WhatsApp Web Calls: How to Make Voice and Video Calls

You can now make voice and video calls from WhatsApp Web without installing an app. Open web.whatsapp.com in your browser, go to the chat with the person you want to call, and choose a voice or video call from the call button at the top of the chat. If you cannot see the button, the feature may not have reached your account yet; WhatsApp says it is rolling the feature out gradually.

In its announcement of 28 July 2026, WhatsApp said that both one-to-one and group voice and video calls are available on WhatsApp Web, that calls are end-to-end encrypted, and that there is no time limit or fee. Below you will find the steps, the requirements and what to check when a call does not work.

What do you need to make calls on WhatsApp Web?

According to the WhatsApp Help Center, WhatsApp Web calling is supported on Windows, Linux and macOS and works best in Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox. Some browser versions may not be supported, so your browser needs to be up to date.

Beyond that, you need:

• An active internet connection on your computer
• Speakers or headphones and a microphone
• A camera for video calls; you cannot make a video call from a device without one
• Browser permission for web.whatsapp.com to use the microphone and camera

WhatsApp recommends headphones for the best sound; using a separate external microphone and speakers can cause echo. If you prefer an installed app over the browser, the WhatsApp desktop apps for Windows and Mac do the same job.

How do you make a voice call on WhatsApp Web?

1. Open web.whatsapp.com in your browser and link it with your phone.
2. Open the chat with the person you want to call.
3. Click the call button at the top of the chat and choose voice call.
4. If the browser asks for microphone permission on the first call, allow it.
5. During the call, use the microphone icon to mute and unmute, and the end call button to hang up.

When a call comes in, you see a notification on screen and can accept or decline it. During a voice call, you can click the camera icon to send a request to switch to video; the switch happens once the other person accepts.

How do you make a video call on WhatsApp Web?

The steps are the same as for a voice call: open the person's chat, choose video call from the call button, and allow camera and microphone access if the browser asks. During the call you can turn your camera off and on, mute your microphone, send emoji reactions or add more people. According to WhatsApp, video calls have no auto-answer; you have to accept incoming calls yourself.

WhatsApp's announcement also lists screen sharing on the web version and a Calls tab that shows your call history and favorite contacts. From the Calls tab you can review past calls and start a new one.

Can you make group calls, and how many people can join?

Yes. According to the WhatsApp Help Center, up to 32 people can join a group video call on WhatsApp Web, and the limit for group voice calls is also 32. If your group has more than 32 members, you start the video call by selecting up to 31 people to join.

You can start a group call in three ways: from the call button in a group chat, by adding people to a one-to-one call, or by selecting contacts in the Calls tab. If you missed a group call that is still in progress, you can join it from the Calls tab or from the group chat.

Can you switch devices during a call?

The call transfer feature announced by WhatsApp in July 2026 lets you move an ongoing call between your phone, tablet, WhatsApp Web and the desktop app without hanging up. For example, you can start a call on your computer at your desk and move it to your phone when you leave the room. The same announcement includes three more features:

• Waiting room: If you choose to require approval when creating a call link, participants wait in a waiting room until you let them in.
• QuickHD: Aims to deliver high-resolution video from the first seconds of the call.
• Noise suppression: Reduces background sounds; it can be turned on and off in the in-call settings.

These features are also rolling out gradually, so you may not see all of them on your account at the same time.

WhatsApp Web or the desktop app?

Both can make calls; the difference is installation and habit. WhatsApp Web works without installing anything, on someone else's computer or on a company computer where you are not allowed to install software. If you use Linux, it is also your only option, since there is no official desktop app. WhatsApp recommends its Windows and Mac apps for people who want a more native experience. If you will make calls regularly throughout the day on your own computer, the desktop app suits you better; if you call occasionally from different computers, WhatsApp Web is more practical.

What if the video call icon is missing or the call will not connect?

First, separate the case where the icon does not appear at all from the case where the call does not work. If the icon is missing, the feature has most likely not reached your account yet; apart from refreshing the page and updating your browser, there is little you can do. In the meantime you can use the Windows or Mac desktop app.

If the icon is there but the call does not connect, drops immediately, or has no video or sound, the WhatsApp Help Center suggests these steps:

• Close and reopen the WhatsApp Web tab, or refresh the page.
• Update your browser to the latest version.
• Use a strong, stable Wi-Fi connection; try another network if you can.
• Check that the browser has notification, camera and microphone permissions for web.whatsapp.com, and that the operating system allows the browser to show notifications and share the screen.
• Test that the microphone, camera and speakers work on the computer; make sure no other app is using the camera, and do not use a virtual camera or virtual audio device.
• Plug your laptop into a power source if possible.
• On a company network, ask your network administrator whether the firewall allows UDP and TCP ports 3478, 3480 and 3484 for WhatsApp calls.

The last point comes up often in offices: a call that works at home may fail on a corporate network because of the firewall.

What changes for businesses?

Teams that handle customer communication over WhatsApp can now make and answer calls while at their computers all day, without switching to a phone. If you plan to use this regularly, setting a headset standard for the team, having the ports above opened on the office network and using call links with a waiting room for meeting-style calls will make things easier.

If you want a setup that keeps records across your website, WhatsApp and CRM rather than squeezing customer conversations into one channel, read our chatbot integration guide or get in touch about your own setup.