You probably use WhatsApp every day to chat with your friends or family, but when it comes to calling, things can feel a bit scattered. You can actually make free voice and video calls not just on your iPhone but on your Mac, too.
Whether it’s a quick catch-up or a long video chat, WhatsApp makes it simple. Keep reading, and I’ll show you how to make audio and video calls on WhatsApp using both devices.
Prerequisites for Making WhatsApp Calls
Before we jump into the steps, you need to get a few things sorted:
- Microphone and Camera access
- Mac running macOS 11 or newer for calling
- Mac updated to macOS 12.3+ for screen sharing
How to Make WhatsApp Calls on an iPhone
You can start a WhatsApp call on an iPhone using these steps:
- Open the WhatsApp app and open the conversation with the person you want to call.
- If you want to make a voice call, tap the phone icon in the top-right corner.
- If you want to start a video call, tap the camera icon instead.
- If it’s your first time making a call, WhatsApp may ask for permission to access your Microphone and Camera. Tap Allow to proceed.
That’s it. You successfully made the call on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp also lets you a call on your iPhone using the following ways:
- In the Calls tab, tap + to select a contact or dial a number, then tap the voice or video call icon.
- Create a call link from the Calls tab by tapping on the New Call link and choosing Voice or Video. Then, share the link with others to join the call.
- Use Siri: Summon Siri and say, “Call [Name] on WhatsApp.”
- In the Phone app, go to Recents, tap the i button next to the contact, long-press the call option, and select WhatsApp.
During the call, you can mute yourself using the microphone icon, switch from voice to video by tapping the camera icon, or end the call by tapping the red button. During a video call, tap on the Share screen icon to even share your screen.
How to Make WhatsApp Calls on a Mac
Starting a WhatsApp call on your Mac is pretty much the same as on an iPhone:
- Open the WhatsApp app (macOS 11 or later).
- Open the chat of the person you want to call.
- Click the phone icon for a voice call or the camera icon for a video call.
- If prompted, allow WhatsApp access to your microphone and camera.
You’re now on the call.
Alternatively, you can also place a WhatsApp call on your iPhone using any of these methods:
- In the Calls tab, click + to select a contact or dial a number, then click the voice or video call icon.
- Go to the Calls tab, click New Call Link, and choose Voice or Video. Once done, share or schedule the link.
During the call, you can mute yourself using the microphone icon, turn your camera on or off, click the screen icon to start screen sharing (macOS 12.3+ required), and end the call using the red hang-up button
Related: How to schedule WhatsApp calls on iPhone
How to Make WhatsApp Group Calls on an iPhone and Mac
For times when you want to get multiple people on a call, you can use any of the three ways below to make a group call on your iPhone or Mac.
Make WhatsApp Group Calls From the Group Chats:
- Open the group chat you want to call (must have 32 or fewer members).
- Tap or click the Call Group button at the top.
- WhatsApp will automatically add all group members to the call. You can choose to remove participants before starting.
Make WhatsApp Group Calls From the Calls Tab:
- Tap or click the Calls tab.
- Select “+” icon at the top.
- Search for and select the contacts you want to include (up to 32 people).
- Tap or click the call icon to start a voice or video group call.
Make WhatsApp Group Calls From Individual Chats:
- Start a voice or video call with one contact.
- Once the call is connected, tap or click the participants’ icon.
- Tap Add People, then search for and add more participants.
- Repeat to add up to 32 participants in total.
Group calls support up to 32 people. You can mute others (up to 3 times per person) but can’t remove participants mid-call.
Related: How to delete a WhatsApp group
Key Things to Know About WhatsApp Calls
Here are some key things you should know before or during a WhatsApp call:
- Maximum of 32 participants for voice and video group calls.
- All calls are end-to-end encrypted.
- Add contacts to Favorites for quick access in the Calls tab.
- Use Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode to multitask during video calls.
- Screen sharing is supported on iPhone and macOS 12.3+.
- You can’t place calls from WhatsApp Web.
- Call quality depends on the contact with the weakest connection.
- Can’t call emergency numbers like 911.
- Links expire if unused for 30 days. You can remove or block users in link-based calls.
- You can receive a second WhatsApp call while already on a call, with options to End & Accept or Decline. This applies to regular calls, too, while you’re on WhatsApp.
Bring Your WhatsApp Conversations to Life
That’s pretty much everything you need to know about making WhatsApp calls on an iPhone and Mac. From quick one-to-one chats to full-blown group calls with screen sharing, it’s all built-in to WhatsApp and surprisingly smooth to use once you know where to look. Now that you’re versed, you’re all set to bring your WhatsApp conversations to life.
FAQs
Yes. Once your WhatsApp account is set up, you can make calls using any Wi-Fi or mobile data connection, even without an active SIM card in your device.
Yes. Open the Calls tab and use the dialer to enter any number. If the number is on WhatsApp, you can call them directly. If not, you’ll have the option to invite them to join WhatsApp.
Yes. If the group call is still in progress, you’ll see a “Join” button in the Calls tab or in the group chat. Tap it to join instantly.
No. Screen sharing is only available during video calls. You’ll need to start or switch to a video call to use this feature.
No, WhatsApp doesn’t let you forcibly remove participants from a group call. However, you can mute them temporarily for you. Other users can still listen to them when you mute users on WhatsApp call.
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