WhatsApp’s official desktop app is getting a big update to add support for voice and video calls. The new features will be available on both Mac and Windows in the newest WhatsApp release, which is rolling out now.
Voice calling has been an important feature inside WhatsApp on mobile devices for almost six years now, while video calling was added to the mix in late 2016. Just like text-based conversations, both are protected by end-to-end encryption — one of WhatsApp’s key selling points.
The features have proven incredibly popular, with a record-breaking 1.4 billion people using WhatsApp to make calls last New Year’s Eve alone. Now voice and video calling are finally coming to WhatsApp for Mac and Windows machines after months of testing.
WhatsApp gets voice and video calling on desktops
The new features are available in WhatsApp’s latest desktop release, which is slowly but surely rolling out to everyone right now. You’ll need the native WhatsApp client; WhatsApp on the web is yet to catch up.
It’s also important to note that voice and video calling on desktops will support only one-to-one conversations initially. WhatsApp says it will add group calling — a feature already available on mobile — later on.
“We’re starting with one-to-one calls on the WhatsApp desktop app so we make sure we can give you a reliable and high-quality experience,” reads a WhatsApp blog post. “We will be expanding this feature to include group voice and video calls in the future.”
Download WhatsApp for desktop today
You can download the latest version of WhatsApp for Mac and Windows from the WhatsApp website. It’s also available from the Mac App Store, though that version doesn’t appear to have been updated yet. You will need a WhatsApp account on your mobile device to use the app.
