WhatsApp brings audio and video calling to the web

Meta says WhatsApp is adding browser-based audio and video calling, giving users a way to start or answer calls from WhatsApp Web without installing the desktop app. The update, announced July 28, extends calling beyond the mobile and desktop clients and is aimed at people using shared computers, managed work laptops, or machines where app installs are impractical.

The headline change is full calling support inside WhatsApp Web for both one-on-one and group calls. Meta says the web experience includes familiar call tools such as screen sharing, reactions, a dedicated Calls tab, call history, and favorites. The company also says calls made through the browser remain end-to-end encrypted, are free to use, and do not have time limits.

More continuity between phone, desktop and browser

Alongside web calling, WhatsApp is adding call transfer between devices. A user who starts a group call on a phone or tablet will be able to move the active call to WhatsApp Web or Desktop without hanging up, and Meta says the transfer can also work in the opposite direction. That makes the update less about adding one isolated endpoint and more about making WhatsApp calling feel continuous across the devices people already move between during a day.

Group calls are getting new host controls as well. When someone creates a WhatsApp call link with approval required, participants can be placed into a waiting room until the host lets them in. For work, class, community and family calls, that gives organizers a lightweight way to avoid surprise arrivals while still using a simple link-based joining flow.

Video and audio quality also get attention

Meta says a new QuickHD feature is designed to bring high-definition video into the first seconds of a call instead of waiting for quality to ramp up. WhatsApp is also adding background noise suppression that can reduce surrounding sound so a speaker's voice is clearer in busy places. The setting can be managed during a call.

The features are rolling out gradually and Meta says they will be available to everyone soon. For WhatsApp, which has long competed on private messaging and cross-platform reach, web calling closes a notable gap for users who spend much of the day in a browser. It also puts more pressure on video meeting and calling tools to make device switching, call history and privacy controls feel routine rather than separate workflows.

Sources

• about.fb.com

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