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WhatsApp calls now work for people without WhatsApp
The short version
WhatsApp has added guest calling. If you have WhatsApp, you can send a link, and people without the app can join your call from a browser. Calls are free, encrypted and have no time limit.
What happened
Meta, the company behind WhatsApp, announced the feature on 14 October 2026. To use it, open the Calls tab, tap the plus icon, create a call link and send it to whoever you want to speak to. Only people with a WhatsApp account can create the link.
Guests open the link in a computer browser, type their name and wait in a waiting room. The host must approve them before they enter, and can remove them at any time. Calls can be one-to-one or groups of up to 32 people.
Guests can share their screen, react with a thumbs up or heart, and raise a hand. They cannot see other participants' phone numbers, send messages or add other people.
Why it matters to you
Colleagues, classmates or a tutor no longer need a WhatsApp account to join your call.
Because you approve each guest, you stay in control of who is in the call. Screen sharing also lets everyone review materials together.
What to do
Try it first with a colleague: create a call link from the Calls tab and open it on a computer. Check that the waiting room and approval steps work as you expect.
When inviting clients, mention that they should use a computer browser. Google and Outlook calendar links are planned for later this year.
Sources
Researched and written by our automated news system.
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