WhatsApp Improving Video Calling With Support for More People, Picture in Picture

Popular Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp today announced several improvements to video and audio calling, putting it on par with other platforms that support video calls.

Whatsapp Feature
WhatsApp video calls on mobile devices now support up to 32 people, four times more than the previous eight person limit. Audio calls have supported 32 people for some time, but now video calls will as well. Apple's own FaceTime app supports 32 person video calls, so WhatsApp will now be able to better compete with ‌FaceTime‌ for large group video chats.

Long pressing on a participant in the call will enlarge the audio or video feed so you can mute people on a case by case basis or message them privately, and there's now an option to share a call link with people, something that's also an existing ‌FaceTime‌ feature.

There are new in-call banner notifications to alert users when someone new has joined a call, and for those with their camera off, waveforms are more colorful to make it easier to see who is speaking.

WhatsApp is also testing an iOS picture in picture feature that will allow WhatsApp users to multitask and use other apps while remaining on a video call, with this option set to roll out more widely in 2023.

WhatsApp for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
iOS 26 Home Feature

Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users

Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching. In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...

Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
41 months ago
How about WhatsApp on an iPad? Please make it happen. Long overdue!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Love-hate ? relationship Avatar
41 months ago
when will they finally launch the ARM built on catalyst for mac ?

and maybe we'll see an ipad version in 2030 ?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shanghaichica Avatar
41 months ago
They need to improve the video quality
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Love-hate ? relationship Avatar
41 months ago
this is whatsapp catalyst on Mac btw . beta



Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ian87w Avatar
41 months ago

4 Android users get their chats stored on Google drive free, why do we on iCloud have to use our storage?
Probably due to some deal Whatsapp had with Google. Before the availability of e2ee, Google Drive whatsapp backup is practically plain text, and you can imagine the amount of data Google crawled. Nothing is free.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
visualseed Avatar
41 months ago

Governments use Whatsapp? That's scary.
In Europe many public services use text interfaces to their normal IVR systems through whatsapp business to offer services to users based on their phone number on file. It's great for looking up information and getting account statues. It means they don't have have massive call centers and requests that require human assistance can go into a message queue that is much easier to manage on both ends than waiting on hold.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)