WhatsApp has finally enabled audio and video calls directly from its browser client, a feature long missing from the service. Users in the WhatsApp Web beta can now initiate and answer calls without opening the desktop app, and the calls retain end‑to‑end encryption. The rollout begins this week.

The web client, launched over a decade ago, has gradually added messaging features but never supported real‑time voice. Desktop versions for Windows, macOS, and iPadOS received calling capabilities earlier this year, prompting demand for parity on the browser platform. Screen‑sharing now works on the web, mirroring mobile functionality.

Group calls remain unavailable on the web, though engineers have signaled a future update. Access is currently restricted to participants of the beta program, which automatically enrolls users who opted into experimental features. WhatsApp says a broader release will follow in the coming days, expanding the capability to its full user base.

For power users who spend most of their day in a browser, the addition closes a long‑standing gap between mobile and desktop experiences. It also nudges competitors to match web‑based calling, potentially reshaping how messaging services are accessed on laptops and shared workstations. WhatsApp now offers a fully functional, encrypted calling suite on the web.