WhatsApp is now making it simpler for people to do group calls, though it has a catch to it. The company confirmed that those with groups of 4 or less will be able to start video or voice WhatsApp calls by directly tapping on the respective icon.
The call will automatically start with everyone else in the group being a part of this.
We've made it easier than ever to start a group call from WhatsApp for groups of 4 or less. From your group chat tap the video or voice call icon to directly start a call with everyone in the chat! ?
— WhatsApp Inc. (@WhatsApp) April 7, 2020
How to get the new WhatsApp group calling feature
You need to make sure that you have upgraded to the latest version of WhatsApp. This feature is live for both Android and iOS. With a group of four people, you will realise that the audio and video calling works automatically.
And you do not have to choose the participants in the group to add to the call. Just pressing the audio or video call option will dial all the members of the group. If you are not part of any group with four members or less, you can create one and invite three more people to the group to initiate the auto calls.
What about WhatsApp group calls in bigger groups?
In a bigger group, just tap on the call button, which appears next to the group name. WhatsApp will show a pop-up box at the bottom with all the Group Members. Tick the ones you want to call as part of the group call. Ensure that you only choose three other members.
Tap on whether you want a video call or audio and the call will be connected.
Coronavirus effect on WhatsApp and Messenger calls
Recently, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that they had seen a huge spike in WhatsApp and Messenger calling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Facebook even launched a Messenger app for MacOS and Windows to let users easily video chat on their desktop computers and stay connected with friends and family anywhere across the globe. WhatsApp also tightened the message forwarding rules so that you’ll only be able to forward them on to one chat at a time, to fight fake news.
