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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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
You phone needs to be online to establish the call, but the call won't go through your phone.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.
For further details and step-by-step instructions, check out WhatsApp's FAQ page.
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.
Writing by Maggie Tillman and Dan Grabham.
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By Aliya Chaudhry
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Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Part of /
The Verge Guide to staying connected
Being able to stay in touch while social distancing is really important, which is why we’ve come to rely on apps that help you make group calls.
WhatsApp, which sends messages over the internet rather than SMS, has become a popular alternative to texting, but it also lets you make calls. On WhatsApp, you can do an audio-only or video group call with up to eight people. WhatsApp is a good alternative to Zoom for smaller groups as it uses end-to-end encryption (unlike Zoom).
WhatsApp is available for both iOS and Android, so you can easily chat with or call people even if you don’t all have the same kind of phone. While you can access WhatsApp from your browser or download the desktop version of the app, you can only make and answer calls on mobile. You will need to set up an account on the app (and if you’re smart, secure it properly) in order to use it.
One of the drawbacks of group calls on WhatsApp is that you can’t switch a group call between audio-only and video once you start the call. To switch, you’ll have to hang up and start the call again.
While the interface looks a little different on Android than it does on iOS, the basic steps for making group calls are the same.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make group calls on WhatsApp:
From the “Calls” section:
From a group chat:
You can also add more people to a one-on-one call. Here’s how:
Click on the name of the person you want to add. Update April 13th, 9:57AM ET: This article has been updated to include that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that will let users place calls directly from group conversations.
Update April 29th, 5:17PM ET: This article has been updated to reflect WhatsApp has increased the limit on group calls from four to eight, and the instructions have been edited to incorporate WhatsApp’s previous update that lets users place calls directly from group conversations.
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Video call is one of the most requested features in WhatsApp. People around the world can see the interlocutor on the other side of the screen and not pay a single ruble. You can create a video call in WhatsApp in 1 minute. Nevertheless, users often complain about problems: they do not know how to receive a call correctly, whether it is possible to switch to audio, and so on. nine0003
In the article, we will look at how to set up, make, answer a video call in the WhatsApp messenger from your phone, how much traffic this function consumes, whether it is possible to switch from an audio to a video call and vice versa.
Video calls on WhatsApp are available to all users. Any newbie who wants to make a video call to a friend or relative needs to be aware of the basic intricacies.
Namely:
Video calling is available on the mobile version of WhatsApp for Android.
Technical requirement: the smartphone must have firmware 4.1 or newer.
Before making a video call in WhatsApp, you need to set up your smartphone. Namely, to allow the messenger to use the camera and microphone for a conversation.
Procedure:
When the preparatory setup is completed, you can start making video calls in WhatsApp.
There are 6 ways to call a friend via video call.
Which one to choose, everyone decides for himself. The user will need a WhatsApp messenger and a minute of personal time.
Method 1: "Chat" . Some users believe that it is the fastest and most convenient in comparison with the rest.
Procedure:
The toolbar is located at the bottom of the screen.
During a call, you can:
To end a video call, you need to click on the "Red handset" icon in the center of the screen or wait until the interlocutor ends the conversation. nine0003
Method 2: "Calls" . This method is convenient for those who communicate with interlocutors only via video, without correspondence.
Procedure:
nine0028 “Calls” method – can be used in two versions. If the user has already communicated with a friend via video link on WhatsApp, you can use the "Journal" section. It stores all missed and made calls. Thanks to the call log, you can quickly find the interlocutor and call him again.
Procedure:
Method 3: Contact card . This option allows you to make a video call in WhatsApp in just a few clicks, using the information about the interlocutor.
Step by step instructions:
First: go to the "Chats" section, in the lower right corner, click on the "Parchment in a circle", or "Write" icon. In the proposed list, select the interlocutor, click on his profile picture and select the i icon, or "Details". Second: in the "Chats" section, find the correspondence with the interlocutor, click on the "Three dots" icon in the upper right corner. nine0028 Method 4: Switch from audio call . This method is no different from an audio call in WhatsApp.
Procedure:
Method 5: Android Contacts . Users no longer need to launch the messenger to make a WhatsApp call. You just need to use a special option on Android devices.
