WhatsApp is rolling out group voice and video calls on the web
WhatsApp is finally bringing group voice and video calls to its web client, starting with beta testers.
WhatsApp is rolling out group voice and video calls on the web, according to WABetaInfo. The feature is currently available to some beta testers and is expanding to more users over the coming weeks.
WhatsApp added individual voice and video calling to its web client back in February, but group calls weren’t part of that rollout. This update fills that gap. To start a group call, you open a group chat on WhatsApp Web and look for the call button at the top of the conversation. From there you can choose between a voice or video call, and also select specific participants instead of calling the entire group automatically.
Group calls on the web support up to 32 participants, matching the limit already in place on mobile and desktop. Screen sharing is also available during video calls, though not during voice calls. Call links are supported too, letting you generate a shareable URL that others can tap to join. Links expire after 30 days of inactivity, and a waiting room option is available for calls where you want more control over who gets in.
Like everything else on WhatsApp, group calls on the web are end-to-end encrypted using the Signal protocol, so neither WhatsApp nor Meta can access the content of your calls.
The update is particularly useful for Linux users, since WhatsApp has never released a desktop app for Linux. Until now, joining a group call meant picking up your phone.
