WhatsApp’s Web App Is Getting a Huge Upgrade

While there are many chat apps out there, WhatsApp is the clear leader of the pack. The app has over three billion monthly active users, constantly messaging and calling each other across the globe. However, currently these calls are all done through the mobile app, or perhaps through the desktop app. Although WhatsApp has a web app, the service has never supported audio or video calls outside of its downloadable apps, until now.

You can now make calls from the WhatsApp web app

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is slowly rolling out audio and video calling to its web app. At launch, the feature will be available in individual chats with users who choose to sign up for the WhatsApp web app beta, but the company plans to roll out the feature to all web app users over the coming weeks.

WABetaInfo notes that voice and audio calls work pretty much the same as in the WhatsApp desktop app. When you open an individual chat in the web app, you will now see a video call icon at the top. Click on it and you will find two options: one to make a voice call and one to make a video call. These calls are always end-to-end encrypted, as they are on WhatsApp’s desktop and mobile apps, meaning only users participating in the calls can hear what’s being said. Additionally, the web app’s video calling client supports screen sharing, so you can share a live feed of your computer screen with another WhatsApp contact.

WhatsApp is also reportedly working on group chat calls for web app users. While this feature isn’t rolling out alongside one-on-one calls, when it launches you’ll be able to join group chats of up to 32 people.

If you tend to use the WhatsApp desktop or mobile apps, this might not seem like big news, but it’s pretty big for a few subsets of WhatsApp users. One, of course, is the user base that simply prefers to use WhatsApp in their computer’s web browser, but the other is Linux users. WhatsApp doesn’t actually offer a version of its desktop app for Linux, so these users to have use the web app if they want to run WhatsApp on their computer. This means they have never been able to make calls without taking out their mobile device.

How to sign up for the WhatsApp web app beta

This feature will be rolling out to all web app users soon, but until then, you need to run the beta version of the WhatsApp web app to try it.

Luckily, it’s pretty easy to get started. To get started, open the web app, then go to the settings menu, choose “Help”, then choose the “Join Beta” option. This will immediately upgrade you to the beta version of the web application. (You should see a “Beta” label on your screen.) Now that you’re running the beta, you should find the ability to make calls in individual chats.