The WhatsApp Web App Is Getting a Major Update.
While there are many messaging apps, WhatsApp is undoubtedly the leader. It boasts over three billion monthly active users , constantly messaging and calling each other around the world. However, currently, all these calls are made through the mobile app or perhaps the desktop app. While WhatsApp has a web app, the service has never supported audio or video calls outside of downloadable apps—until now.
You can now make calls using the WhatsApp web app.
According to WABetaInfo , WhatsApp is gradually introducing audio and video calling to its web app. At launch, this feature will be available in individual chats for users participating in the WhatsApp web beta, but the company plans to make this feature available to all web app users in the coming weeks.
WABetaInfo notes that voice and audio calls work much the same as in the WhatsApp desktop app. When you open a one-on-one chat in the web app, a video call icon will appear at the top. Click it, and you’ll see two options: one for voice and one for video. These calls are still end-to-end encrypted, just like in the WhatsApp desktop and mobile apps, meaning only the call participants can hear the conversation. Furthermore, the web app’s video client supports screen sharing, so you can share a live stream of your computer screen with another WhatsApp contact.
WhatsApp is also reportedly working on a group chat feature for web app users. While this feature won’t launch at the same time as one-on-one calls, once it launches, you’ll be able to join group chats with up to 32 people.
If you typically use the desktop or mobile version of WhatsApp, this may not seem like big news, but for some groups of WhatsApp users, this is a significant change. One of these, of course, is users who prefer to use WhatsApp in a web browser on their computers, and the other is Linux users. WhatsApp doesn’t offer a version of its desktop app for Linux, so these users are forced to use the web app if they want to run WhatsApp on their computers. This means they’ve never been able to make calls without pulling out their mobile device before.
How to register for the WhatsApp Web App beta
This feature will be available to all web app users soon, but until then, you’ll need to be running the beta version of the WhatsApp web app to use it.
Luckily, getting started is quite simple . To begin, open the web app, then go to the Settings menu, select “Help,” and then select “Join Beta.” This will immediately switch you to the beta version of the web app. (The word “Beta” should appear on the screen.) Now that you’re using the beta version, you should find the option to make calls in one-on-one chats.