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Meta says WhatsApp users can now create call links and invite people who do not have WhatsApp accounts. Guests join through a computer browser after host approval; Meta says calls are end-to-end encrypted and can include up to 32 people.
Meta announced guest calling for WhatsApp, a feature that lets account holders invite people without WhatsApp accounts to one-to-one and group calls through a link. Guests open the link in a computer browser, enter a name and wait for the host’s approval; Meta says calls remain end-to-end encrypted and can include up to 32 participants.
To create a guest call, a WhatsApp account holder goes to the app’s Calls tab, taps the plus icon and creates a call link to share with invitees. Meta says guests can join from a computer browser without installing WhatsApp or creating an account. Only account holders can create the links.
Guests do not enter a call automatically. They wait in a waiting room until the host admits them, and the host can remove them at any time. Meta says guests cannot see other participants’ phone numbers, send messages or directly add additional people to the call.
Once admitted, guests can use several in-call tools, including screen sharing, emoji reactions and a hand-raising feature. Calls can include up to 32 people, according to Meta. The company says calls have no time limits, but did not provide a separate technical explanation of how guest calls are encrypted.
Opening WhatsApp Calls to Guests
The feature could make WhatsApp calls easier to use when invitees do not have the app or an account. A host can share a link rather than asking everyone to sign up or switch to another service, which may be useful for work meetings, classes and tutoring. The browser option also gives guests a way to join from a computer.
Guest access does not remove the host’s control over entry: invitees must be admitted and can be removed. Limits on what guests can do, including not seeing other participants’ phone numbers or adding people, are part of Meta’s stated design. For users deciding whether to use the feature for a group conversation, the practical questions are how well it works across browsers and what privacy protections apply to guests.
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How WhatsApp Call Links Work
WhatsApp has offered calling through its messaging service, while call links provide a way to invite people into a call. The new announcement extends that link-based access to people who do not have WhatsApp accounts. Meta describes the change as part of a series of calling updates made this year, though the announcement does not list those other updates.
The account requirement remains for the person setting up the call: only WhatsApp users can create a link. Guests, by contrast, can open a link in a computer browser and enter a name. Meta says the feature supports both one-to-one and group calls, with a maximum of 32 participants.
““Anyone joining as a guest always needs the call host’s approval.””
— Meta
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Details Still Awaiting Clarification
Meta’s announcement does not spell out which browsers or computer operating systems support guest calls, whether guests can join from mobile browsers, or whether feature availability will vary by region. It also does not give a detailed technical account of how end-to-end encryption works when a participant joins without an account.
The company says guest calls have no time limits and are end-to-end encrypted, but the announcement does not provide independent testing or additional technical documentation to assess those claims. Meta also does not specify whether there are limits on how long call links remain active, or whether hosts can set other controls beyond admitting and removing guests.
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Calendar Links Planned Later
Meta says it plans to roll out Google and Outlook calendar integrations later in 2026. The proposed workflow will let users install a WhatsApp plugin, connect an account and add a call link to a calendar invitation. Meta has not given a specific release date or said whether the integrations will arrive simultaneously.
For now, Meta’s announcement directs account holders to create and share links from WhatsApp’s Calls tab. Details on availability, supported browsers and the calendar rollout may become clearer as the feature reaches users.
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Key Questions
Can someone join a WhatsApp call without an account?
Yes. Meta says guests can open a call link in a computer browser, enter a name and request to join without creating a WhatsApp account.
Does a guest enter the call as soon as they open the link?
No. Guests wait in a waiting room until the host admits them. Meta says the host can also remove guests during the call.
How many people can join a guest call?
Meta says guest calling supports one-to-one and group calls with up to 32 participants.
Can guests see participants’ phone numbers?
Meta says guests cannot see other participants’ phone numbers. They also cannot send messages or directly add other people to the call.
When will WhatsApp calendar integrations be available?
Meta says Google and Outlook calendar integrations are planned for later in 2026, but has not announced a specific date.
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