WhatsApp’s web app has always felt a little incomplete. You could send messages, share files, and keep up with group chats, but if you wanted to actually call someone? You had to either grab your phone or download the desktop app. That’s finally changing. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp Web calls are now rolling out, starting with beta users who can place voice and video calls directly from their browser.
The feature works pretty much how you’d expect. Open up a one-on-one chat and you’ll see voice and video call buttons at the top. Click one and you’re in. It also supports screen sharing during video calls, so you can show documents or presentations without switching to another app. All calls are end-to-end encrypted using the Signal protocol, the same one that protects calls on WhatsApp’s mobile and desktop apps.
Right now, WhatsApp Web calls only work for individual chats. Group calling isn’t live yet, but it’s reportedly in development. When it does arrive, it’s expected to support up to 32 participants along with call links and scheduled calls. That would bring the web version much closer to what the mobile and desktop apps already offer in terms of calling features.
Why this matters for a lot of users
This update is a big deal for one group in particular: Linux users. WhatsApp doesn’t offer a desktop app for Linux, so those users have been stuck with a text-only experience on the web for years. Browser-based calling fixes that gap entirely. It’s also useful for anyone on a shared or work computer where installing apps isn’t an option.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature took about a year of development. WhatsApp reportedly spent that time making sure the browser experience matches what you’d get from the desktop apps. The rollout is starting with beta testers, but a wider release is expected over the next few weeks.
If you want to try it early, you can join the WhatsApp Web beta by going to Settings, then Help and Feedback, and toggling the “Join the Beta” switch. There’s no guarantee you’ll get the calling feature right away, but you’ll be first in line when it expands.
