WhatsApp connects users all around the world. The app allows people to communicate through text messages, voice, or by using WhatsApp video calling. And like any instant messenger, WhatsApp's video calling is feature-rich.
Here's a guide on how to make WhatsApp video calls on desktop and mobile, as well as everything you need to know about its limits.
Video calling is precisely what it sounds like. You “call” a contact you have on WhatsApp, and both of you can see each other on your smartphone screens. It's what Skype and FaceTime have been doing for years.
Video calling on WhatsApp also works across both Android and iOS. That's what makes WhatsApp one of the best smartphone apps for cross-platform video calls. If you have any security concerns, check out these tips to make WhatsApp more secure and private.
WhatsApp video calls are free locally and internationally, meaning that WhatsApp isn't charging you any money to make the call. However, video calls require an internet connection, so they consume data from your phone's data plan;
If you are using WhatsApp to call someone over a Wi-Fi connection, your phone's network carrier won't charge you anything.
A quick reminder: you can check how much data WhatsApp video calls use, thanks to these WhatsApp tricks everyone should know. And to ensure you get all the features, download the latest version of WhatsApp.
Download: WhatsApp for Android | iOS (Free)
WhatsApp video calling is part of the existing voice calls feature. You can contact old friends who use the app and chat as though they were sitting in front of you.
You can hold business meetings, work with small teams, and even keep in touch with friends in other countries. WhatsApp's features are all exceptionally robust.
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Placing a WhatsApp video call on your phone is quite simple.
Here's how:
By default, WhatsApp video calls use the front-facing camera of your phone. However, you can switch this to the rear Camera at any point with a tap on the screen. It's seamless and just works.
You can also mute the microphone, so the other person can see you but not hear you—just tap the Microphone icon at the bottom of the screen. To mute the audio from the speakers, use your phone's volume buttons.
Making a WhatsApp video call on your PC is just as easy. Follow the steps below to get started:
Unlike on mobile, you can view your other Chats on the left side of the screen while on a video call on your PC.
You can make a WhatsApp video call with up to eight participants at the same time. That means you can chat to seven friends or loved ones all in one call.
Group video calls consume more data as well.
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Here's how to place a WhatsApp group call on your phone:
The process is simple and easy.
You just need to ensure that everyone else you're adding to the video call has WhatsApp. Currently, you cannot place a group video call on your PC, but that may change in the future.
Another highlight of WhatsApp's video calls is the multitasking feature. Most smartphone video calls force you to use the video call and prevent you from using anything else, meaning you can't multitask. However, WhatsApp has no such restrictions.
On your phone, you can tap the back Arrow in the top-left corner of the screen to check other messages that someone has sent you on WhatsApp and even reply to them. To return to your video call, just tap the green Bar at the top of the screen.
On your PC, click on the background to access the contacts you want to text while on a WhatsApp video call. You will continue to see the Preview of your call in the top-right corner of the screen.
Did you know that WhatsApp has a range of shortcuts you can use? Check out our article on every WhatsApp Desktop keyboard shortcut you need to know.
WhatsApp's focus is to make your video call look as crisp as possible. So if your internet speeds support higher quality video, then WhatsApp will take full advantage. Unfortunately, that results in high data usage. If you're not on Wi-Fi, you can quickly go through a lot of cellular data.
On average, we found a minute's call to use around 13.1 MB of data on 5G. This isn't terrible, but it is enough to warrant keeping an eye on. A few Twitter users also recorded similar numbers.
To combat high data usage, WhatsApp offers a setting to reduce the data used on voice calls. If you're worried about exceeding your monthly data allocation, this option may help you avoid overages.
Video calling is an essential tool, and WhatsApp has done an impressive job with it.
In addition, the service is getting more stable and reliable as updates occur.
That said, WhatsApp offers many desirable features in addition to video calling. Overall, the service is more than just an instant messenger. With its range of features, WhatsApp is quickly becoming its own social network.
According to Statista, WhatsApp is considered the single most popular global messaging app in the world with about two billion monthly active users — that's close to one out of every three people on earth.
If you count yourself among them, you may want to use the service for video chats in addition to voice calls and text messaging.
No matter how you connect to WhatsApp, whether it's via the mobile app or the desktop app on your PC or Mac, you can join a video call with just a few clicks or taps.
How to make and receive a WhatsApp video call on mobileOn both iPhone and Android, you can start a video call from the WhatsApp Calls tab or from the Chat tab.
