Meta has officially introduced group voice and video calling capabilities to the web browser version of WhatsApp. Currently being rolled out to a limited group of users enrolled in the platform’s web beta program, this major update expands significantly upon the browser-based one-to-one calling feature that debuted earlier this year.
Prior to this deployment, users accessing WhatsApp via web browsers were restricted exclusively to individual interactions, requiring them to switch to mobile devices or download dedicated native applications for desktop environments to coordinate multiparty conversations.
Eligible beta testers will now see dedicated voice and video icons integrated directly into the header of group chat windows on WhatsApp Web. Upon selecting the icon, users can choose their preferred communication medium and manually select a specific subset of group participants to invite, avoiding the need to ring every single member of a chat simultaneously.
To maintain total feature parity and ensure an identical user experience across platforms, the browser-based group calls accommodate up to 32 participants for both audio and video sessions. The feature also supports the creation of call links—unique, secure URLs valid for 30 days of inactivity—allowing users to easily invite external participants. Furthermore, the video infrastructure includes real-time screen sharing, providing a streamlined tool for remote collaboration, virtual presentations, and document reviews.
In line with WhatsApp’s core privacy standards, all communications initiated through the browser version are fortified with default end-to-end encryption via the Signal protocol, ensuring that no outside entities, including WhatsApp and Meta, can monitor or access the calls. The feature is expected to reach a broader global user base over the coming weeks as testing progresses.
