WhatsApp, Meta’s messaging platform, has introduced guest calling, a feature that lets people who don’t have a WhatsApp account join its voice and video calls through a link. The company announced the feature yesterday, saying the calls are free, end-to-end encrypted and have no time limits.
Under the new setup, only someone with a WhatsApp account can start the process. The host opens the Calls tab, taps the “+” icon, creates a call link and sends it to the people they want on the call. A guest opens the link in a computer browser, types in a name and waits to be let in.
The host stays in charge throughout. “Anyone joining as a guest always needs the call host’s approval,” the WhatsApp team said. Guests wait in a waiting room until the host admits them, and the host can remove a guest at any time. The feature works for one-to-one calls and group calls of up to 32 people.
WhatsApp has also placed limits on what guests can do. They cannot start a call, see other participants’ phone numbers, send messages or add anyone directly to the call. Once admitted, they can share their screen, raise a hand to speak and react with a thumbs-up or heart emoji.
The move brings WhatsApp closer to FaceTime, which already lets people join calls through a link without an Apple account.
WhatsApp also said it plans to add calendar tools later this year. Users will be able to install a WhatsApp plugin, connect their account and add a call link to an invitation in Google Calendar or Outlook. Everyone invited will be able to join, with or without a WhatsApp account. Until those tools arrive, hosts must paste the call link into invitations by hand.
The company described guest calling as part of a series of calling updates it has made this year. Reports on the announcement note that earlier additions this year included encrypted web calls and account sign-ups on iPad.
Reports on the announcement did not say whether the feature is available in every country or how quickly it will reach all users. An uncomfirmed report says the company is rolling it out gradually to people with the latest version of the app.
