WhatsApp has introduced Guest Calling, a feature that allows users to invite people to calls even when those guests do not have WhatsApp accounts. Hosts can create an invitation link from WhatsApp’s Calls section and share it with anyone they want to join.

Guest calls remain end-to-end encrypted and have no time limit. That makes the feature a simpler option for bringing outside participants into a WhatsApp call without asking them to install the app or register an account first.

How WhatsApp Guest Calling works

When someone opens a guest invitation, they enter a waiting room rather than joining immediately. The host must approve the guest before they can participate in the call.

Hosts can also remove guests at any point. Guest access is limited in other ways: guests cannot see the phone numbers of other participants, message them, or call them directly.

WhatsApp’s controls are designed to let account holders manage who enters the conversation while limiting direct contact between participants who may not know one another.

Guest call features and privacy limits

Although guests have restricted access to participant information, they can still use several interactive call features. WhatsApp says guests can share their screens, send reactions, and raise their hands during calls.

The combination of a waiting room, host approval, and guest restrictions gives users a way to include people outside their usual WhatsApp contacts without exposing participants’ phone numbers or opening direct messaging between them.

Calendar integrations are coming

WhatsApp plans to add integrations with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar later this year. These integrations will allow users to create WhatsApp call links directly from their calendars instead of generating and sharing links only through the app’s Calls section.

For users who regularly arrange meetings with people outside WhatsApp, calendar support could make the invitation process more convenient. The current feature is available through WhatsApp’s Calls section, where hosts can generate a link and distribute it to prospective participants.