The feature was announced by WhatsApp head Kunal Shah on social media.
Meta-owned WhatsApp will now allow users to make calls directly through WhatsApp Web. Earlier, users could only make voice and video calls using the smartphone app or the desktop app.
The web calling interface will include call history and favourites, similar to the smartphone and desktop apps. It will also support screen sharing and emoji reactions, features already available on the desktop app.
The feature was announced by WhatsApp head Kunal Shah on social media. "WhatsApp calls now work in your browser. Your 47 open Chrome tabs finally got company that's actually useful," he wrote on X, alongside a screenshot showing him on a video call with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg using the Google Chrome web browser.
Kunal Shah also announced additional calling features for WhatsApp Web, including Call Transfer, which allows users to transfer an ongoing call from one device to another without hanging up. For example, users can continue a call on their smartphone even if they initially answered it on the desktop app or WhatsApp Web.
Another new feature is Waiting Room, which gives hosts greater control over group calls. If someone joins using a group call link, the host can choose whether to approve or deny their request to join. This feature will be particularly useful for work meetings and other organised group calls.
WhatsApp is also introducing background noise suppression, which filters out loud background sounds to make calls clearer.
Together, these new features could make WhatsApp a more attractive option for professionals, bringing it closer to rival platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet. Since many users already rely on WhatsApp for everyday communication, the added calling features could make it a convenient platform for meetings.
In a blog post, WhatsApp said these features are rolling out gradually and will be available to all users soon.
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