1. Tap the Calls tab, located at the bottom of the screen on iPhone and at the top on Android.
2. Tap the New call button, shaped like a phone. It's at the top on iPhone and at the bottom on Android.
Tap the "New call" button and then choose who you want to video call.
Dave Johnson 3. In your list of contacts, find the person you want to call. Tap the video button at the far right of the screen to place the call.
1. Tap the Chats tab, located at the bottom of the screen on iPhone and at the top on Android.
2. In your list of chat messages, find and tap the chat for the person you want to talk to.
3. At the top of the chat page, tap the video button to start the video call.
There's a button to launch a video call from the top of every chat.
Dave Johnson Quick tip: WhatsApp does not charge a fee, so WhatsApp calls — both audio and video — are free. Even so, like any online activity, WhatsApp calls rely on the internet, so if you are not connected to a Wi-Fi network, you will use data from your mobile plan. Depending on your plan, that might cost money.
How to switch between WhatsApp video and voice calls during a callYou can switch between voice and video on a WhatsApp call already in progress.
1. Tap the Video button at the bottom of the screen, shaped like a video camera. It's always visible on Android, but you might need to tap the iPhone screen (or click the desktop screen) to make the controls appear first.
2. The other party will get notified you are switching to video. If your contact chooses to switch, then it becomes a video call. If the other party does nothing or declines the video, it reverts back to a voice call.
1. Tap the Cancel video button (the video with a slash through it). This disables your video.
2. The other party sees a message that you've turned off your video. If he or she also taps the Cancel video button, the call reverts to a voice call.
If not, it stays a video call with only one party's video disabled.
You can switch back and forth between voice and video calls as many times as you like in a call.
How to make a group video call on WhatsAppOne of WhatsApp's strengths is its ability to handle group video calls with up to eight participants at once. You can launch a group video call several different ways.
From a group or individual chat1. Tap the Chats tab.
2. In the list of chat messages, tap the chat you want to video call.
3. Tap the Video call button at the top of the screen. The call will start immediately.
4. After the call starts, you can add more people to the video call (up to eight, including yourself). To do that, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap Add participant, then choose the person you want to add to the video call.
1. Tap the Calls tab.
2. Tap the New call button.
3. At the top of the contact list, tap New group call.
4. Select up to seven people and then tap the Video button.
5. After the call starts, you can add more people to the video call (up to eight, including yourself). To do that, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap Add participant, then choose the person you want to add to the video call.
You can convert a one-on-one video call into a group call at any time. When you're in a call, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap Add participant, then choose the person you want to add to the video call.
How to join a group video call on WhatsAppIf someone includes you in a group video call, you'll get the invitation when the call starts, but don't feel pressured to answer right away. Even if you reject the call, you can still get back to it and join the call any time before it ends.
Incoming call1. When you're included in a group call, you'll receive a notification inviting you to join.
2. If you want to accept the call, tap Open. To defer the call, tap Ignore.
3. If you're joining the call, you'll see the call menu, where you can preview details about the call including the list of participants.
Tap Join.
Quick tip: Even if you've linked your desktop computer to your mobile device, group video call invitations will go to your phone because group video isn't yet supported on the desktop.
Missed callIf you previously tapped Ignore to defer a video call or you didn't respond at all, you can still join the video call as long as it's still in progress.
1. Tap the Calls tab.
2. If the call is still in progress, you'll see a banner for the call.
Tap it to open the call menu screen.
3. Tap Join.
If you miss a video invitation, you can join it later if it's still in progress. Dave Johnson How to make a WhatsApp video call on a computerThere are two ways to use WhatsApp on a computer — on a web browser using WhatsApp Web or on the desktop app, if you've installed it. Unfortunately, you can only make video calls using the desktop app version of WhatsApp, not the website version.
1. If you haven't already installed the desktop app, install the WhatsApp Desktop for Windows or Mac.
2.
After you install the app, link WhatsApp on your phone to the desktop. To do that, tap the QR code icon at the top-right of the mobile app. Then tap Scan and point your phone's camera at the QR code on the desktop app. Finally, tap Link a Device to complete the connection.
3. Open the chat you want to video call and then click the Video call button, shaped like a video camera.
Note: You can only video call individuals on desktop, so you can't start or join a group chat using the desktop app.
