WhatsApp officially announced the rollout of voice chats for groups of all sizes, expanding the feature beyond large groups to include smaller ones. The feature allows users to start live audio conversations easily, join or leave anytime, and keeps all chats secure with end-to-end encryption.
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Voice chats |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | The most recent versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS are designated as compatible updates. |
| I have updated my version of WhatsApp but I don't have this feature. Why? | This feature will be available to more users over the coming days. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp for iOS 25.16.77: what's new? WhatsApp is finally releasing a fix to address a bug with listening to voice messages! |
VOICE CHATS
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.25.22 update, we shared the details of a more accessible way to start voice chats within group conversations. The update introduced a floating action button just above the message send button, making voice chats easier to discover and initiate for all group members. This feature introduced flexible voice hangouts with automatic chat termination after 60 minutes of inactivity, ensuring voice chats don't stay open unnecessarily while giving users the freedom to join and leave whenever they want. After a limited testing period with select users, WhatsApp is now officially announcing this feature to the wider audience through a dedicated blog post on their official website.
WhatsApp officially announced the rollout of voice chats for groups of all sizes, expanding the functionality beyond just large groups with many participants. This means that whether the group has two members or dozens, anyone can now start and join live voice conversations easily. To initiate a voice chat, users simply need to swipe up at the bottom of the group chat and hold for a few seconds. This gesture instantly starts a voice chat without disrupting the ongoing text conversation.
It's important to note that, when a group member starts a voice chat, WhatsApp does not send notifications or ring any participants. This silent approach allows group members to join or leave the audio hangout at their own pace, without pressure or interruption. The voice chat session remains pinned at the bottom of the group chat screen, making it easily accessible at all times during the conversation. This pinned interface allows participants to quickly access call controls, see who is currently in the chat, and join in whenever they want.
WhatsApp continues to prioritize user privacy and security by protecting voice chats with end-to-end encryption. This means that all audio shared during the voice chat is securely encrypted from one participant’s device to another, ensuring that no one, including WhatsApp or Meta, can listen in or access the voice chat content. This level of encryption is the same technology WhatsApp uses to secure all personal calls and messages, providing users with a trusted environment for their live group discussions.
With this update, WhatsApp aims to make live voice conversations more spontaneous and natural, offering a new way for people to connect, collaborate, or simply hang out without needing to schedule calls or send invites. Voice chats now enhance group communication by adding a layer of immediacy and presence, as participants can join or leave the conversation at any time without any limits on the number of members, making the feature available to groups of all sizes.
The voice chats feature is currently available to some users who have installed the latest version of WhatsApp for Android from the Google Play Store and WhatsApp for iOS from the App Store, and it's rolling out to even more accounts over the coming days.
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