WhatsApp calls use your internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data), not your phone balance. Open a chat and tap the phone icon for a voice call or the video camera icon for a video call. Both people need WhatsApp and an internet connection.
Make a call on Android
- Open the chat with the person.
- Tap the phone icon (voice call) or the video camera icon (video call) at the top right.
- Or open the Calls tab › tap the new call button (bottom right) › pick the person › tap the phone or camera icon.
- The first time, allow WhatsApp to use the Microphone and Camera when asked.
Make a call on iPhone
- Open the chat and tap the phone or video camera icon at the top.
- Or tap Calls at the bottom › the new call icon (top right) › choose the person and the call type.
- Allow microphone and camera access when asked.
During a call
- Mute: tap the microphone icon.
- Speaker: tap the speaker icon.
- Switch voice to video: tap the camera icon; the other person must accept.
- Flip camera: tap the turning-arrows icon to use the front or back camera.
- Add people: tap the add-person icon to turn it into a group call (see group calls).
- End: tap the red button.
Answer, decline or reply with a message
When a call comes in, swipe up or tap the green button to answer, tap red to decline, or choose a quick message such as "Can't talk now" to send a text instead.
Silence calls from unknown numbers
Go to Settings › Privacy › Calls and turn on Silence unknown callers. Calls from numbers not in your contacts won't ring; they still appear in your Calls list.
If calls don't work or sound bad
- Weak internet: move closer to the Wi-Fi router, or turn mobile data off and on. Calls need a stable connection; 4G or better is best.
- Other person can't hear you: check that WhatsApp has microphone permission. Android: phone Settings › Apps › WhatsApp › Permissions. iPhone: Settings › WhatsApp › turn on Microphone.
- Calls drop on data: if your version has Settings › Storage and data › Use less data for calls, turn it on when your data is slow, or off if the sound is poor. Not every version shows this switch.
- Calls blocked: in a few countries or networks WhatsApp calls are limited. That is out of your control.
- Old app: update WhatsApp from the Play Store or App Store.
Safety tip
Be very careful with calls from unknown international numbers (for example starting with +92, +84, +62 or +254) offering jobs, prizes or "police cases". Don't answer video calls from strangers; some scammers record the screen to blackmail people. Never share an OTP on a call. More in scam messages and calls.
This is GroupChatOn’s own easy guide. We are not WhatsApp and are not linked with WhatsApp or Meta. WhatsApp sometimes changes its menus: if a button looks different on your phone, update WhatsApp from the Play Store or App Store.
Still stuck?
Contact support. Tell us which tool or page you were using, what you tapped, what you saw, and your phone or computer and browser (for example: Android phone, Chrome). We reply by email.
Questions, or an error not listed here?
Tell us in the comments: what you were doing, the exact message you saw, and your device and browser. We read every comment and add new fixes to this article.