WhatsApp announced on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, one of the most anticipated updates in its history: audio and video calls have finally arrived on the Web version of the app. Until now, users who wanted to make WhatsApp calls needed to use the smartphone app or the native desktop app — the browser version, accessible via whatsappweb.com, only supported text messaging. This change eliminates a limitation that had existed since WhatsApp Web launched in 2015, over a decade ago.
The update goes far beyond simply enabling calls in the browser. WhatsApp Web now offers a range of features previously exclusive to the desktop app, including screen sharing and reactions during calls. Meta also introduced entirely new capabilities that make WhatsApp a more robust communication tool. Call transfer between devices lets users start a call on their computer and continue on their phone without interruption — useful for those who need to leave home or the office during an important conversation.
Another significant addition is waiting rooms for group calls. If someone has a link to a group call, they can now approve or block participants from entering — essential for those who use WhatsApp for work meetings. When creating a call link, users can enable the "Require approval to join" option, transforming WhatsApp into a videoconferencing platform with access control similar to Zoom or Google Meet.
The app also received call quality improvements. The new background noise suppression feature filters ambient sounds in busy locations, while video streaming now starts in high definition from the very first seconds of the call — previously, WhatsApp took a few seconds to switch to HD. End-to-end encryption remains present on all calls, including the Web version, ensuring that even browser conversations remain private.
These changes are part of a broader Meta strategy to transform WhatsApp into a universal communication platform. The company is also developing a username system that, when launched, will allow users to call each other across platforms without sharing phone numbers. This move puts WhatsApp on a direct collision course with apps like Zoom, Google Meet, and FaceTime, expanding its role from a messaging app to a full-fledged personal and business communication platform. The open question is whether users, accustomed to keeping WhatsApp for personal messages and Zoom for work meetings, will embrace the unified tool — or whether the overlap of functions might create confusion about where each type of conversation should take place.
The timing of the launch is also strategic. With the growth of hybrid work and the consolidation of communication tools, Meta is betting that users will prefer a single app for all forms of communication — messages, personal calls, and work meetings — rather than switching between WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google Meet throughout the day. Integration with the Meta ecosystem (Instagram, Facebook, Messenger) and WhatsApp's base of over 2 billion active users gives the company a competitive advantage that no standalone videoconferencing competitor can match. Moreover, the username system, once launched, will eliminate the friction of sharing phone numbers, potentially opening WhatsApp calling to use cases — like business communications and professional networking — where phone number privacy has traditionally been a barrier.
Sources: TechCrunch, 9to5Mac, Meta Newsroom
