WhatsApp now lets you make calls using its web app - TechCrunch

What the report says

TechCrunch reports that WhatsApp is adding audio and video calling to WhatsApp for Web, expanding a feature that had previously been limited to the mobile app and the native desktop application. The update, reported by Ivan Mehta on July 28, 2026, means users will be able to place and answer calls directly from the browser-based version of the Meta-owned messaging service.

According to TechCrunch, the web interface will include a Calls tab with call history and favorites, mirroring key parts of the experience on other WhatsApp platforms. The browser version is also set to support features already available elsewhere, including screen sharing and in-call reactions, making the web app more useful for people who rely on WhatsApp from shared or work computers.

The article also notes several broader calling improvements. WhatsApp users will be able to move an active call between devices without ending it, such as switching from web or desktop to a phone. Meta is also adding waiting rooms for call links, allowing hosts to approve or remove people before they join a group call when the “Require approval to join” option is enabled. TechCrunch frames this as especially relevant for users hosting work-related calls on WhatsApp.

Other updates include background noise suppression and faster high-definition video at the start of calls. TechCrunch also mentions that WhatsApp has recently opened username reservations, and that once usernames launch, they are expected to support cross-platform calling without relying only on phone numbers. The changes matter because they make WhatsApp’s browser experience more complete and position it more directly alongside workplace and social calling tools.