WhatsApp Adds Voice and Video Calling to Its Web App

WhatsApp is bringing voice and video calls to its web app, allowing users to make and receive calls from a browser without installing the native desktop program. The addition closes a long-standing feature gap for people who use the service on shared, managed or temporary computers where software installation may not be practical.

A new Calls tab will contain recent call history and favorites. Meta said the browser experience will also support features already available in its desktop application, including screen sharing and reactions. That makes the web app more useful for work conversations as well as personal calls.

WhatsApp is adding call transfer between devices. A conversation started on the web or desktop can continue on a phone without requiring participants to hang up and reconnect. The company is also introducing waiting rooms for group calls, with an optional approval setting that lets a host decide when a participant may join.

The release includes background-noise suppression and faster access to high-definition video. WhatsApp said calls should begin streaming in HD within the first few seconds, reducing the period of low-quality video that users sometimes encounter while a connection stabilizes.

The feature may also expand WhatsApp's use on ChromeOS and locked-down corporate devices, where the browser is the easiest common environment. Administrators will need session controls that prevent a call history or logged-in account from remaining accessible after a worker leaves a shared computer. A good web experience depends on safe sign-out as much as on call quality.

The competitive effect will depend on reliability across browsers and weak networks. Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom have spent years improving echo control, device selection and recovery after a connection drops. WhatsApp can reach a huge installed base, but browser calling must feel as dependable as a phone call if teams are going to use it for scheduled work. Meta should also make enterprise controls visible, including whether organizations can disable file sharing, screen sharing or calls on managed devices without blocking ordinary messaging.

Browser calling makes WhatsApp a more complete alternative to meeting and communications products, particularly for small organizations already using the service. Meta will still need to explain browser permissions clearly and maintain end-to-end encryption across the expanded device flow. Convenience will matter only if users can understand which microphone, camera and account session remains active.