How to Make a Video Call on WhatsApp (iPhone): A Step-by-Step Guide

A WhatsApp video call is free over Wi-Fi, works with anyone else who has WhatsApp, and lets you see your family on the screen while you talk. Once it is set up on your iPhone, starting a call takes about three taps. This walkthrough shows you exactly where to tap, what each button does, and how to fix the small problems that trip people up the first time.

You will not need any new equipment. Your iPhone already has a camera on the front (the screen side) and a microphone built in. WhatsApp is a free app that runs over the internet, so a call to your daughter across the country costs the same as a call across the street: nothing, as long as you are on Wi-Fi.

What you need before you start

You need three things, and you very likely already have all of them. First, an iPhone with WhatsApp installed. The app has a green icon with a white telephone inside a speech bubble, usually found on one of your home screens. Second, a Wi-Fi connection, which keeps the call free and steady. Third, the other person also needs WhatsApp on their phone, whether that is an iPhone or an Android phone.

If you do not have WhatsApp yet, you download it from the App Store, which is the place on your iPhone where you get new apps. Its icon is a blue circle with a white letter A made of a pencil and ruler. Tap it, type "WhatsApp" in the search bar at the top, tap Get, and the app installs itself. WhatsApp will ask for your phone number to set up your account, and it sends you a six-digit code by text message to confirm it is really your phone.

The first time you open WhatsApp it asks permission to use your camera, your microphone, and your contacts. Say yes to all three. The camera and microphone are obviously needed for a video call. Access to your contacts simply lets WhatsApp show you which of the people already in your phone are also on WhatsApp, so you do not have to type their numbers by hand.

Step by step: making your first video call

Here is the whole process from start to finish. Take it one line at a time. Nothing here can break your phone, and if you tap the wrong thing you can always press the back arrow at the top left and try again.

1. Open WhatsApp. Tap the green icon. The app opens on the Chats screen, which is a list of your past conversations.
2. Find the person you want to call. Tap the magnifying glass at the top to search, then type the first few letters of their name. Their name appears in the list. Tap it.
3. Open their chat. You are now looking at your message history with that person. At the very top of this screen, near their name, you will see two small icons.
4. Tap the video camera icon. It is the little camera shape at the top right of the screen. The telephone shape next to it is for a voice-only call, so be sure you pick the camera.
5. Wait for them to answer. The screen shows your own face and the word "Calling" while it rings on their end. When they accept, their face fills the screen and you can start talking.
6. End the call. When you are finished, tap the red circle with a white telephone in it at the bottom of the screen. The call hangs up and you return to the chat.

That is the entire process. If it worked, congratulations, you have made a video call. The next one will feel easier, and after three or four calls you will not even need to think about the steps.

The buttons you see during a call

Once a call connects, a row of buttons sits along the bottom of the screen. They fade away after a few seconds so you can see the picture clearly. To bring them back, just tap anywhere on the screen once. Knowing what each one does removes most of the worry about "pressing something wrong".

The microphone button mutes your sound. Tap it once and the other person can no longer hear you, which is useful if a dog starts barking or someone walks into the room. The icon shows a line through it when you are muted. Tap it again to unmute. The camera-flip button switches between the front camera, which shows your face, and the back camera, which shows whatever the phone is pointed at, handy for showing the garden or a new piece of furniture.

There is also a video button that turns your own camera off entirely while keeping the sound, so the other person hears you but sees a blank square instead of your face. And the red telephone button hangs up. That red button is the only one that actually ends the call, so the others are safe to explore and tap during a chat without losing the connection.

Calling more than one person at once

WhatsApp lets you have a group video call with up to 32 people, which is enough for the whole family at a birthday or holiday. You start it almost the same way, with one extra step at the beginning to choose everyone you want on the call.

From the Chats screen, tap the small camera or the new-call icon, then choose "New call". Pick the first person, then tap "Add" to include a second, a third, and so on. When your list is ready, tap the video camera button and it rings everyone at once. As each person answers, their face appears as a small square on your screen, and the squares rearrange themselves automatically as more people join.

