WhatsApp has unveiled a range of new features designed to enhance user interactions during group calls, simplifying scheduling, making the experience more engaging, and improving technical reliability.
Whether you’re setting up a family reunion or a professional meeting, WhatsApp now enables users to arrange calls directly within the app. By tapping the ‘+’ icon in the Calls section and selecting ‘Schedule call,’ users can plan group calls ahead of time and invite participants effortlessly, as detailed in a recent announcement from WhatsApp.
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All scheduled calls will be displayed in the Calls tab, complete with a comprehensive list of attendees and shareable call links. Users can integrate these links into personal calendars or share them externally. To ensure everyone is informed, WhatsApp will notify all invitees as the call start time approaches.
New Interactive Features: Raise Hand and Emoji Reactions
To enhance group call dynamics, WhatsApp has introduced features aimed at minimizing interruptions. Participants can now raise their hands to signal they wish to speak, a particularly beneficial option for larger calls or team discussions.
Moreover, participants can express their thoughts using emoji reactions in real-time, allowing for engagement without disrupting the conversation flow.
Additionally, creators of call links will be notified when someone joins their call via the link, offering improved oversight and control during organized sessions.
Improved Call Experience
These enhancements follow previous updates introduced in April 2025, including a dedicated Calls tab that facilitates initiating new calls, managing call history, and accessing or sharing call links in one place.
iPhone users can also utilize a pinch-to-zoom feature during video calls for a closer view. Furthermore, a new capability allows users to add someone to an active 1:1 call directly from the chat by tapping the call icon and selecting ‘Add to call.’
Lastly, WhatsApp has refined video call quality with a more intelligent routing system and quicker bandwidth detection that enhances streaming to HD more swiftly while reducing the incidence of dropped calls and video lag.