Last week, it was rumored that WhatsApp was working to increase the limit on the number of participants in a group call, be it a video or audio call. Few days later, the highest limit of group calls has been implemented for users WhatsApp beta.
You can now have up to 8 participants in a group call.
I was first seen by BetaInfo, WhatsApp's new group call participant limit, is now available in WhatsApp beta version 2.20.133 on Android and 2.20.50.25 on iOS.
The feature has not yet been released publicly, but due to the current COVID-19 situation, we can hope that it will reach everyone as soon as possible.
WhatsApp group calls now support up to 8 participants
To start a group call with more than 4 participants (which was the previous limit), just go to a group conversation and tap the call button in the top right corner. Then select those whom you want to invite for a call.
You can add up to 7 participants, which makes a total of 8 when you count yourself.
Now, if you want to start a group call with people you don't share a group with, you can head to the "Calls" tab. Tap the “call” bubble at the bottom right and select the “New Group Call” option. Now choose the participants, start a video/audio call and have fun.
One of the caveats of the group call limit increase in its current form is that all participants must have the latest version of WhatsApp. The messaging app just throws an error message saying:
“Several people are using an old version of WhatsApp. To start calls with 6 people (any number over 4), all participants need the latest version of WhatsApp."
I hope the messaging giant will beta test this feature for a couple of days and then start rolling it out to everyone. WhatsApp is now ready to take on Google Duo and Houseparty amid the Coronavirus lockdown, now with the highest limit of participants in group video calls.