ISLAMABAD, October 19, 2026: WhatsApp has announced a new guest calling feature that will allow people without a WhatsApp account to join calls through invitation links, expanding the messaging platform’s calling capabilities beyond registered users.
The upcoming feature will enable WhatsApp users to generate and share call invitation links with anyone, including people who have not signed up for the service. According to the announced details, guest calls will support end-to-end encryption and will not have a fixed time limit.
The feature will also introduce a waiting room system, allowing call hosts to approve participants before they join a conversation.
How WhatsApp guest calling will work
Under the new system, WhatsApp users will be able to create invitation links through the app’s Calls section and share them with people they want to invite.
Recipients will be able to use these links to join a call without creating a WhatsApp account.
However, guests will not enter conversations automatically. They will first be placed in a waiting room and will only be admitted after receiving approval from the host.
The host will also have the authority to remove guest participants at any point during a call.
These controls are intended to give call organisers greater control over who can participate in conversations.
WhatsApp introduces privacy controls for guest participants
The guest calling feature will include restrictions designed to protect the privacy of existing WhatsApp users.
Guest participants will not be able to view the phone numbers of other people taking part in a call.
They will also be unable to send WhatsApp messages to participants or initiate direct calls with them through the guest calling interface.
Despite these restrictions, guests will have access to several interactive calling features.
These include screen sharing, sending reactions and using a raise-hand option to indicate that they want to speak during a conversation.
WhatsApp says guest calls will remain protected by end-to-end encryption, providing an additional layer of privacy for participants.
WhatsApp plans Google Calendar and Outlook integration
WhatsApp also plans to expand the feature by integrating it with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook Calendar later in 2026.
The planned integration would allow users to generate WhatsApp call links directly from their calendars, making it easier to organise scheduled conversations and meetings.
This could simplify the process of inviting participants who do not use WhatsApp while allowing organisers to manage calls through familiar scheduling tools.
The guest calling option is expected to be accessible through WhatsApp’s Calls section, where users will be able to create and distribute invitation links.
The company has not specified an exact public rollout date or confirmed when the feature will become available to all users.