Overview
- WhatsApp announced the new “guest calls” feature on October 14, 2026, letting people without a WhatsApp account join voice or video calls by opening a shared link in a browser and entering a name to wait in a lobby for admission.
- Only people with a WhatsApp account can create call links, so organizers keep control over who is admitted to a call.
- Guests have restricted privileges: they cannot see other participants’ phone numbers, cannot send messages or add people, and can be removed by the organizer.
- Guest participants can use core call tools such as screen sharing, emoji reactions, and raise-hand, and calls can include up to 32 people; WhatsApp says calls are free, end-to-end encrypted and have no time limits.
- WhatsApp reported the feature is available in Mexico at launch and said it will add a calendar plugin to let users create WhatsApp call links from Google Calendar or Outlook later this year, a change that could make scheduling and cross-platform joining easier.