How to group call on whatsapp desktop

How to make or join a WhatsApp group video call

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(Pocket-lint) - Facebook-owned messenger app Whatsapp, allows up to eight people to participate in a group video call.

This feature tells you everything you need to know about making group WhatsApp video calls, which are available on both iOS and Android, as well as the WhatsApp desktop.

WhatsApp tips and tricks

What is WhatsApp group calling?

WhatsApp has long supported voice and video calls and introduced group video chats in 2018. As we mentioned, you can make a group call with up to eight people simultaneously. Competitors like Google Duo offer up to 32.

Formerly, you needed to start a one-on-one voice or video call like normal on WhatsApp and then add multiple other participants to make it a group call. However, it's much easier nowadays.

How to make a WhatsApp group video call

It's worth noting that during any video call, you always have the option to turn off your video to revert to a voice call and/or mute your microphone.

You need an existing WhatsApp group

To call a group, they need to be an existing WhatsApp group. To make a group, go to the Chats tab and tap 'New Group' at the top your chats. The group participants need to be in your contacts.

You can also tap the New Chat icon and then select New Group.

Call the group

After you've created your group, or opened the group of people you want to video call, you'll need to tap the video icon in the top right corner. This will appear if you there are eight people or less in the group. Once you tap that, the group video call will begin.

If the group has more than eight people in it, you'll need to creat a room where you select up to seven other participants for the video call. In the group, tap on the call icon with the "+" in the top right corner and select your participants. If people in the group aren't in your contacts, they won't appear in this list.

Once you have selected your participants, tap the blue video icon - you can also tap the phone icon if you just want voice.

When participants receive a group video call, the incoming call screen shows the participants currently on the call.

Add group participants to an existing call

If you want to start by placing a one-on-one call, this bit is for you. Just open the chat with the contact you want to voice call, then tap Voice call (phone icon) or Video call (camera icon).

After placing a one-on-one voice or video call, you will see an add participant button in the top right corner in the form of a person icon in a circle with a "+". Tap it to add more contacts to the call.

Group video calling on WhatsApp desktop

We have a separate feature that tells you how to make a group video call on WhatsApp desktop. The feature currently isn't available for WhatsApp web. You can find all the information on making a group video call on WhatsApp desktop by clicking here.

As a summary, you'll need the below for it to work though:

The latest version of the WhatsApp desktop app (available for Windows PC and Mac)
An audio and microphone output device
A camera for video calls
An active internet connection on your phone and computer. You phone needs to be online to establish the call, but the call won't go through your phone.
Grant permission to WhatsApp desktop to access your computer's microphone and camera.

How to join a WhatsApp group video call

In July 2021, WhatsApp finally introduced the ability to join a group call, even after it’s started. "Joinable calls reduce the burden of answering a group call as it starts, and brings the spontaneity and ease of in-person conversations to group calling on WhatsApp," the company explained in a blog post.

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Now, if you miss a group call when the phone rings, you can still join whenever you want. You can also drop-off and re-join so long as the call is still ongoing. WhatsApp has also created a call info screen so you can see who is already on the call, and who has been invited but not yet joined. If you simply don't feel like joining a group call, you can always hit "Ignore". But you can still join later, if you change your mind, from the calls tab in WhatsApp.

Join an incoming group video call

You’ll receive a notification when someone invites you to join a group video call.
- If you can’t join, tap Ignore.
- To open the call info screen, tap Join.
- From the call menu, you can preview the call participants and other invitees.
Tap Join to join the call.
While on the call, tap Open to open the call info screen.
Tap Add participant to add more contacts to the call.
Tap Ring to send a notification to people who’ve already been invited.

Join a missed group video call

Open WhatsApp, then tap the Calls tab.
If the call is ongoing, tap the call you’d like to join.
- This will open the call info screen.
From the call menu, tap Join.

For further details and step-by-step instructions, check out WhatsApp's FAQ page.

Is WhatsApp group calling secure?

Group calls are "always end-to-end encrypted," according to WhatsApp. They're also designed to "work reliably" in various network conditions, although we'd ensure you have a strong data signal when you're making group video calls.