WhatsApp doesn't limit you to your call when you are in a video chat. Instead, you can multitask while in a WhatsApp call. Here's what you can do:
You can start another app and continue to have a video chat in a small window. Dave Johnson
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts.
Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
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Today, many modern instant messengers have a video calling function that is highly demanded by users.
WhatsApp did not stand aside here, and in this article we will consider all the ways to make video calls using the service, as well as points that you should pay attention to in order to use this type of communication effectively and without problems.
In general, there are no special requirements for making video calls via WhatsApp, but you should still pay attention to some aspects:
Read also: Updating the operating system of Android smartphones and iPhone
Read also: How to connect the Internet on an Android smartphone and iPhone
The ability to make a video call is available in almost every section of the WhatsApp for Android application, that is, you can start exchanging information on the technology in question very quickly, regardless of the screen shown by the messenger.
In order to avoid any problems at the beginning of a video chat via WhatsApp, before activating the function in question, it is necessary to ensure that the client application of the information exchange system has access to the modules "Camera" and "Microphone" Android device.
The fastest way to initiate a video call is to activate a special interface element on the screen with the correspondence with the called WhatsApp participant.
Read also: How to add a contact to WhatsApp address book for Android
Read more: Creating a WhatsApp chat with user
who is not in Contacts
The process is controlled using the buttons located at the bottom of the screen to switch from the front camera to the main one and vice versa (1), temporarily disable the image capture module (2) and the microphone (3).
The second method to switch to a WhatsApp video call is available from the CALLS tab in the system application. This may be more convenient than the above method of calling from the chat screen, because almost every messenger user has contacts, communication with which is carried out only through calls.
Option 1: New call
Option 2: Call log
If you have ever communicated with a user registered in WhatsApp via audio or video, this fact, as well as missed calls, is recorded in the specialized "Journal" .
From this list, it is possible to initiate another call, including one involving the use of video cameras of your device and the subscriber's device.
Another option to switch to a video call in WhatsApp for Android is available from the screen showing information about the user added to "Contacts" of your messenger.
This can be done in one of two ways:
When making a voice call, you can quickly use the camera of your device and thus switch to video communication.
Read more: Voice calls via WhatsApp app for Android
A subtle yet very convenient option to make a video call via WhatsApp can be obtained without first opening the messenger application for this purpose. System application "Contacts" in the Android OS is equipped with a special option, by using which you will very quickly solve the problem in question.
In addition to video communication with an individual WhatsApp participant, the service in question provides the ability to combine its users with a total number of up to 4 people with a video conference call. In total, there are two methods for organizing a group video call.
Option 1: Group Chat
Read more:
How to create a WhatsApp group chat for Android
Add members to a WhatsApp group from an Android device
In the list displayed below "Select contacts to call" tap in turn the names of the users included in the negotiation process with the involvement of the cameras of their devices. Option 2: Individual video call
Once you have already started a video conversation with a single person registered in WhatsApp, you can invite two more people to the conversation without interrupting it.
To use the video calling feature on iPhone, WhatsApp for iOS users can follow different paths, and all of them are very simple.
To ensure trouble-free video communication via WhatsApp from an iPhone, you should initially and one-time configure the messenger's access to modules "Camera" and "Microphone" in the iOS settings (or that it has already been provided).
The easiest and fastest way to switch to a video call through WhatsApp for iOS can be implemented without actually interrupting the correspondence with one or another member of the system, that is, directly from the chat.
If you do not correspond with a particular user, and it seems inconvenient to create a chat every time you need to make a video call to him, you can use section "CALLS" to solve our problem messenger.
Option 1: New call
Option 2: Call log
Once you have communicated with one or another person registered in the messenger via voice or video communication or missed a call from one or another WhatsApp participant, you will record one of these facts in the 9 provided for these purposes0078 "Journal" and subsequently you can initiate calls from it.
The close interaction between the messenger and the iPhone operating system, or rather their address books, which are essentially the same software module, allows us to solve our problem without launching WhatsApp specifically for this.
Touch the name of the subscriber, which will open before you detailed information about him. If you need to see the other party and/or their surroundings while making a voice call via WhatsApp, you can easily activate a video call without interrupting the call.
Read more: How to make WhatsApp calls from iPhone
Confirm the request received from the WhatsApp program by touching under it "Switch" . As in the case of WhatsApp for Android described in the first part of our article, in the version of the messenger adapted for use with Apple devices, video communication between several (up to 4 at the same time) users of the service in question is very easily organized And it's not the only way to do this.
