WhatsApp develops guest calling feature for users without accounts

07:30

By: Azzat Manal

WhatsApp develops guest calling feature for users without accounts

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that could allow people to join voice and video calls without having a WhatsApp account, potentially making communication easier for users who do not have the messaging application installed.

The Meta-owned platform is developing a guest calling option for WhatsApp Web, according to reports from WABetaInfo, a website that tracks upcoming WhatsApp features. The system would allow a WhatsApp user to create a call link and share it through any communication channel.

Recipients would then be able to open the link in a web browser on a computer and join the call without downloading WhatsApp, creating an account or registering and verifying a phone number.

The planned feature would expand on WhatsApp’s earlier efforts to facilitate communication with non-users. Earlier this year, the company began developing guest chats, allowing WhatsApp users to communicate with people who do not have accounts by sharing an invitation link.

Privacy is expected to remain a key consideration in the new calling system. According to the reported design, temporary session identifiers generated by the browser would be used to establish encryption keys, allowing guest calls to retain end-to-end encryption without requiring permanent user credentials.

Removing the account requirement could make it considerably easier for people to participate in WhatsApp calls, but it could also create concerns about unwanted participants gaining access to private conversations.

To address this issue, the proposed system would give call hosts control over who can enter a session. Simply possessing the invitation link would not automatically grant access, as guests would reportedly need to be approved by the host before joining.

Hosts would also be able to remove disruptive participants during a call or end the entire session whenever necessary, providing an additional layer of control over guest access.

The feature is still under development and has not yet been released through WhatsApp’s beta testing program. WhatsApp has not announced an official launch date, meaning the exact timing of its public availability remains uncertain. If development proceeds as planned, the guest calling system could enter testing in the coming months.

The move reflects a broader trend among messaging platforms toward reducing barriers between registered users and people outside their ecosystems, while attempting to preserve privacy and security standards.