WhatsApp launches Joinable calls feature, lets users join group call even after it’s started

WhatsApp the Facebook-owned company has added many new features to its user-friendly program for years. This includes allowing users to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple devices at the same time, allowing users to send photos and videos without losing quality, and adding expired media support.

Recently, WhatsApp rolling out a new UI for audio and video calls and the ability to allow users to join missed group calls. At the time, this was limited to selecting WhatsApp beta users. But now, both versions are finally being released to more users.

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In the blog post, WhatsApp officially announced joinable calls, a feature that allows users to jump into group calls even when they’ve started.

If you missed an incoming group call or ignored it, WhatsApp now displays the “Tap to join” banner on the Calls tab to allow you to join immediately (as long as the call is still in progress). Additionally, users can also drop and join an ongoing group call, such as Google Meet and Zoom calls.

The incoming call UI for group calls has also been updated. Instead of the red drop-down button, there is a new “Ignore” button, and the “Join” button has replaced the green welcome button. The new UI also shows you who has already joined the call and who has been invited but has not yet joined.

Calls integrated with the new call UI are rolling out to WhatsApp users from today. Both of these upgrades are already live in the latest version of WhatsApp beta and will soon be entering a stable version.

HOW TO JOIN GROUP VIDEO CALL:

1. You’ll receive a notification when someone invites you to join a group video call.
2. If you can’t join, tap Ignore. To open the call info screen, tap Join.
3. From the call menu, you can preview the call participants and other invitees.
4. Tap Join to join the call.
5. While on the call, tap Open to open the call info screen.
6. Tap Add participant to add more contacts to the call.
7. Tap RING to send a notification to people who’ve already been invited.

JOIN A MISSED GROUP VIDEO CALL

1. Open WhatsApp, then tap the CALLS tab.
2. If the call is ongoing, tap the call you’d like to join. This will open the call info screen.
3. From the call menu, tap Join.

NOTES:

1. Only eight participants can be active on a call at one time.
2. Make sure you and your contacts have strong internet connections when placing or receiving group video calls. The quality of the video call will depend on the contact with the weakest connection.
3. During a group video call, you have the option to turn your video off by tapping Video off.
4. You can’t remove a contact during a group video call. The contact would need to hang up their phone to disconnect from the call.
5. While it’s possible to be in a group video call with someone you’ve blocked, you can’t add a contact that you’ve blocked to the call or a contact that has blocked you.
6. Video calling is only available on Android phones running 4.1 or newer.