WhatsApp Adds Guest Calling So Anyone Can Join a Call Without an Account
WhatsApp guests can now join calls from a browser via an invite link, without an account or app. Hosts approve entry, while guests get screen sharing, hand raising and reactions under end-to-end encryption; a WhatsApp account is still needed to start calls.
WhatsApp has introduced a guest calling feature that lets users invite anyone to a call without requiring the other person to have a WhatsApp account or the app installed. The feature was announced in October 2026.
Hosts can bring guests into a call simply by sending them a link. Because Meta added web browser support for WhatsApp calls earlier in 2026, recipients can join directly from a browser. Guests on a call have access to features including hand raising, screen sharing, and emoji reactions, and all calls are protected by end-to-end encryption.
However, several restrictions apply to guest participants. Guests must be approved by the call host before joining and are held in a waiting room until the host lets them in. Hosts can remove guests at any time. Guests cannot see other participants’ phone numbers, send messages, or add additional participants to the call. A WhatsApp account is still required to start a call.
Meta also announced that Google Calendar and Outlook calendar integrations for WhatsApp calls are coming later in 2026. Users who install a WhatsApp plugin and connect their account will be able to include a WhatsApp call link directly in calendar invites.
The guest calling feature could make WhatsApp a more practical option for connecting with people outside a user’s existing contact network, since recipients no longer need to sign up for an account or download an app to participate in a call.