WhatsApp lets non-users join calls with a shared link

WhatsApp is rolling out guest calling that lets people without a WhatsApp account join audio and video calls through a shared link, as long as a WhatsApp user creates the link and approves entry. The join flow is not a full account-free calling system: only an account holder can start and share the call, while guests enter from a browser, add their name, and wait in a host-controlled waiting room before they are admitted. For businesses that already run customer or vendor communication through WhatsApp, that cuts the usual signup step without giving up control over who gets into the call.

Shared link, browser join, host-approved entry

The setup starts inside WhatsApp with an existing user creating a call link from the app and sharing it with the people they want to bring in. That matters because WhatsApp already supports calling for signed-in users; the change here is that every participant no longer needs their own account just to join the meeting. A client, supplier, or teammate who does not use WhatsApp can open the link in a browser, type in a name, and request access.

Admission still stays with the host. Guests are held in a waiting room until the WhatsApp user approves them, which keeps link sharing from turning into an open door. The browser-based join path is also narrower than a full guest account model: non-users can enter a call that already exists, but they cannot originate one themselves. WhatsApp has not yet clarified broader availability, including which countries or user groups have access first.

Up to 32 participants, with in-call tools intact

WhatsApp says guest calling works across both one-to-one and group calls, with support for up to 32 participants. That gives the feature enough room for a small team meeting, vendor check-in, or customer support session rather than limiting it to a simple one-off call. For operators using WhatsApp as a daily workflow tool, the practical gain is straightforward: fewer back-and-forth messages asking someone to install the app before a call can begin.

The guest role comes with clear limits. Non-users cannot see other participants’ phone numbers, cannot send messages, and cannot invite more people directly into the call. Those restrictions keep the call centered on live participation instead of turning guest access into a broader account substitute.

WhatsApp is still keeping useful meeting controls available once a guest is inside. After admission, guests can use screen sharing, emoji reactions, and raise hand. That means outside participants can still present, respond, and signal they want to speak, even though they are joining through a lighter access path.

Free, encrypted calls now; calendar hooks later this year

WhatsApp says guest calls are free, end-to-end encrypted, and have no time limit. For businesses, that removes two common points of friction at once: asking outside participants to create an account and worrying about a short session cap interrupting the conversation. The privacy guardrails are also more explicit than the access model alone, since guests can join without seeing the phone numbers of everyone else on the call.

WhatsApp also says calendar integrations with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook will arrive later this year. That is the next step to watch if the company wants guest calling to fit more neatly into scheduled meeting workflows rather than just ad hoc calls. What remains unclear for now is the rollout scope and device coverage: WhatsApp has not said which markets or platforms are getting the feature first, and it has not clarified whether browser joining extends beyond the computer-based flow it has described.

Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only.