WhatsApp is making it easier to connect with people outside its platform by allowing non-users to join voice and video calls through browser-based invitation links, removing the need to create an account or download the app.
Announced on October 14, 2026, the guest calling feature lets registered users invite friends, colleagues, clients, or other contacts into conversations, even if those participants use different messaging services.
Calls are free, protected by end-to-end encryption, and have no time limit. Group conversations can accommodate up to 32 participants, provided guests receive permission from the host to join.
How WhatsApp Guest Calling Works
The feature allows WhatsApp account holders to create a call link and share it with anyone they want to include in a conversation.
To generate an invitation, users can open WhatsApp’s Calls tab, tap the plus icon, and create a call link. They can then distribute it to their intended participants through their preferred communication channel.
Recipients can open the link in a computer browser, enter their name, and request access to the call. The invitation supports both one-to-one conversations and group voice or video calls.
Only registered WhatsApp users can generate these links, meaning the feature expands access to existing calls without eliminating the need for an account to organise them.
Hosts Retain Control Over Guest Access
Although people can join without registering, WhatsApp has introduced restrictions to help hosts manage who participates.
Guests are placed in a waiting room until the host approves their entry. Hosts can also remove guests at any point during a call.
Non-account holders cannot view other participants’ phone numbers, send messages, or invite additional people directly into the conversation.
These limitations distinguish guest access from the experience available to registered users while allowing hosts to include people who would otherwise be unable to join a WhatsApp call.
Screen Sharing and Reactions Support Interactive Calls
Guest participants can still use several interactive features during conversations, including screen sharing, emoji reactions, and a hand-raising option.
Screen sharing could be useful for professional discussions, presentations, remote lessons and other situations where participants need to review material together. Emoji reactions offer a quick way to respond, while hand-raising helps participants signal that they want to speak.
Combined with browser access, these tools could make WhatsApp calls more practical for meetings and collaborative sessions involving people who do not use the messaging service.
WhatsApp Targets a Wider Range of Calling Needs
The update gives WhatsApp another way to compete with online meeting services such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, particularly for conversations involving external participants.
Businesses could use the links to speak with clients who do not have WhatsApp, while teachers could invite students into virtual sessions without requiring them to sign up. Friends and relatives can also participate in calls without installing another application.
WhatsApp has been gaining users in the United States, where the company previously reported reaching 100 million users. Making calls accessible to non-users could further expand the situations in which the platform is useful.
Google Calendar and Outlook Integrations Planned
WhatsApp is also preparing integrations with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook, expected later in 2026.
The planned functionality will allow users to generate WhatsApp call links through their calendars and include them in event invitations. Users will need to install the relevant WhatsApp plugin and link their account to access the integrations.
The additions could simplify scheduling by allowing organisers to incorporate WhatsApp calls directly into existing meeting invitations, even when some invitees do not have accounts on the platform.
With guest calling, WhatsApp is extending its communication tools beyond its registered user base while maintaining host approval requirements and restrictions on what non-account holders can do during calls.
Source: Cybernews