WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, with over 2 billion active users. One of the app’s key features is the ability to make voice and video calls over an internet connection.
Sometimes when making a WhatsApp call, the recipient may not answer and the call goes unanswered. This results in a “missed call” notification on WhatsApp. But what exactly does a missed call on WhatsApp mean and how is it different from a normal missed call?
What is a missed call on WhatsApp?
A missed call on WhatsApp simply means that the recipient did not answer your WhatsApp call and it rang unanswered until being disconnected. This could be because:
- The recipient was busy and could not answer at that time
- The recipient declined or ignored the call
- The recipient’s phone was on silent, airplane mode or out of coverage area
- There were network connectivity issues
When you make a WhatsApp call and the recipient does not pick up, after some rings you will get disconnected and the call status will change to “missed call”.
How is it different from a normal missed call?
A missed call on WhatsApp is different from a normal missed call in the following ways:
- You can only make WhatsApp calls to contacts who also have WhatsApp installed. Normal calls can be made to any phone number.
- WhatsApp calls rely on internet connectivity. Normal calls rely on cellular network connectivity.
- WhatsApp calls are made over VoIP technology while normal calls route through cellular networks.
- Missed WhatsApp calls are highlighted distinctly in the calls tab while normal calls have a single missed call log.
- Only WhatsApp calls ring on all devices simultaneously logged into the same account.
Why do WhatsApp calls get missed?
There are several common reasons why your WhatsApp calls may get missed by the recipient:
- Poor internet connection – Without a stable internet connection, WhatsApp calls cannot connect or get dropped mid-call leading to missed calls.
- Phone on silent mode – If the recipient has their phone on silent or vibrate only, they may miss your WhatsApp call ringtones and notifications.
- Do Not Disturb mode enabled – Android and iOS Do Not Disturb modes will mute WhatsApp call notifications and ringtones.
- Phone not in proximity – If the recipient has left their phone unattended or in another room, they may miss your WhatsApp call.
- Blocked contact – If the recipient has blocked you on WhatsApp, your calls will not go through.
- Account logged out – Calls won’t go through if the recipient is logged out of WhatsApp.
- Offline mode enabled – WhatsApp’s offline mode disables all incoming calls.
- Slow to decline – Recipient may see the call but decline after WhatsApp’s timeout period.
What happens when you miss a WhatsApp call?
When you miss a WhatsApp call, several things happen from the caller’s and recipient’s perspective:
- The caller’s WhatsApp interface will show the call status as “missed call” in the calls tab.
- The recipient will get a missed call notification on their device.
- A missed call icon will appear next to the caller’s name in the recipient’s chat list.
- The caller will not be able to leave a voicemail like normal calls.
- Call details are saved in the call log of both parties.
- If enabled, the recipient’s phone may ring briefly when getting the missed call notification.
Does WhatsApp notify missed calls?
Yes, WhatsApp has notification features that alert users about missed calls:
- A missed call notification banner will pop up on the recipient’s device.
- An icon is displayed next to the caller’s name in the WhatsApp chats list.
- The call log saves details of all missed calls which users can check.
- A brief popup will appear when opening WhatsApp with missed call details.
- The caller name flashes in the multi-tasking view on Android.
- The calls tab icon shows the number of missed calls.
- A sound and vibration if enabled in settings.
However, WhatsApp does not have a voicemail feature. The caller cannot leave a voice message.
Can you tell if someone missed your call on purpose?
It is difficult to definitively know if someone deliberately missed your WhatsApp call, but some signs include:
- They do not return your call or reply to your messages after missing the call.
- This happens frequently with calls from you.
- You can see they were recently online or made calls to others after missing your call.
- They seem to be actively using WhatsApp during the time period of the missed call.
- It rings longer than usual before going to missed call instead of quick busy tone.
However, it is best not to make assumptions. There are many harmless reasons for genuinely missing a call. Keep trying them a few times before concluding they are deliberately avoiding you.
Should you call back after a missed WhatsApp call?
There are no hard rules on whether you should call back after a missed WhatsApp call. It depends on each situation, but some general guidelines include:
- If it seems accidental, then calling back once or twice is fine.
- If they are busy people, give it some time before trying again.
- Try other communication channels like messaging them first.
- If it keeps happening, don’t bombard with repeated calls.
- For urgent matters, calling back is appropriate.
- If you know they are avoiding you, don’t force calling back.
- Let some time pass before calling again if unreachable.
Use your best judgment based on your relationship with the recipient. Avoid pestering them with non-stop calls if they are unresponsive.
How long do WhatsApp missed calls show up?
Missed WhatsApp call notifications and records persist until the user clears them manually. Specifically:
- The notification sticks around indefinitely until opened.
- The missed call icon remains until the chat is opened.
- The call remains in the call log until the user deletes it.
- The badge count stays on the calls tab icon until reset.
So missed WhatsApp calls can show up for as long as the user wants. However, opening the chat or notification will clear those visual indicators. The call log record remains though.
Can you tell if someone read your WhatsApp missed call?
Unfortunately there is no way to detect if someone has actually seen the notification of your WhatsApp missed call. Even if enabled, WhatsApp’s read receipts and blue ticks apply only to messages, not calls.
You can make educated guesses based on indirect signals like:
- They responded to your messages but not the missed call.
- Their online status shows they were recently active.
- They called or messaged you back.
- The missed call notification disappeared without calling back.
But there are no guarantees they actually saw the missed call notification. The only sure indicators are if they return your call or message you about it.
Can you cancel a WhatsApp call?
Yes, WhatsApp allows callers to cancel an ongoing call if needed:
- On Android: Tap the red End Call button.
- On iOS: Tap the red End button.
- On WhatsApp Web: Click the red Cancel icon.
This will immediately end the call on your end only. The recipient will see the call end with duration reflecting how long it lasted before you canceled.
Can you block someone who missed your WhatsApp call?
Yes, you can block contacts on WhatsApp who you don’t wish to receive calls from anymore, including those missing your calls often. To block a contact:
- Open the chat with the contact
- Tap More options > Block contact
- Confirm the block when prompted
Once blocked, the contact will no longer be able to call you, see online status or send messages. All communication will be blocked both ways.
Conclusion
To summarize, a missed WhatsApp call simply means a call that rang unanswered until disconnected. It could be accidental or deliberate. Notifications alert the recipient, while the details are saved in call logs. There is no voicemail feature, so callers cannot leave voice messages.
Users should not overthink missed calls, as there are many harmless reasons they happen. Avoid badgering recipients with non-stop calls if unreachable. Use your best judgment on whether to call back based on your relationship and the context of each situation.
While there is no way to definitively know if someone read your missed call or ignored it intentionally, look for indirect clues in their communication behavior afterward. Handle missed WhatsApp calls with patience and understanding for the best experience.