Last week, WhatsApp began testing a new joinable group call feature in the WhatsApp beta for iOS before rolling out multi-device compatibility for beta testers. The aforementioned functionality essentially enables users to join group video calls even after they have already begun and provides a new user interface to see every caller individually. The company that owns Facebook’s messaging platform has recently disclosed that it is introducing the joinable group calls function.
Joinable Group Calls Feature on WhatsApp
Through an official blog post, WhatsApp announced the launch of the joinable calls feature. Joinable calls, according to the firm, eliminate the need to answer a group call as soon as it begins and enable users to join active group calls on WhatsApp anytime they choose.
Therefore, even if they first miss a group audio or video call, users will now be able to join it on WhatsApp. When a user logs in to the platform while a group call is still in progress, the call will be visible at the top of their Calls tab on WhatsApp. From there, users only need to make a few taps to join the current group call.
Additionally, users can see a new Join call option in the group chat window where the call was initiated. After that, they don’t need to ask another caller or group member to add them; they may simply touch the new button to join the call.
In addition to the new joinable calls, WhatsApp modified the call screen UI to display each caller in the group along with their status—whether they are online or not—on a new call info pull-up tab. Users may add new callers or alert those who are on the call but aren’t participating, and it has a similar interface to the call screen on Apple’s FaceTime app.
How to Use Joinable Group Calls Feature in WhatsApp
On WhatsApp beta for iOS (v2.21.140) and Android (v2.21.15.9), as well as the stable build for iPhone, we tested the feature. Although the feature has not yet been activated on the stable version of the app, the beta builds showed no issues. Check out the instructions below to give it a go for yourself.
- Open WhatsApp app on your Android or iOS device
- Go to a group in which you want to make the call and start a group call.
- Once you start the group call, if any of the participants miss the group voice or video call initially, they will now see a new Tap to join option for an ongoing group call at the top of the Calls tab.
In addition, we observed the Tap to join option throughout our testing as a system message after fully ignoring the call on Android. The new feature was limited to the Calls tab and the group chat window on iOS.
- Users can then simply hit the Tap to Join option in the Calls tab to open up the call info screen.
- From there, they can tap the Join button to jump into the ongoing group call.
As a result, only the beta versions of the WhatsApp app for iOS and Android include the new joinable group calls functionality. The feature and the brand-new call details page are still not accessible in the stable version. Nevertheless, given that WhatsApp has already made the formal announcement, we anticipate the feature to become available to all users as soon as possible.
What do you think of this useful new WhatsApp feature? Please share with us in the comments area.
