill it in | Type the question, then up to 12 options | Type the question, then up to 12 options |
5. Send | Tap Send | Tap Send |
On WhatsApp Web and the desktop app, click + next to the text field and choose Poll. The poll appears in the chat straight away, and everyone in the chat can vote by tapping an option.
WhatsApp poll settings explained
Choose your settings before you send, because you cannot add them once the poll is live. These are the options you see on the poll screen:
Setting | What it does | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
Allow multiple answers | Lets people pick more than one option | Private chats and groups |
Hide voter names | Hides who voted for what, so only the totals are visible | Group chats |
Set end time | Locks voting automatically at the time you choose | Group chats |
Edit question | Lets you fix a typo in the question within 15 minutes of sending | Group chats |
Switch Allow multiple answers off when you need one clear decision, such as a date or a destination. Leave it on when you are collecting preferences, such as which activities people want to do.
How to see who voted and change your vote
Tap View votes under the poll to see the results and, unless voter names are hidden, who chose which option. To change your own vote, tap your option again to remove it and tap a new one. The options themselves cannot be changed after you send, so delete the poll and send a new one if you forgot an answer.
When a WhatsApp poll works best
Use a poll whenever a group chat needs a decision from more than three people, such as picking a date for a dinner, choosing a weekend for a trip or agreeing on a budget, because one tap per person replaces fifty messages. Hide voter names when the question is sensitive, such as how much people want to spend, because people answer more honestly when their name is not attached to their vote.
How to use WhatsApp abroad without losing your number
Keep your WhatsApp number exactly as it is when you travel, and never use Change number just because you put a travel eSIM or a local SIM card in your phone. WhatsApp itself confirms that you can keep using WhatsApp with your home number when you use a local SIM while travelling. Your account is linked to your Belgian number, not to the SIM card that provides your data.
Situation | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
You add a travel eSIM for data | WhatsApp keeps working with your Belgian number | Set the eSIM as your data line |
You travel inside the EU | Roaming costs the same as at home | Leave roaming on |
You travel outside the EU | Roaming on your Belgian SIM can be expensive | Turn off data roaming on your Belgian SIM |
WhatsApp asks you to verify again | The code goes to your Belgian number by SMS or call | Keep your Belgian SIM in your phone and able to receive SMS |
You use Change number | Your account moves to the new number | Do not use it for a trip |
Turn on two step verification in WhatsApp settings before you leave, so nobody can take over your account while you are away. Reinstalling WhatsApp or switching to a new phone abroad is what usually triggers a new verification, so do both at home.
How much data you need abroad
Plan for less than 100 MB a day, because messages and polls use almost nothing and only video calls use real data. Typical figures, based on Firsty's guides on WhatsApp, Google Maps and ChatGPT:
Activity | Data used |
|---|---|
WhatsApp text message or poll vote | under 1 KB |
WhatsApp photo | 100 to 500 KB |
WhatsApp voice note | about 100 KB per minute |
WhatsApp voice call | 0.3 to 0.5 MB per minute |
WhatsApp video call | about 5 MB per minute |
Google Maps navigation | 3 to 5 MB per hour |
Boarding pass in an airline app | under 1 MB to load, nothing once saved |
Taxi or ride app | a few MB per ride |
ChatGPT or another AI app, text chat | 1 to 5 MB per hour |
A day of 100 messages, 20 photos, a 15 minute voice call, a 10 minute video call, three hours of maps, two rides and a few AI questions uses about 85 MB, and a full week stays under 700 MB.
Stay in the group chat, wherever you land
With Firsty, there is no SIM card to swap, no roaming setting to remember, no zone chart to check and no surprise bill, and your WhatsApp number stays the one your friends already know. Every connection Firsty sells also connects someone in Belgium who needs it, not as charity, but as how the business works. Things are moving, so keep an eye on what Firsty is building and discover more at Firsty.app.
FAQ
How do I create a poll on WhatsApp?
Open a chat, tap + on iPhone or the paperclip on Android, and choose Poll. Type a question and up to 12 options, choose your settings and tap send.
Can I make an anonymous poll on WhatsApp?
Yes, in group chats. Switch on Hide voter names before you send the poll, and the group sees only the totals, not who voted for which option.
How many options can a WhatsApp poll have?
A WhatsApp poll can have up to 12 options. Switch on Allow multiple answers if people may choose more than one.
Can I edit a WhatsApp poll after sending it?
You can edit the question in a group poll within 15 minutes of sending it, by pressing and holding the poll and choosing Edit. The options cannot be changed, so delete the poll and send a new one if an option is missing.
Can I create a poll in a private WhatsApp chat?
Yes, polls work in private chats as well as in groups. Hiding voter names and setting an end time are group features.
Will a travel eSIM change my WhatsApp number?
No. WhatsApp stays linked to the number you registered, so a travel eSIM or a local SIM only changes where your data comes from. Do not use Change number for a trip.
Can I use WhatsApp without a SIM card?
Yes, once your account is verified, WhatsApp works over WiFi or any mobile data connection without your original SIM card in the phone. You only need that SIM card when WhatsApp asks you to verify your number again.
