How to make a WhatsApp group video call

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(Pocket-lint) – The messaging app owned by Facebook Whatsapp, allows up to eight people to participate in a group video call.

This feature tells you everything you need to know about WhatsApp group video calling, which is available on iOS and Android, as well as the WhatsApp desktop.

What is the WhatsApp group call?

WhatsApp has long supported voice and video calling and introduced group video chats in 2018. As we mentioned, you can make a group call with up to eight people simultaneously. Competitors like Google Duo offer up to 32.

Previously, you had to start a one-on-one voice or video call as usual on WhatsApp and then add multiple other participants to make it a group call. However, it is much easier these days.

How to make a WhatsApp group video call

It should be noted that during any video call you always have the option to mute your video to switch back to a voice call and / or mute your microphone.

You need an existing WhatsApp group

To call a group, it must be an existing WhatsApp group. To create a group, go to the Chats tab and press “New group” at the top of your chats. The participants of the group must be in your contacts.

You can also tap the New Chat icon and then select New Group.

Call the group

After creating your group or opening the group of people you want to call video, you will need to tap the video icon in the top right corner. This will appear if there are eight people or less in the group. Once you tap it, the group video call will start.

If the group has more than eight people, you will need to create a room in which you will select up to seven other participants for the video call. In the group, tap the call icon with the “+” in the upper right corner and select your participants. If people in the group are not in your contacts, they will not appear in this list.

Once you’ve selected your participants, tap the blue video icon – you can also tap the phone icon if you just want the voice.

When participants receive a group video call, the incoming call screen displays the participants who are currently on a call.

Add group participants to an existing call

If you want to start with a one-to-one call, this song is for you. Just open chat with the contact you want to call, then tap Voice call (phone icon) or Video call (camera icon).

After making a one-on-one voice or video call, you will see an Add Participant button in the upper right corner as a person icon in a circle with a “+”. Touch it to add more contacts to the call.

What about group video calls on WhatsApp desktop?

We have a separate feature that tells you how to make a group video call on the WhatsApp desktop. The feature is currently not available for the WhatsApp web. You can find all the information to make a group video call on the WhatsApp desktop by clicking here.

In summary, you will need the following for this to work:

• The latest version of the WhatsApp desktop application (available for Windows PC and Mac)
• An audio and microphone output device
• A camera for video calls
• An active Internet connection on your phone and computer. Your phone must be online to make the call, but the call will not go through your phone.
• Grant permission to the WhatsApp desktop to access your computer’s microphone and camera.

Are WhatsApp group calls secure?

Group calls are “always end-to-end encrypted,” according to WhatsApp. They are also designed to “perform reliably” under a variety of network conditions, although we make sure you have a strong data signal when making group video calls.

Written by Dan Grabham and Maggie Tillman. Originally published on August 1, 2018.