WhatsApp voice chats are a feature that allows WhatsApp users to make voice calls to one or multiple people at the same time. Instead of a regular phone call, a WhatsApp voice chat uses the internet to transmit voices.
Some key things to know about WhatsApp voice chats:
- They allow you to talk to one person or a group of people at the same time.
- Voice chats use your phone’s internet connection, not regular cellular minutes.
- You can switch between voice chat and video chat in an ongoing call.
- Voice chats are end-to-end encrypted for privacy.
- There’s no length limit on WhatsApp voice chats.
In a nutshell, WhatsApp voice chats give you a way to have free group conversations over the internet, complete with encryption and unlimited duration. Keep reading to learn all about how to use them!
How WhatsApp voice chats work
WhatsApp voice chats use Voice over IP (VoIP) technology to transmit sound over the internet, instead of through a cellular network like normal phone calls.
Here’s what happens when you start a WhatsApp voice chat:
- Your phone encrypts your voice into data packets.
- The packets get sent over the internet to WhatsApp’s servers.
- WhatsApp’s servers relay the packets to your recipient’s device.
- Your recipient’s phone decrypts the packets back into sound.
This technology allows WhatsApp to provide free voice chats over WiFi or mobile data, to anywhere in the world. The voice quality is also very good, often better than a regular call.
Some key advantages of how WhatsApp voice chats work:
- They use less data than video chats.
- Multiple people can join the same voice chat.
- There are no limits on the duration of voice chats.
- Voice chats are secured with end-to-end encryption.
As long as both callers have a decent internet connection, WhatsApp voice chats provide an easy way to have free group conversations.
How to start a WhatsApp voice chat
Starting a one-on-one or group voice chat on WhatsApp is easy and works the same across iOS and Android devices:
- Open the WhatsApp chat with a person or group.
- Tap the phone icon in the top right.
- Select Voice Call from the menu.
- The call will start when the other person accepts.
You’ll see indicators when your call connects, as well as options to mute yourself and switch to video.
To end the call, simply tap the red phone icon. WhatsApp will keep a log of all your individual and group voice chats for later reference.
Some tips for starting great WhatsApp voice chats:
- Make sure you have a stable internet connection.
- Tell participants to use headphones for better sound.
- Choose a quiet environment without too much background noise.
Following those tips will help ensure your WhatsApp voice chats sound fantastic every time.
Joining and managing WhatsApp voice chats
If someone adds you to a WhatsApp voice chat, you’ll get a notification inviting you to join. Here’s how to join and manage group voice chats:
- Tap the notification when you get an invite.
- WhatsApp will open and you’ll be connected to the call.
- Tap the screen to see options like mute, speaker, and video.
- Swipe up to see all the call participants.
- Tap a name to message or call that person.
The person that initiates a WhatsApp voice chat has admin powers in the call. They can remove people from the chat or mute participants.
To leave a group voice chat yourself, simply tap the red phone icon to disconnect. You can always rejoin anytime if the chat is still active.
Changing WhatsApp voice chat notifications
By default, WhatsApp voice chat notifications make a loud ringing sound. If you want to change the notification sound or vibrate setting:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the Settings cog.
- Go into Notifications > Sound.
- Select a unique ringtone or set to vibrate.
You can also adjust the notification settings outside of WhatsApp in your phone’s main Settings app. Just search for “WhatsApp” and select notifications.
Some extra notification tips for WhatsApp voice chats:
- Set custom vibrate patterns to identify voice chat invites.
- Use the priority only setting for less interruptions.
- Block notifications when you don’t want WhatsApp distractions.
Using WhatsApp web for voice chats
WhatsApp web allows you to use WhatsApp on your computer by pairing it to your phone. It also lets you join voice chats right from your computer.
To use voice chats on WhatsApp web:
- Open web.whatsapp.com in your browser.
- Scan the QR code to link your computer to your phone.
- Click the phone icon to join an active or start a new voice chat.
- A microphone icon will appear to show you’re connected via voice.
The great thing about WhatsApp web is that voice chats will keep going on your computer even if your phone loses the internet connection. This makes it easy to participate in long chats.
Some tips for using voice chats effectively on WhatsApp web:
- Use a headset rather than open computer microphone.
