WhatsApp continues to explore new ways to make communication easier and more accessible. After the username feature, this is another new feature coming to WhatsApp that could change how people participate in WhatsApp calls is guest calling. The feature is designed to allow people who do not have a WhatsApp account to join a call through a shared web link.
According to reports about the feature under development, WhatsApp is developing guest calls that could let users invite people who do not have the WhatsApp app or an account. Instead of asking guests to download WhatsApp and register a phone number, the host could create an invitation link and share it with them.
The guest would then be able to open the link through a web browser and request access to the call. The host would remain in control and could manually approve guests before they enter.
But how exactly could this process work? And is joining a WhatsApp call through a web browser safe?
Let’s understand everything about the upcoming feature.
What Are WhatsApp Guest Calls?
WhatsApp guest calls are an upcoming calling functionality intended to make it easier for people without a WhatsApp account to participate in calls. Normally, users need a WhatsApp account to access WhatsApp calling features. The proposed guest functionality could remove this requirement for people who simply want to join a particular call.
WhatsApp is said to be working on a guest call feature that could allow invited participants to access calls using a web browser. This could be particularly useful when someone does not want to install the app or create an account just to participate in a single conversation. You can share the link on any platform, such as Facebook, Instagram, and many others. With this feature, you can also make group calls.
The feature is reportedly still under development, so the final process and availability could change before WhatsApp officially releases it.
How Will WhatsApp Guest Calls Work?
The expected process appears relatively simple. The person hosting the call would create an invitation link through WhatsApp and send it to the people they want to invite.
Here is how the process could work:
1. Create a Call Link
The host would open WhatsApp and go to the Calls section. From there, they could create a dedicated invitation link for the call. This means Users generate a unique invitation link within the app and can then share it with people who need to join.
2. Share the Invitation Link
Once the link is generated, the host can share it with the guest through another messaging service, email, SMS or another communication platform. The important point is that the guest would not necessarily need a WhatsApp account to receive the invitation.
3. Open the Link in a Browser
The invited person could click the link and open it through a supported web browser. One of the main purposes of this feature is to let people join calls straight from a web browser, reducing the need to download WhatsApp or create a new account.
4. Request to Join
After opening the invitation, the guest could be asked to provide the necessary information and request access to the call. The guest would not automatically enter the conversation simply because they have the link.
5. Host Approves the Guest
The host would have control over who enters the call. A guest would need to be manually approved before joining. This approval system could provide an additional layer of control, particularly when the invitation link has been shared with multiple people.
6. Guest Joins the Call
After approval, the guest could participate in the WhatsApp call through their browser without having to create a WhatsApp account. This could make WhatsApp calling more convenient for temporary participants, businesses, events, customer communication and other situations where people may not already use WhatsApp.
Is WhatsApp Guest Calling Safe?
Security is likely to be one of the biggest questions surrounding this feature. According to the information currently reported about the feature, WhatsApp plans to retain end-to-end encryption for guest calls. If implemented as described, this would mean that call communications remain protected while being transmitted between participants.
However, encryption is only one part of overall security. The way users share and manage invitation links will also matter.
For example, if a private invitation link is forwarded to an unintended person, that person could potentially request access to the call. The host approval mechanism would therefore be important because the host can decide whether a guest should be allowed to enter. The entire interaction takes place between the caller and the other participants.
What Are the Potential Risks?
Although guest calling could improve accessibility, users should still be careful when using invitation links.
We Invitation Links Could Be Misused
A call link should be treated similarly to an invitation. Users should avoid posting private call links publicly unless they intentionally want unknown people to request access. If a link is forwarded to another person, they may also be able to open it and attempt to join.
Unwanted Join Requests
Another potential concern is receiving requests from people who were not originally invited. The host approval process can help address this situation. Hosts should check who is requesting access before approving them.
Fake WhatsApp Links
As with many online services, scammers could potentially create fake links designed to look like legitimate WhatsApp invitations. Users should therefore be careful about clicking unexpected links. A genuine invitation should be treated differently from a message asking for passwords, verification codes, payment information or other sensitive details.
No Code Verification
One potential security concern is that no verification code is sent when you share the call link with another person or a third party. Therefore, users should be careful about whom they share the link with.
Browser Privacy
Because guests may participate through a browser, users should also pay attention to browser permissions. Depending on how the final feature works, the browser may require access to the microphone and camera for voice or video calls. Users should review these permissions and avoid granting unnecessary access.
Does the Guest Need a WhatsApp Account?
The main purpose of this upcoming functionality is to allow guests to participate without a WhatsApp account. It’s basically for non users on whatsapp or not to install WhatsApp for any reason.
Under the reported design, the host would use WhatsApp to create the call invitation, while the guest could access the call through a web browser. You cannot share one link with more than 32 participants.
This could be useful for people who do not regularly use WhatsApp but need to join a particular call. For example, imagine a company employee wants to invite an external person to a quick video meeting. Instead of asking that person to download WhatsApp and create an account, the company could potentially provide a guest link. However, the exact requirements could change before the feature becomes publicly available.
Will Guests Need to Download WhatsApp?
The proposed feature is specifically designed to reduce this requirement. Guests are expected to access the call directly through a browser, meaning they may not need to download the WhatsApp application.
This is one of the biggest differences between traditional WhatsApp calling and the upcoming guest-call approach. Instead of requiring every participant to be part of the WhatsApp ecosystem, the feature could provide a more flexible way for external participants to join.
Who Could Benefit From WhatsApp Guest Calls?
The functionality could be useful in several situations.
People could potentially use it for:
- Temporary business meetings
- Customer or client conversations
- Online events
- Family calls involving non-WhatsApp users
- Quick video discussions
- Interviews or professional communication
- Situations where a participant cannot install the application
It could also reduce friction for people who only need to join a single call and do not want to create another online account.
What Should Users Do to Stay Safe?
Until WhatsApp officially releases the feature, users should wait for instructions from WhatsApp and avoid using unofficial guest-call links or third-party tools claiming to provide the functionality.
Once available, users should follow some basic precautions:
- Do not publicly share private call links.
- Check the identity of every guest before approving them.
- Avoid clicking suspicious WhatsApp invitation links.
- Never provide passwords or verification codes through a call invitation.
- Review browser microphone and camera permissions.
- Keep WhatsApp and your browser updated.
These precautions can help reduce the chances of unwanted access or phishing attempts.
When Will WhatsApp Guest Calls Be Available?
The guest-call functionality is still under development and is not yet available for beta testing based on the information currently reported. That means users should not expect to see the feature in their WhatsApp application immediately.
WhatsApp may also change the design, availability, supported devices, browser requirements or security controls before the feature reaches beta testing or a wider public release.
Therefore, users should consider current details as information about a feature in development rather than a final specification.
Final Verdict
WhatsApp guest calling could make it significantly easier for people outside the WhatsApp ecosystem to participate in calls. It basically works like Zoom or Google Meet.
The proposed system would allow a host to create a call link, share it with another person, and let that guest request access through a web browser without necessarily creating a WhatsApp account.
The host approval system is particularly important because it gives the person organizing the call control over who can enter. At the same time, users should remember that invitation links need to be handled carefully to prevent unwanted access.
If WhatsApp maintains end-to-end encryption as reported, guest calls could retain an important layer of communication security. However, users should still be cautious about suspicious links, browser permissions and unknown participants.
For now, the feature remains under development. After the launch, it will be clear whether the feature is available on WhatsApp Business as well. Once WhatsApp begins beta testing or officially announces its availability, the exact joining process, supported browsers and security protections should become clearer.