Option 1: Existing group chat
Read more:
Create a group chat in WhatsApp for iPhone
How to add a member to a WhatsApp group from iPhone
In the list of chat participants that appears below, check the checkboxes next to the names of users invited to video chat. Option 2: Calls section
The presence in WhatsApp client applications for mobile OS of a number of ways leading to the call of the function "Video communication" is probably due to the wide popularity and demand for this feature among users. As you can see, it is possible to switch to a video call through the service from a smartphone on Android and iPhone at almost any time during the operation of the messenger, and it is not difficult to do this at all.
A video call in the WhatsApp messenger is a regular call to another user of the application, which also turns on the camera of the mobile device. Thanks to this, the interlocutors can not only hear, but also see each other.
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The functionality of WhatsApp video calls includes the following features:
Important! It is worth noting that in order to provide video communication, the user must have a stable high-speed Internet connection on his mobile device.
Making a WhatsApp video call is actually very easy. On any version of the operating system, the principle of operation is approximately the same. To do this, follow the steps below:
You can call the right person from the chat. To do this, simply open the conversation with the interlocutor of interest and click on the button with the camera icon, which is located in the upper right.
Important! It is worth noting that users cannot save video calls directly from the app.
They can only record video conferences using third-party software or using the Screen Recording option. It is recommended to do this only with the consent of the interlocutor.
Messenger does not impose any special requirements for making video conferences on smartphones. However, users should still pay attention to the following aspects:
In order to avoid all sorts of problems in the video call communication process, it is recommended to first configure the option. This is done on mobile devices with the Android operating system as follows:
On Apple gadgets, you can set up video communication as follows:
In this list, you need to open the tab with the WhatsApp utility;
During an incoming video call, an appropriate notification will be displayed on the screen of the mobile device, which will display the image and name of the contact calling the user.
On certain gadget models, to receive an incoming call, just move the icon to the right. Also, on some mobile devices, you just need to click on the "Reply" button. After that, the call will be accepted, and on the smartphone screen you will be able to see two windows - your interlocutor will be displayed in one, and you in the second.
If you wish, you can switch to WhatsApp from audio to video call during a conversation with the interlocutor.
This is done as follows:
You can switch from a video conference to a normal audio call. To do this, during a video call, click on the camera icon, which is located at the bottom of the screen. This way you will disable the video option in the current call. You will see the interlocutor, but he will not see you.
Users can make group video conferences in WhatsApp application, which can include no more than 8 interlocutors. To do this, you just need to open the contact list on your mobile device in the application and select those users with whom you want to arrange a group video call.
Important! It is worth noting that if a certain person is not saved in your contact book on the phone, you will not be able to call him.
There are several ways to organize a video call in WhatsApp. Through the "Calls" menu, this is done as follows:
In addition, users can make group calls from chats with up to 8 people. This is done as follows:
Before making a video call from a personal computer to WhatsApp, you will need to download the messenger utility to it and log in or register if the user does not have an account yet. You can install the software on the official website of the messenger through a browser. However, before that, it is recommended to make sure that the personal computer and phone meet the requirements of the utility:
You can install the application using the link.
You can install WhatsApp on a personal computer as follows:
By scanning the QR code, you can immediately log in to the computer version of the messenger. Moreover, this manipulation allows you to synchronize all your information between two devices.
After the computer version of the application is installed and the user is authorized in it, he can make video calls.
This is done as follows:
Using the link attached below, the user can watch a video that tells how to make video calls from a personal computer:
Vyacheslav
Worked in salons for several years cellular communication of two large operators. I am well versed in tariffs and see all the pitfalls.
I love gadgets, especially on Android.
Ask a question
The interlocutor cannot hear me. What to do?
If during a call your interlocutor cannot hear you, it is recommended to check the status of the built-in speakers and the connected headset. If no hardware issues are found, try updating the app version or reinstalling it. Make sure that the messenger has access to the microphone of the mobile device.
What should I do if my video calls are not coming?
This problem may occur if you have an unstable Internet connection. It is recommended to connect to a higher speed network or find a place where the Internet will be better caught.
WhatsApp does not support the video calling option. What to do?
If the messenger on your mobile device does not support this option, it is recommended to update the application version. In addition, it is recommended to make sure that the device supports making this format of calls.
Why can't I receive a video call?
A user may not be able to receive incoming video conference requests if they have an unstable internet connection.