- Make sure you allow microphone access in browser settings.
- Click the mic icon to mute yourself when not speaking.
Voice chat history and recordings
WhatsApp saves a history of all your individual and group voice chat sessions. To view your voice chat history:
- Open the WhatsApp Calls tab.
- Individual chats will show the contact name.
- Group chats show as “Group Call with [Name]”.
Tapping a voice chat will open the conversation it happened in. You can also long press a chat to delete it from your history.
Unfortunately, WhatsApp currently does not allow you to record voice chats directly within the app. However, there are some third-party apps that can record WhatsApp voice calls from your phone’s system sound.
Some top options for recording WhatsApp voice chats:
- AutoChat Recorder (Android)
- Amity Call Recorder (Android)
- Cube Call Recorder ACR (Android/iOS)
Always follow local laws when recording calls and notify people you record. While WhatsApp doesn’t directly support call recording, these third-party apps integrate neatly with the process.
Voice chat data usage
One concern with WhatsApp voice chats is how much data they use, especially on mobile networks.
According to WhatsApp, here’s approximately how much data voice chats use per minute:
- 1 minute: 0.5MB – 1MB
- 60 minutes: 30MB – 60MB
So a 1 hour WhatsApp voice chat would use about 30MB to 60MB of data. That’s not insignificant but reasonable for the convenience. Video calls use about 4x more data than voice chats.
Some tips to reduce WhatsApp voice chat data usage:
- Use WiFi instead of mobile data whenever possible.
- Set your phone network to 2G only for calls.
- Download a call recorder to save chats instead of staying online.
Using WhatsApp voice chats over WiFi or limiting their mobile data use ensures you stay within your plan and avoid hefty overages.
Voice chat vs regular WhatsApp call
WhatsApp gives the option for either a voice chat or regular voice call with one person. So what’s the difference between these two?
| Feature | Voice Chat | Voice Call |
|---|---|---|
| Group calling | Yes | No |
| Video calling | Can switch to video | Voice only |
| Call controls | Mute, speaker, etc. | Basic in-call controls |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Yes |
In summary:
- Voice chats allow video and group calls.
- Voice calls are one-on-one voice only.
- Both are encrypted for privacy.
So WhatsApp voice chats provide a more flexible free calling solution overall. But simple voice calls work well for quick one-on-one chats.
Voice chat limits
WhatsApp does impose some limits when using voice chat:
- Maximum 4 people in a video call (more for voice only).
- Must have the WhatsApp app open to receive calls.
- No dialing in – everyone must have the app.
There are also general WhatsApp limits to be aware of:
- Group chats limited to 256 people.
- Media sharing limited to 100MB.
- Cannot delete messages after 1 hour.
While limitless duration is a key voice chat feature, very long calls could bump into WhatsApp’s stability limits. Some tips to avoid issues:
- Monitor data usage on long calls.
- Ensure participants have good internet.
- Restart the app if calls become unstable.
Facing the limits Simply staying aware of the boundaries can help avoid any problems as you enjoy free WhatsApp voice chats.
Voice chat accessibility
WhatsApp offers features to make voice chats more accessible for people with disabilities:
- Live Captions – Transcribes the call in real-time.
- Voice Message Previews – Shows transcribed audio messages.
- In-App Magnifier – Magnifies part of the screen.
These accessibility options are available for both Android and iOS devices:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Accessibility.
- Turn on Live Captions and/or Voice Message Previews.
- Adjust Magnifier zoom and color filters.
People who are blind can also use voice chat with screen reader support built into iOS and Android. WhatsApp is continually expanding accessibility features to empower more people.
Conclusion
WhatsApp voice chats provide a convenient way to connect groups of people over voice and video with end-to-end encryption. They offer higher quality and unlimited duration compared to normal phone calls.
Key highlights:
- Uses data instead of mobile minutes for free calling.
- Offers group calling for up to 4 video participants.
- Can enable live captions for accessibility.
- Integrates across mobile and desktop devices.
While there are some limits, WhatsApp voice chats are an easy way to stay connected to the groups and people important to you through free calls. Expand your communication possibilities with this handy WhatsApp feature.