WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that allows you to text, call, and video chat with your contacts. If you have someone’s phone number saved in your phone’s contacts, you can call them on WhatsApp as long as they also have an active WhatsApp account.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to common questions about calling someone on WhatsApp:
- You need to have the person’s phone number saved in your phone’s contacts in order to call them on WhatsApp.
- Both you and the person you are calling need to have an active WhatsApp account.
- Calls made over WhatsApp are free, even international calls.
- You can start a WhatsApp call by opening a chat with the contact and tapping the phone icon.
- WhatsApp calls use your phone’s internet connection, either WiFi or mobile data.
Save the Contact’s Number
The first step to calling someone on WhatsApp is making sure you have their phone number saved in your phone’s contacts. Open your phone’s contacts app and create a new contact. Enter the person’s name and phone number. Make sure you enter the full phone number, including the country code if they are located in a different country.
Examples of Saving a Contact
- For a contact in the US: Enter their name and phone number as +1 5551234567
- For a contact in the UK: Enter their name and phone number as +44 7712345678
- For a contact in India: Enter their name and phone number as +91 9812345678
Once you save the contact, their phone number will be associated with their name in your contacts list.
You and Your Contact Must Have WhatsApp
In order to call someone over WhatsApp, both you and the other person must have an active WhatsApp account set up on your mobile phones. Both of you need to have the WhatsApp app installed and set up using your phone numbers.
Here are the steps to make sure you and your contact have WhatsApp properly set up:
- Download the WhatsApp app from your device’s app store
- When you open WhatsApp for the first time, it will ask for your phone number
- Enter your phone number and verify it through SMS or a phone call
- Allow WhatsApp access to your contacts
- Make sure the contact you want to call also completes the WhatsApp setup process
Once you and your contact have an active WhatsApp account set up with your numbers, you will be able to call each other through the app.
WhatsApp Calls are Free
One of the best features of WhatsApp is that calls made over WhatsApp are completely free. You don’t have to pay any extra fees or charges to call someone over WhatsApp, even for international calls. This can help you save money compared to traditional long distance calling.
Here are some key points about free WhatsApp calls:
- There are no per-minute charges or connection fees
- International WhatsApp calls to any country are also free
- Group calls with up to 8 participants are free
- Video calls are free in addition to voice calls
- End-to-end encryption ensures privacy
As long as both callers have an internet connection, you can enjoy unlimited calling for free with WhatsApp. The app uses your existing internet connection, whether it’s WiFi or mobile data, so no cell plan minutes are used.
How to Start a WhatsApp Call
Starting a WhatsApp call is very easy once you have the person’s contact information saved in your phone and have WhatsApp set up.
Follow these steps:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your phone
- Go to your Chats tab and open the chat with the contact you want to call
- At the top right of the chat, tap the phone icon to start a voice call
- Tap the video camera icon if you want to start a video call
- The contact will receive a notification of your WhatsApp call which they can accept or decline
- If they accept the call, your WhatsApp call will connect
You will see options to mute yourself, turn on speakerphone, and add other participants during the call. When finished, tap the red phone icon to end the WhatsApp call.
WhatsApp Calling Interface
Here is an example of the WhatsApp calling screen on an iPhone:
You can see options to mute, speaker, add participant, and end call.
Using Mobile Data or WiFi for Calls
WhatsApp calls use Voice over IP (VoIP) technology to place calls over the internet, rather than your phone’s cellular connection. This allows the app to offer free calling.
In order to place and receive WhatsApp calls, you need an active internet connection on your phone. This can either be:
- WiFi – Connect to a local WiFi network or hotspot to make calls over WiFi.
- Mobile data – Use your phone’s mobile data plan to connect to the internet and make calls.
The main factors when considering WiFi vs. mobile data for WhatsApp calls are:
| WiFi | Mobile Data |
|---|---|
| Free (in most cases) | Uses data from your cell plan |
| Good for calling at home/work | Allows calling on the go |
| Call quality depends on signal | Cellular coverage required |
In general, using WiFi is recommended when available to avoid using up your mobile data. But mobile data allows you to make WhatsApp calls from anywhere if you have cellular signal. Both options work well for high-quality WhatsApp calls.
Special WhatsApp Call Features
WhatsApp offers some useful special features when making calls through the app:
- Group calls – You can add up to 8 participants to a group call.
- Video calls – Face-to-face video chatting is available in addition to voice calls.
- Voicemail – Leave a voicemail if the recipient misses your WhatsApp call.
- Call history – View your call history within WhatsApp.
- Privacy – End-to-end encryption ensures your WhatsApp calls are kept private.
These handy features help make WhatsApp one of the most convenient apps for calling your contacts from anywhere in the world for free.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Calling Issues
If you are having trouble making or receiving WhatsApp calls, here are some troubleshooting steps to try:
- Check your internet connection – Make sure your WiFi or mobile data is working properly.
- Restart your phone – Turn your phone off and back on to refresh the connection.
- Update WhatsApp – Download the latest version of the app.
- Clear cache – Go to your phone’s app settings and clear the WhatsApp cache.
- Reinstall WhatsApp – Uninstall and reinstall the app to fix software issues.
- Check Do Not Disturb settings – Make sure WhatsApp is allowed through Do Not Disturb.
- Contact support – Get help directly from WhatsApp through in-app support.
Following these tips should help resolve any calling problems so you can enjoy crystal clear WhatsApp call quality.
Conclusion
WhatsApp calling provides a convenient free way to keep in touch with your contacts. By saving a contact’s phone number, setting up WhatsApp properly, and using the in-app calling options, you can quickly call your friends, family, and colleagues worldwide. WhatsApp offers high-quality calls without long distance charges. Be sure to troubleshoot any issues that come up to keep enjoying clear WhatsApp calls anytime and anywhere.