How do I switch on WhatsApp dark mode? Our step by step guide

Writing by Maggie Tillman and Dan Grabham.

How to make a voice or video call on WhatsApp desktop

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Britta O'Boyle, Deputy editor

· 7 October 2021 ·

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(Pocket-lint) - WhatsApp has long offered voice and video calls through its iPhone and Android apps, but the feature is also available on its desktop app.

Making a voice or video call using WhatsApp's desktop app works in both portrait and landscape orientation, and appears in a resizeable standalone window on your computer so you have the freedom to move it around. It is also set to always be on top.

Currently, the feature is only available for one-to-one calls, but WhatsApp has said it has plans to include group voice and video calls in the future. All voice and video calls on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted.

Here's how to make a voice or video call using WhatsApp desktop and what you need.

What you need to make a voice or video call on WhatsApp desktop

To make or receive a voice or video call using WhatsApp desktop, you will need the following:

The latest version of the WhatsApp desktop app (available for Windows PC and Mac)
An audio and microphone output device
A camera for video calls
An active internet connection on your phone and computer. Your phone needs to be online to establish the call, but the call won't go through your phone.
Grant permission to WhatsApp desktop to access your computer's microphone and camera.

It's worth noting that WhatsApp Desktop calling is only supported on MacOS 10.13 and newer, and Windows 10 64-bit version 1903 and newer.

How to make a voice call using WhatsApp desktop

Follow these super easy steps to make a voice call using WhatsApp desktop.

Open the WhatsApp desktop app on your computer
Scan the QR code using your phone (open WhatsApp on your phone > Tap Settings > Linked Devices > Link a Device)
Open the individual chat with the person you want to make a call to
Click on the voice call icon
Tap on End Call when you're done

You can mute or unmute your microphone by clicking the microphone icon during the call. It's also possible to switch from a voice call to a video call during the call - more on that below.

How to make a video call using WhatsApp desktop

To make a video call using WhatsApp desktop, follow the simple steps below:

Open the WhatsApp desktop app on your computer
Scan the QR code using your phone (open WhatsApp on your phone > Tap Settings > Linked Devices > Link a Device)
Open the individual chat with the person you want to make a video call to
Tap on the Video call icon
Tap End Call when you're finished

As with voice calling, you can mute or unmute your microphone by clicking the microphone icon during the call. You can also turn your camera off by tapping on the camera icon during the call.

How to switch between a voice call and video call using WhatsApp desktop

During a voice call with a contact, you can ask to switch to a video call, like you can with Apple's FaceTime for example.

To switch between a voice call and a video call using WhatsApp desktop, follow the steps below:

Follow the steps above to start a voice call with a contact
During the call, hover over the Camera icon
Click on the camera icon
The contact you are talking to will then get the option to select OK or Switch to change the call to video, or Cancel to decline
If they select OK or Switch, the voice call will switch over to video

How to answer a voice or video call on WhatsApp desktop

Answering a voice or video call on WhatsApp desktop is very simple.

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Three options will appear when someone voice calls you or video calls you and you have WhatsApp Desktop on and connected to your WhatsApp account.

Accept will accept the call. Decline will decline the call and Ignore or "x" will ignore the call.

Writing by Britta O'Boyle.

Sections WhatsApp Apps

How to make WhatsApp calls from the app for Mac or Windows PC

 Since its inception, WhatsApp has been an integral part of communicating with friends, family, business, and more. The service is so convenient that you can send messages to your loved ones not only from your phone, but also from your computer. However, for a long time desktop versions of the messaging app lacked the ability to make and receive voice/video calls.

That's changing today because WhatsApp now has the ability to call PC apps on Windows and macOS computers. If you are wondering how you can make calls from whatsapp for pc app, you can read the following post with a detailed step by step guide on it.

Requirements:

To make WhatsApp calls on your computer, you need to make sure you have the following:

A Mac running macOS 10.13 or later or a PC running Windows 10 64-bit version 1903 or later later version.
WhatsApp included macOS | Windows
- Download the application and install it before proceeding to the next section below.
Built-in or external microphone
Webcam for video calls
An active and fast enough internet connection for easy conversation
WhatsApp Desktop has access to the camera and microphone on your Mac or Windows computer.

