How to use WhatsApp's desktop calling feature

WhatsApp today announced the availability of the voice and video calling feature for users of its desktop app. This new feature is available on Windows PCs and MacOS-powered devices for individual users only. This means that users won’t be able to make group voice or video calls using WhatsApp’s desktop app. However, the company clarified that it will be expanding this feature to include group voice and video calls in the future.

As far as the details are concerned, this newly introduced feature works in both portrait and landscape orientation and it appears in a resizable standalone window on users’ computer screens. WhatsApp says that is set to be always on top so that users never lose their video chats in a browser tab or stack of open windows.

The company also said that like the voice and video calls on WhatsApp’s mobile app, the calls made from its desktop app too are end-to-end encrypted so no one can hear or see them.

To be able to use the desktop calling feature, users need to ensure that they have a PC running on Windows 1064-bit version 1903 and newer or an Apple desktop or laptop running on macOS 10.13 and newer. In addition to that, users will also need an audio output device and microphone for voice and video calls, a camera for video calls, and an active internet connection on their computer and phone.

Here’s how to make a voice call using WhatsApp’s desktop calling feature:

Step 1: Open the individual chat with the contact you’d like to call.

Step 2: Click the Voice call icon.

How to answer a voice call using WhatsApp’s desktop calling feature:

Step 1: Click on Accept to accept the call.

Step 2: Click on Decline to decline the call.

Step 3: Ignore or x to ignore the call.

How to switch between voice and video calls while using WhatsApp’s desktop calling feature:

Step 1: Hover over the Camera icon during the call.

Step 2: Click the Camera icon.

Step 3: The voice call will switch to a video call if your contact accepts the switch.