WhatsApp guest calling lets you invite anyone to a WhatsApp voice or video call, even if they have never installed WhatsApp. You create a call link, send it, and the other person joins from a web browser after you let them in. WhatsApp announced the feature on Oct. 14, 2026, and says the calls are free, end-to-end encrypted and have no time limit. Here is how to set one up, what guests can and cannot do, and how to keep a link from turning into a problem.
The short version
WhatsApp users can now send a call link to people who do not use WhatsApp. Guests join from a computer browser, and the host has to approve every one of them.
- Create a link from the Calls tab by tapping the + icon, then choosing to create a call link.
- Guests open the link in a computer browser, type their name and wait for you to let them in.
- Calls hold up to 32 people, are free and have no time limit, according to WhatsApp.
- Guests cannot see anyone’s phone number, send messages or invite other people.
- The downside: WhatsApp’s announcement only mentions joining from a computer, so a guest with just a phone may not be able to use it.
How WhatsApp guest calling works
Only someone with a WhatsApp account can start a guest call. The steps, from WhatsApp’s announcement:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Calls tab.
- Tap the + icon and choose to create a call link.
- Send the link to the people you want on the call, by text, email or any other app.
- Your guests open the link in their computer browser and type in their name.
- They wait in a waiting room until you let them in. You can remove anyone at any time.
What changes for you: the person you need to talk to no longer has to download an app or hand over a phone number. That helps with a relative who refuses to install WhatsApp, a tutor, a client, or a job contact you would rather not share your number with.
What guests can and cannot do
Once you admit them, guests get the basic call tools. They can share their computer screen, react with a thumbs up or a heart, and raise their hand to speak. Group calls can hold up to 32 people.
WhatsApp has also put limits on guests. They cannot:
- see the phone numbers of other people on the call,
- send messages in the call, or
- add anyone else to the call directly.
WhatsApp says it will add Google Calendar and Outlook plugins later this year, so you can put a WhatsApp call link straight into a meeting invite. Guests will be able to join those calls with or without an account.
Before you send a WhatsApp guest calling link
A call link works like a spare key. Anyone who gets it can come to the door, even if you still decide who comes in. A few habits keep it that way:
- Send links only to the people you mean to invite. Do not post them in public groups or on social media. WhatsApp’s own link screen says to share it only with people you trust.
- Check every name in the waiting room before you let someone in. If you do not recognise a name, leave them out.
- Remove anyone who should not be there. You can do this at any point in the call.
- Remember that guests type their own name. A name on screen is not proof of who someone is. If it matters, ask them to switch on their camera.
Scammers love any new feature people have not learned yet, so expect fake “join my WhatsApp call” links to follow. A guest only needs to type a name to join. Real call links start with call.whatsapp.com and open on web.whatsapp.com, which are both WhatsApp’s own addresses. If a link takes you anywhere else, or asks for a verification code, a password or a payment, close it. If you land on the WhatsApp Web page asking you to log in or create an account, you do not need either to join as a guest. Ask the host to send the link again.
For more on spotting these tricks, see our guide on how to spot online scams. And if your own WhatsApp account is not yet protected, turn on two-factor authentication and work through our checklist to secure every account you own in one afternoon.
What we don’t know yet
WhatsApp has not said whether guests can join from a phone browser, or whether the feature reaches every country and every account at the same time. If a guest cannot join from their phone, a laptop or desktop computer is the safe bet for now.
