WhatsApp has upgraded its end-to-end encrypted video call feature, which now allows groups of up to eight participants to chat together, up from the previous limit of four.

Whatsapp GroupCalls Colored
WhatsApp has been gradually developing its group video call capabilities through beta builds, as rival video call services like Zoom, FaceTime and Skype have exploded in popularity amid the ongoing stay-at-home measures. At the same time, Facebook has released Messenger Rooms, enabling up to eight people to join in on a group call.

There are two ways to initiate an encrypted group voice or video call in WhatsApp with up to eight people (that's seven other people including yourself). Just make sure that you and anyone you want to call has updated to version 2.20.50 of WhatsApp, or it won't work.

The easiest way to initiate a call is to open an active group chat and tap the Video Call or Phone Call button in the top right corner of the screen. If the group has more than eight participants, you'll be asked which contacts you want to call, otherwise the call will initiate automatically.

Alternatively, you can initiate a WhatsApp group call including anyone in your contacts list. Simply follow the steps below.

  1. Launch WhatsApp and select the Calls tab at the bottom of the screen.
    WhatsApp

  2. Tap the Call icon in the top-right corner.
    WhatsApp

  3. Select New Group Call at the top of the contact list.
    WhatsApp

  4. Add up to seven participants by tapping on them in your contacts.
  5. When you've added the participants, tap the Video Call button (the camera icon) or the Audio Call option (the phone icon) to initiate the call.
    WhatsApp

If any of the participants you chose are using an older version of WhatsApp, you'll be notified and the call won't connect until they've all updated.

Top Rated Comments

Kabeyun Avatar
71 months ago
Well, nine including Mark Zuckerberg.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Vandam500 Avatar
71 months ago

FaceTime has a 32 person limit for group chats, end to end encryption, etc. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209022

Why you'd want to use WhatsApp instead of FaceTime is beyond me, unless your friends are Android/Windows only people.
WhatsApp has so many more users world wide that it's not even close. Plus it being cross platform where Facetime is only iOS/Mac is a pretty big deal.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarpalMac Avatar
71 months ago

Why you'd want to use WhatsApp instead of FaceTime is beyond me, unless your friends are Android/Windows only people.
You wouldn't, but you already answered your own statement.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrSimmo Avatar
71 months ago
Would be ok if they offered proper multi platform support, 8 people with video on a smartphone isnt great...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarpalMac Avatar
71 months ago
Thomas, post: 28412430, member: 1021539"]
Indeed... every other of the major messenger apps is better than Whatsapp... I don't know why people still use it...
I am waiting on Telegrams version to appear.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
71 months ago

FaceTime has a 32 person limit for group chats, end to end encryption, etc. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209022

Why you'd want to use WhatsApp instead of FaceTime is beyond me, unless your friends are Android/Windows only people.
WhatsApp has better features than FaceTime, it is multiplatform (iOS/Android/Windows/MacOS, others) and functions are more fluid, it does what iMessage and Facetime do combined and better. It is just catching up in the videocall department because it started as a messaging app. FaceTime just introduced this feature only a while ago, and it debuted with horrible bugs and lawsuits for privacy concerns, there are better contenders out there.


I explain that Apples services are likely more secure, that they have in effect paid a premium to have these services and they look at me blankly.
Lol, no. Apple products are as secure or insecure as any other products out there. Privacy in this era is a myth. For instance, Apple uses Amazon data centers and end-to-end encryption protocols that are very similar (the same?) to what other players in the industry use. And yet they still need to comply with authorities when they are mandated to. They also need to comply with Chinese monitoring practices in order to work there, something that not even evil Google has kneel-down to do.

Apple's software is also buggy, just like any other company out there (Mail, iOS 11, iOS13 come to mind). Anyone could spy on you through FaceTime without you even answering the call:

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2019/01/apples-facetime-privacy-bug-allowed-possible-spying/

Apple also saves personal info of the contact you called like email and phone number for 30 days after you called them "in case you want to call them again)... Not even WhatsApp does that... so pick your poison:

https://www.macworld.co.uk/news/apple/is-apple-facetime-safe-3785750/
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Thursday September 25, 2025 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept based on rumors This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report last month, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform ...
iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?

Wednesday September 24, 2025 3:58 pm PDT by
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line. Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum...
AirPods Pro 3 Newsroom

Apple's 'Back to School' Offer Ends Soon, Now Applies to AirPods Pro 3

Wednesday September 24, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students ends soon, so act fast if you want to score free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad. Until Tuesday, September 30, college students and qualifying educational staff in the U.S. can receive free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation when they purchase an eligible new Mac or iPad from Apple. This is a $179 value. ...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Skipped the iPhone 17 Pro? Here's What is Rumored for iPhone 18 Pro

Tuesday September 23, 2025 8:55 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, there are already a few rumors about the devices that offer an early look ahead. Below, we have recapped some of the early iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. This story was published previously, and it has been updated to reflect the latest rumors. Many early rumors prove to be true, but nothing is confirmed yet, and Apple's...
Apple More Personal Siri Ad

Apple Responds to U.S. Class Action Lawsuit Over Delayed Siri Features

Friday September 26, 2025 6:57 am PDT by
In March, Apple delayed the launch of its personalized Siri features, and soon after the company was hit with multiple class action lawsuits over the situation. The plaintiffs said they never would have purchased an iPhone 16, or would have paid less, had they known Apple's marketing about the Siri features was false. In the U.S., all of the complaints were consolidated into one class...
iphone 17 ceramic shield

Regular iPhone 17's USB-C Charging Speeds Tested With Apple Chargers

Friday September 26, 2025 9:01 am PDT by
The website ChargerLAB has tested the standard iPhone 17 model's USB-C charging speeds with a variety of Apple's chargers, from 18W to 140W. The device reached a peak charging speed of around 27W to 28W with these Apple chargers:29W USB-C Power Adapter 30W USB-C Power Adapter 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max...
apple tv 4k new orange

Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features

Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
The next Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Likely Features N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7 Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is...
maxresdefault

Review: A Week With the iPhone 17 Pro

Friday September 26, 2025 12:51 pm PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 models have been out for a week now, so we thought we'd do a longer-term review of the flagship iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max now that we've been able to spend more time with them. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has a Silver iPhone 17 Pro and a Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, and despite a lot of concern over...