Audio call via contacts to Android :
Next - select "Video call". The phone will automatically launch WhatsApp and connect users via video call. nine0028 Method 6: Group Video Calls . You can make a video call in WhatsApp to several interlocutors at once, but there should be no more than four.
There are two ways to set up a group video call. The first is to use the "Group Chat".
To do this:
The second is to use the "Individual Video Call". This method is relevant if, for example, the interlocutors communicate together, but want to ask friends to join them.
Step-by-step algorithm of actions:
There are 6 ways to make a WhatsApp video call from an iPhone. All of them are pretty simple. All you need is 1 minute of free time and a few clicks on your smartphone screen. nine0003
Before calling friends via video call, you need to allow WhatsApp access to the microphone and camera of the phone. You can do this in the "Settings" section.
Action plan:
Scroll to the very end with your finger. Find WhatsApp in the list of applications. Click on the messenger icon. After WhatsApp has access to the microphone and camera, you can start video calls.
Method 1: "Chat" . This method is considered the most convenient, because it allows you to make a video call to the subscriber directly from the correspondence.
To do this, you need:
Method 2: "Calls" . This option is suitable for those who do not want to spend time looking for correspondence among all chats. nine0003
Procedure:
Method 3: "Call Log" . It is suitable for those who have previously communicated with a friend via video call on WhatsApp or missed a call from him.
The convenience is that you do not have to look for a user in the contact list: just use the call log. nine0003
Step-by-step instructions:
Method 4: iPhone Contacts . This option will appeal to users who do not want to launch the messenger and look for a friend for a long time. Vatsap will be needed only indirectly: the main actions take place in the phone itself. nine0003
Procedure:
The iPhone itself will launch the messenger and automatically connect the user to the video call.
Method 5: Switch from audio call . This scheme is relevant for those who communicate with a friend on WhatsApp via voice, but suddenly want to see a person on the other side of the screen and show themselves.
To make a video call, you need:
Method 6: Group video calls. This function connects up to 4 users and allows them to see each other.
There are two ways to create a group video call:
To answer a WhatsApp video call from your phone, all you need to do is swipe up on the handset icon.
nine0003
During an incoming call, the screen of the smartphone will turn on and the name of the caller will be written on it. The call can be accepted or rejected: swipe up the green or red handset.
After canceling a video call, you can go to the chat and explain to the interlocutor the reason for the refusal.
WhatsApp allows you to switch from a video call to an audio call and vice versa during a call.
For this you need:
You can turn off video communication in the same way: click on the “Camera” icon at the bottom of the screen.
Any of the interlocutors can do this. nine0003
Some users do not want to show themselves on video calls. WhatsApp developers have come up with a feature for them - blocking video calls.
Whether or not to block video calls, everyone decides for himself. You can communicate via audio and keep in touch with relatives without experiencing discomfort from the camera.
There are 3 ways to block video calls on WhatsApp.
The first is the easiest: skip the video call. For example, if you do not want to see a person and communicate with him. To do this, click on the red "Handset" icon during a call. Whatsapp will offer to write in a message why the video call did not take place. The user may not answer this question either. nine0003
If the interlocutor is annoying and wants to see the face, you can outsmart him: forbid WhatsApp to use the video camera. To do this, go to the settings.
For owners of iPhone :
Users Android Devices:
This method will help you avoid annoying video calls from subscribers. During the call, WhatsApp will ask if you can use the video camera. By choosing to opt out, the user saves themselves from an unwanted video conversation. nine0003
The third option is the most reliable. It allows you to block video calls from a specific person. For example, from a relative, stranger or enemy. To do this, send it to the black list.
To do this:
Users with a limited internet package are interested in how much traffic WhatsApp video calls consume.
The connection may suddenly drop because there is not enough traffic. And if the video call was urgent, then this can create real problems. In order not to encounter this, it is important to learn how to calculate in advance how many MB the messenger consumes. nine0003
WhatsApp itself does not have a function that allows you to find out about the spent traffic, but there are statistics. So, on average, an hourly video call consumes 400 megabytes. Per minute - 6.7 MB. The numbers are small: even a modest 5 GB is enough to regularly communicate with friends via video.