WhatsApp Voice Chat Now Available for All Group Sizes — Global Rollout Begins on Android & iOS

Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has officially rolled out its new Voice Chat feature for all group sizes, enhancing real-time group communication without disrupting text-based interactions. This latest addition allows users to seamlessly engage in live audio conversations directly within group chats while continuing to send messages.

Voice Chat Now Available for Up to 256 Members

Initially limited to select groups with up to 33 members, Voice Chat is now being made available for groups with up to 256 participants. The feature introduces a quiet, non-intrusive way to initiate audio conversations. Instead of ringing every member’s phone, the chat begins silently, allowing members to join voluntarily at their convenience.

How Voice Chat Works

Once a voice chat is initiated, it remains visible as a banner at the bottom of the group chat interface. This persistent placement ensures that users can manage or join the chat with ease while continuing to view or send regular messages.

Here’s how it functions:

Initiation: Any group member can start a voice chat by tapping the microphone icon located at the top right of the group chat.

Silent Start: Unlike traditional calls, it doesn’t notify everyone with a ringtone. Instead, members receive a push notification.

Voluntary Participation: Members can join or exit the voice chat at any time without disruption.

Visibility: The interface clearly displays the list of participants currently connected to the chat.

Privacy and Security

In line with WhatsApp’s ongoing commitment to user privacy, all voice chats are protected by end-to-end encryption. This ensures that conversations remain private and secure, similar to standard WhatsApp messages and calls.

Key Features and Controls

Primary Device Only: Voice chat functionality is supported only on your primary mobile device.

Participant Visibility: Even if a user chooses not to join, they can still view active participants via the chat header or Calls tab.

Notifications and Mute Options: Users can mute group notifications and call alerts from the group’s settings page.

Auto-End Feature: The voice chat automatically ends if no one joins within 60 minutes or when all participants leave.

Easy Exit: Users can leave the voice chat at any time by tapping “Leave Voice Chat.”

Rollout and Availability

WhatsApp has confirmed that this feature is being gradually rolled out globally to both Android and iOS users. The update will be available via the latest app version over the coming days.

Conclusion

With the introduction of Voice Chat for large groups, WhatsApp continues to enhance its group communication tools. This feature blends the spontaneity of voice calls with the flexibility of group messaging—without interrupting the experience for all users. As Meta focuses on building richer and more interactive social tools, this update marks a significant step toward more dynamic group interactions on WhatsApp.