Related: 3 Ways to Mute Whatsapp Calls

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How to Start a WhatsApp Call on PC

You can make video and voice calls with the WhatsApp app on your desktop just like you would on your phone. First you need to launch the WhatsApp application on your computer and then click on the current individual conversation (on the left panel) with the person you want to call.

Make a voice call

Once you have selected the stream to call, click the voice call icon in the upper right corner.

If you have not yet granted WhatsApp access to your microphone, your system will prompt you with a dialog similar to the screenshot below. Click "OK" to allow WhatsApp to use your computer's microphone.

Once WhatsApp has access to your device's microphone, your voice call will start and a new popup will appear saying "Call".

Once your outgoing call is accepted, the "Calling" message will be replaced by the duration of the call, and in addition, you can see the voice waves in the conversation.

Related: How to delete your WhatsApp account and all your WhatsApp data

Make a video call

When you select a conversation to start a video call, click the video call icon in the top right corner.

Your Mac or Windows computer may ask you to give WhatsApp access to your camera and microphone. Grant it all the necessary permissions so that it can make video calls in the app properly.

When all the people you need appear in WhatsApp, you will be able to see the webcam feed in a new pop-up window. This window will also display a "Calling..." message below the caller's name to indicate when a call is being received.

When your WhatsApp video call is received by the recipient, your webcam feed will be minimized to a smaller size in the top right corner with all call controls at the bottom of the call window.

How to answer or receive a WhatsApp call on PC

When someone calls you on WhatsApp, you can now receive it directly from your desktop.

If you receive a WhatsApp voice call on your desktop, you can accept it by clicking the green phone icon labeled "Accept" in the call popup. This window will only display the caller's name as a profile picture.

When someone tries to contact you using the WhatsApp video call feature, you should see a pop-up that appears at the top of the WhatsApp main window. This window should have the name of the caller at the top, as well as your webcam feed in the background. As with a voice call, you can join or accept a video call by clicking the green phone icon labeled "Accept" in the call window.

If you don't want to receive a video/voice call at this time, click the red phone icon labeled "Reject" in the pop-up window.

How to turn a voice call into a video call in WhatsApp on PC

The updated WhatsApp Desktop also allows you to turn your voice call into a video call if the other party in the call wants to switch it to a video call. To turn a voice call into a video call, click the camera icon in the call controls.

The call window will now expand to show you the feed from the camera and it will say "video call request" at the top.

When your request is accepted by the other person, your camera feed will be collapsed to the top right corner and the other person's video will come to the fore along with the call controls.

How to End a WhatsApp Call on PC

When you end your WhatsApp conversation with someone, you can end the video/voice call on your computer by clicking the End Call button in the call controls.

The moment you click the End Call button, your call will end and you will only be able to see the main WhatsApp window on your computer.

How to mute the microphone during a WhatsApp call

When you no longer need to share your microphone input during a call, WhatsApp allows you to mute it during a call. To mute the sound during a WhatsApp call, click the Microphone button in the call controls at the bottom of the call window.

When the microphone is muted, the microphone button will be white to indicate that the mute function is active.

How to turn off video during a WhatsApp video call

You have learned how to turn a voice call into a WhatsApp video call. While you can't switch it back to a voice call, you can turn off the camera video and talk to the other person using just your voice. To turn off video during a WhatsApp video call, tap the Camera button in the call controls at the bottom.

When your video is off, the camera icon will be disabled and the icon colors will be inverted. At the same time, the preview from your camera, available in the upper right corner, will be blurry.

How to switch microphone, speaker and camera during a call

If you have joined or started a WhatsApp voice/video call without configuring input and output devices, you can still change it during a call. To switch between different microphone, speaker, and camera devices during a call, tap the three-dot icon in the call controls at the bottom.

Then, from the menu that appears, select one of the peripherals to set up as the preferred configuration for WhatsApp video/voice calls.

