WhatsApp is ready to increase the limit for group calls to more than four participants. Here’s what changes and when the update will be available
One of WhatsApp’s biggest flaws is the limit imposed for calls and video calls: a maximum of four participants, including the one or the one who initiated the call. Compared to other messaging services (e.g. FaceTime), this is a rather important limit that imposes precise choices on users, especially when making group video calls.
especially in this period in which we are all cooped up at home for the pandemic, many are discovering this limit of WhatsApp. The developers, however, seem to have realized that the limit of 4 people for video calls is a problem that needs to be solved as soon as possible and in fact have already started working to find a solution. Giving the news, as usual, are the guys at WaBetaInfo on their personal blog: in the latest beta update for Android and iOS there are specific references to the fact that soon the limit will be increased. When will the new feature be available? There’s no certain date for the release yet, but it should happen soon.
WhatsApp, calls and video calls with more than 4 participants: the news
The news relaunched by WaBetaInfo brings with it a lot of news. For how it has been WhatsApp so far this is a real revolution: to expand calls and video calls to more than 4 people means to change substantially the use of the application.
The limit of 4 people was mainly due to a fact of interface: insert more than 4 rectangles in a 6-inch screen is not simple. The technicians will surely have found an alternative solution so as not to create too much confusion in crowded video calls.
The reference to the enlargement of the number of people who can participate in a call and video call on WhatsApp is present in the last two beta versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS, respectively number 2.20.128 and 2.20.50.23. In the code of the application there is no reference to what the new limit will be, but only that it will be expanded. It could be 6 or 12, on this point there is still not much clarity. Most likely the new limit for group calls and video calls will be 8 and 10 participants: adding too many people would make the management complicated, especially at the level of graphical interface.
The new limit will change something about how to make calls and video calls on WhatsApp? In this aspect, no change: you will always have to press on the icon with the handset or the camera inside the chats and then manually add the other participants by clicking on the icon with the little man in the upper right corner.
As for WhatsApp video calls from PC, however, there is still no news. The feature isn’t enabled for the desktop version and won’t be in the future either.
WhatsApp, safer calls
In addition to the news about raising the limit for calls and video calls, the latest beta version of WhatsApp for iOS and Android also brings with it another small change. When you make a call, the words “end-to-end encryption” appear on the smartphone interface. This is the system used by WhatsApp to make our calls more secure: this way hackers can’t steal our personal information and hear what we say to our friends.
When will the WhatsApp update be released
Many of you must be wondering when the limit for WhatsApp calls and video calls will be increased. A certain date still doesn’t exist, but the guys at WaBetaInfo are pretty sure that it will happen soon.
The WhatsApp engineers seem to be very active on this front and want to release the new feature as soon as possible, especially to help all the people who right now are confined to the house and can only talk to their family members via calls and video calls.
The only sure thing is that to activate the new limit will need to update WhatsApp to the latest version available. We will keep you informed.