If you are already in a one-to-one call and want to add someone, tap the screen to bring up the buttons, look for the "add person" icon, which looks like a head with a small plus sign, and choose who to bring in. This is the easy way to pull a second grandchild into a call that is already going.

Fixing the most common problems

When a video call goes wrong, it is almost always one of a small handful of things, and each has a simple fix. The most frequent complaint is "they can't hear me". Nine times out of ten the mute button is on by accident. Tap the screen, look at the microphone icon, and if it has a line through it, tap it once to turn your sound back on.

The second most common problem is "I can't see them" or "they can't see me". This usually means the camera permission was turned off, often by tapping "Don't Allow" during that first pop-up. To fix it, leave WhatsApp and open the grey Settings app, scroll down and tap WhatsApp in the list, then make sure the switches next to Camera and Microphone are green. A green switch is on. If it is grey, tap it once and it slides over to green.

A frozen or jerky picture nearly always means a weak internet connection. If you are on Wi-Fi, move closer to your router, the box that gives you the internet. If you are out and about using mobile data, the picture may stutter where the signal is poor. Hanging up and calling again often clears it, because the call reconnects on a fresher line.

Staying safe and keeping it free

WhatsApp calls are protected by something called end-to-end encryption, which is a fancy way of saying the call is scrambled so only you and the person you are calling can see and hear it. Nobody at WhatsApp and no stranger can listen in. You do not need to do anything to switch this on; it is always there.

To keep calls free, stay on Wi-Fi at home. A video call uses internet data, and if you make long calls on mobile data away from home it counts against your monthly data allowance. That will not cost extra unless your particular phone plan charges for going over, but the simple rule is: at home, on Wi-Fi, every call is free with no limit.

One sensible habit is to only answer video calls from people you know. If a number you do not recognise rings you, you can let it ring out or decline it by tapping the red button, exactly as you would with a normal phone call. You are always in control of who you talk to.

Making calls a regular habit

The easiest way to get comfortable is to set up a standing time, such as a Sunday-morning call with a grandchild, so it becomes a routine rather than a special event. Routines remove the worry, because you stop thinking about the buttons and start thinking about the conversation. After a few weeks the whole process feels as natural as picking up an ordinary phone.

If you want to arrange a call in advance, send a quick written message first inside the same chat. Tap the chat, type something like "Free for a video call at 3?" and tap the send arrow. This avoids ringing someone at a bad moment and lets both of you be ready, settled, and somewhere with good Wi-Fi when the call comes through.

Position your phone so the camera looks at your face rather than up at the ceiling. Propping it against a few books on the table, with the screen tilted slightly toward you, frees both hands and shows you at a flattering, natural angle. A simple stand for around 10 to 20 US dollars does the same job if you call often and would rather not stack books each time.

Frequently asked questions

Does a WhatsApp video call cost money?

No. WhatsApp video calls are free. They use your internet connection rather than minutes from your phone plan. On Wi-Fi at home there is no cost and no limit. On mobile data away from home the call uses some of your data allowance, but it does not use call minutes.

Can I call someone who has an Android phone?

Yes. WhatsApp works the same on iPhone and Android, so an iPhone can video call an Android phone with no trouble. The only requirement is that both people have the WhatsApp app installed.

Do I have to put on makeup or tidy up before answering?

No. Nobody can see you until the call connects and you choose to answer. If you would rather not be seen at all, you can answer and immediately tap the camera-off button so the other person hears you without seeing the room.

What if I press the wrong button and hang up by accident?

Nothing breaks. You simply tap the video camera button again to call the person straight back. They will understand; everyone does this at first.

How do I know if someone is available to call?

You do not need to know in advance. Just call, the same as a normal phone. If they are busy or away from their phone, the call rings and then stops, and you can try again later or send them a quick message to arrange a better time.

Can other people see my home address or location?

No. A video call only shows what your camera is pointed at and lets the other person hear you. It does not share your address, your location, or any private information. You are only showing what you choose to point the camera at.