Can't make WhatsApp calls on PC? Here's how to fix it

The new WhatsApp calling feature from desktop should work flawlessly when set up correctly, but if you're having trouble making or receiving a call, you can fix it by doing any of the following methods:

Make sure your computer and phone are connected to the Internet. The web and desktop apps of WhatsApp still rely on your phone's connection to the internet, and none of its features will work if your phone doesn't have an active internet connection.
Make sure all peripherals needed for voice or video calls are connected to your desktop and working properly. This includes your camera, microphone and speaker.
Use your computer's audio settings to check if your speaker and microphone are working properly.
Make sure you have updated the WhatsApp desktop application to the latest version.
Make sure WhatsApp supports calling from your desktop on your device. This feature is currently only available on macOS 10.13 or later and Windows 10 64-bit version 1903 or newer.
For the best call quality, use an external microphone other than the one on your computer.
Give WhatsApp all the necessary permissions to make and receive voice and video calls on your computer.
Agree that you cannot make group calls on WhatsApp because the application does not support it.
Make sure you are not using any virtual devices for audio or video.

Can you make calls via WhatsApp Web?

No. You need to install the application on your computer (Windows or Mac, it doesn't matter). You can find the link to download the app on your computer in the "Requirements" section above.

Can you make group calls on WhatsApp on PC? How to add people to a call?

Sorry, WhatsApp does not currently support group calling on its desktop app. This means you can only make a voice/video call to another person within the app. You cannot add more people to a WhatsApp call while using WhatsApp on desktop. To add more people for group calls, you will need to switch using the WhatsApp app on your iPhone or Android device. From March 5, 2021, only regular calls are allowed.

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How to use WhatsApp video calls for individual and group calls

WhatsApp is best known as a text messaging app. It can also be used to make video calls over the Internet (known as VoIP calls). This guide explains how to make private and group calls and covers all available operating systems.

WhatsApp recently dropped support for devices with older operating systems. Now it only supports iPhone with iOS 9 or later and Android smartphones with version 4.0.3 or later. If you are using a desktop or laptop computer, you can use an Android emulator to outsmart WhatsApp and make video calls without a smartphone. (Scroll to the end of this article for information on this.)

How to make a WhatsApp video call

To make a video call, open a chat with the person you want to contact, then tap the 9 icon0185 Voice call" (it looks like a telephone). Or press the Calls tab and press the green button to start a conversation with the contact.

Looking for information on how to make individual or group phone (voice) calls? Read how to make WhatsApp phone calls.

To switch an intermediate call from video to voice conversation and vice versa, select the camera icon during a call. WhatsApp sends a request to the person you're talking to and asks them to switch from video to voice.

WhatsApp video calls are free. However, the app requires an internet connection, so it uses mobile data if you're connected via a 4G or 3G carrier network. To avoid using your data permission, connect to a Wi-Fi network before making a call.

How to get a video call on WhatsApp

Receiving calls on WhatsApp is easier than making calls. Here's how to do it:

On your iOS device, tap the green Accept", to open the call, or the red icon " Reject", to reject it.
On an Android device, swipe up to accept and swipe down to reject. You can also swipe up to answer, to reject the call with a quick message.

How to make a WhatsApp group call

In addition to one-on-one video chats, WhatsApp offers group video chats. They work like video calls, except you can add contacts to the participant list.

WhatsApp supports up to four participants in a group video call.

Start a call from a contact using the instructions above.
Once they accept the call, select Add member .
Find or select another contact you want to add to the call.
Select Add .

There are a few things to keep in mind when using the WhatsApps group call feature.

Make sure everyone has a strong internet connection. Call quality depends on the contact with the weakest connection.
You cannot switch to a group video call during a group voice call.
You cannot delete a contact during a group voice call. The contact must hang up to disconnect from the call.
You cannot add a blocked contact to a call. You can make a group voice call with someone you've blocked if they were invited by someone else.

How to make WhatsApp video calls on desktops and laptops

You can't use the WhatsApp desktop app to make video calls. You can only use the desktop app to send and receive text messages.

However, Windows users can bypass this limitation by downloading an Android emulator such as AndY, Nox, or BlueStacks. They can also be downloaded to Mac computers.