WhatsApp now lets you join group calls that have already started

WhatsApp now lets you bring together group calls that have already started — hither's how

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WhatsApp has introduced the ability for users to join a group call that is already in progress. Fifty-fifty if you originally hit "ignore" on a call invitation, you lot can simply head over to the Calls tab and join from there.

Previously, in social club to join a group call, you lot have had to accept the invitation when information technology was first sent out at the start of the telephone call. That volition no longer be the case thank you to new joinable group calls, which according to WhatsApp is rolling out now.

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"Today [July xix] we're introducing the ability to join a group phone call, even after it'southward started. Joinable calls reduce the brunt of answering a group call as it starts, and brings the spontaneity and ease of in-person conversations to grouping calling on WhatsApp," the visitor said.

In lodge to support this new feature, at that place will be refreshed call info screen which will permit you lot to see who is already on a call before y'all join. Then if that abrasive uncle you'd rather not speak to is present, you tin always swerve the invitation. This screen will also allow you to run across anyone else who has been invited to the phone call but is nevertheless to bring together, so you won't have any nasty surprises mid-telephone call either.

The messaging platform was neat to stress that it will provide the expected level of security and end-to-finish encryption to ensure that video calls are still very much kept individual. These privacy reassurances come off the back of WhatsApp withholding fundamental features unless users agreed to new, and arguably fairly intrusive, privacy terms earlier this twelvemonth.

How to join a WhatsApp call that has already begun

Joining a WhatsApp phone call that has already begun couldn't be more straightforward. If you missed it or hit "ignore" when the original call invitation was sent out merely navigate over to the Calls tab on WhatsApp and you'll be able to run into a list of any ongoing calls that are joinable.

Here you can also encounter who is currently on the call and who else has an invitation to join mid-call. Simply tap on the call data to join.

You'll instantly be put into the phone call and can be brought up to speed on whatsoever you missed by your friends, family, co-workers, or whoever else yous're meeting with.

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Rory is a staff author at Tom's Guide based in the Great britain. He covers a broad range of topics including tech news, deals, gaming, streaming and more. When he's not writing hot takes on the latest gaming hardware and streaming shows, he tin be found watching a borderline unhealthy amount of movies and being thoroughly disappointed by his terrible football team.