WhatsApp finally lets you make voice and video calls on Windows 10 PCs

Whatsapp Desktop Green
Whatsapp Desktop Green (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • WhatsApp can now make voice and video calls through its desktop app.
  • Previously, the desktop client only supported sending messages.
  • The desktop client still doesn't support group calls.

The WhatsApp desktop app now supports both voice and video calls, but only for one-on-one communication. At this time, you can't use the desktop app for group calls. In the future, WhatsApp will update the desktop app to support group calls.

You can use video calls in either portrait or landscape mode. When you're on a call on your PC, the call is "set to be always on top so you never lose your video chats in a browser tab or stack of open windows," according to WhatsApp.

Notably, voice and video calls are not coming to WhatsApp Web at this time. That means you have to download the WhatsApp Desktop app, not just pin the WhatsApp web interface. Luckily, the app is free and easy to use.

Over 2 billion people use WhatsApp (via TechCrunch). During the current global pandemic, many people have had to mix and match services to communicate through all of their devices. With support for voice and video calls on desktops, quite a few people shouldn't have to jump around between apps as much to stay in touch.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.