How to Make a Video Call on WhatsApp (One-to-One and Group)

A quick video call is often the fastest way to sort something out with a customer, a supplier or a relative who'd rather see your face than read your typing. WhatsApp builds it in, so there's nothing extra to install. What trips people up is where the video button hides, how many people can join a group call, and what you can do mid-call, such as sharing your screen or moving from voice to video. Here's the full run-through, following WhatsApp's help centre.

Make a one-to-one video call on WhatsApp

From a chat

1. Open the chat with the contact you want to video call.
2. On Android, tap the video call icon, then Call. On iPhone, tap the video call icon.
3. Wait for them to answer. When you've finished, end the call.

From the Calls tab

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the Calls tab.
2. Tap the new call icon.
3. Find the contact and tap the video call icon beside them.

If they don't pick up, WhatsApp says you can leave a video note: tap Record video note, tap the stop icon when you've finished, then delete or send it. They'll get a notification, and the note appears in your chat with them.

Make a group video call on WhatsApp

According to the help centre, up to 32 people can join a group voice or video call, and only 32 people can be active on a video call at one time. There are two ways to start one.

From a group chat

1. Open the group chat you want to call.
2. If the group has 32 or fewer people, tap the video call icon, then Call group.
3. If there are more than 32 people, tap the video call icon and pick up to 31 people, then tap the call button showing how many you've selected.

From an individual chat

1. Open the chat with one of the people you want to call and start a video call.
2. Once they accept, tap the add person icon.
3. Find another contact and tap Add. Tap the Participants icon to add more people.

If someone invites you to a group call, you'll get a notification. You can tap to preview who's on it, then tap Join, or Ignore if you aren't ready. You can also join a missed call that's still going from the Calls tab, or from the group chat.

Switch a WhatsApp voice call to a video call

Started on voice and now you want to show something? You don't have to hang up. According to WhatsApp's help centre, you tap the video icon during a voice call. The other person starts seeing your video straight away, and they can choose whether to keep their own video off or turn it on. If they aren't saved as a contact and you haven't chatted with them before, they have to accept the request first. Tap the icon again to turn your video off.

Going the other way, tapping the camera-off icon during a video call turns your video off. Your contact can choose to turn theirs off too, or leave it on. One limit from the same help pages: you can't switch between voice and video in a group call.

Share your screen during a WhatsApp video call

WhatsApp's help centre says you must be in a video call to share your screen, and it isn't available during audio calls. On Android, the steps are:

1. In the video controls, tap the options icon, then tap Share screen.
2. Your phone shows a prompt about recording with WhatsApp.
3. Choose Share one app, tap Next and pick an app, or choose Share entire screen, then tap Share screen.
4. To stop, tap Stop Sharing.

The help page adds a sensible warning: whatever's on your screen, including usernames and passwords, is visible to the person you're sharing with, so only share with people you trust. It says screen sharing is end-to-end encrypted and never recorded by WhatsApp. Menus vary by app version and phone.

Create a WhatsApp video call link

A call link is handy when you want to arrange a call ahead of time, or invite a mixed group. WhatsApp's steps:

1. Tap the Calls tab, then the icon at the top, then Create new call link.
2. Choose your call type, Video or Voice.
3. If you want a waiting room, switch on Require approval to join.
4. Tap Copy link, Send link via WhatsApp, or Share link to use another app.

Anyone with the link can join, so WhatsApp says to share it only with people you trust. The help page also says links expire if they've been unused for 30 days. People without a WhatsApp account can join from a desktop web browser as a guest, though guests always need approval to join.

Handy things to do during a WhatsApp video call

Feature	What WhatsApp says
Flip camera	Switch between front and rear cameras; calls start on the front one.
Camera off	Turns your video off during the call.
Message icon	Opens the chat so you can read or send messages mid-call.
Raise hand	Tap Raise hand to raise it and Lower hand to lower it.
Hide self view	Drag your small video to the screen edge; others still see you.
Noise cancellation	Optional on 1:1 calls, and not available on all devices.

Before you start a WhatsApp video call

• Make sure you and the person you're calling have strong internet connections. WhatsApp says group call quality depends on the weakest connection.
• To save data, use Wi-Fi where you can. The help centre also points to Use less data for calls under Storage and data. My guide to how much data WhatsApp uses explains the settings.
• If your call isn't going through, WhatsApp says the other person may be on an older operating system or app version.
• You can't reach emergency service numbers through WhatsApp, so use your phone's normal calling for those.

If calls fail on your home router in particular, my guide to WhatsApp video calls failing on Wi-Fi goes through the likely causes.

Making a WhatsApp video call for work

If you run a small business, a video call suits a quick demo, a catch-up with a freelancer or a customer who wants reassurance. Tell people when you'll call before you ring, keep the background tidy and send a short message afterwards confirming what you agreed. If you're calling from a shared device, remember logging out of WhatsApp when you've finished so nobody else can use your account.

For the rest of the series, see the WhatsApp Help: 43 Guides to Transfers, Backups, Business and Privacy.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a video call on WhatsApp?

Open a chat and tap the video call icon (on Android, then Call), or open the Calls tab, tap the new call icon, find the contact and tap their video call icon.

How many people can join a WhatsApp group video call?

WhatsApp's help centre says up to 32 people can join a group video call. If a group has more than 32 people, you can pick up to 31 to call.

Can I switch from a voice call to a video call?

Yes for one-to-one calls. Tap the video icon during the voice call. The other person sees your video straight away, and unknown contacts have to accept first. You can't switch between voice and video in a group call.

Can I share my screen on a WhatsApp video call?

Yes. WhatsApp's help centre says you must be in a video call, as screen sharing isn't available in audio calls. Tap the options icon in the video controls, then Share screen.

What is a WhatsApp call link?

It's a link you create from the Calls tab so people can join a voice or video call. Anyone with the link can join, so only share it with people you trust.