How to Make a WhatsApp Video Call: A Complete Beginner's Guide

WhatsApp video calling is one of the best ways to see and speak to family and friends — completely free, no matter how far away they are. If you've never done it before, this guide will walk you through every single step in plain English. You don't need to be good with technology to follow this guide. If you can make a phone call, you can make a WhatsApp video call — it's almost identical, with just one extra tap.

Free Calls for Seniors

6/29/20262 min read

What you'll need before you start

A smartphone or tablet with WhatsApp already installed (it's free from the App Store or Google Play)
A Wi-Fi connection — or mobile data if you're away from home
The person you want to call must also have WhatsApp on their phone
That's it — nothing else needed

Step 1 — Open WhatsApp

Find the WhatsApp icon on your phone — it looks like a white telephone on a green background. Tap it to open the app.

Step 2 — Go to the Calls tab

At the bottom of the screen, you'll see several icons. Tap the one that says Calls (it looks like a telephone receiver). This takes you to your calls history.

Step 3 — Start a new call

In the top right corner of the screen, you'll see a small icon that looks like a telephone with a plus (+) sign next to it. Tap that.

Step 4 — Find the person you want to call

A list of your contacts will appear. Scroll through to find the person you want to call, or type their name in the search bar at the top. They must have WhatsApp installed on their phone for this to work.

Step 5 — Choose video call

Once you've found your contact, you'll see two icons next to their name — a telephone (for a voice call) and a camera (for a video call). Tap the camera icon to start a video call.

Step 6 — Wait for them to answer

Your screen will show that the call is ringing. Give them a moment to answer — just like a normal phone call. When they pick up, you'll see their face on your screen and they'll see yours.

Step 7 — Ending the call

When you're ready to say goodbye, tap the red circle with a phone icon in it to end the call. That's all there is to it.

Helpful tips for your first call

Good light makes a big difference — sit facing a window if you can, so your face is well lit
Prop your phone up against something rather than holding it — it makes the picture steadier and is less tiring on your arm
If the picture is blurry or the sound is breaking up, move closer to your Wi-Fi router
Don't worry about silences — they feel more noticeable on video calls but they're completely normal
It's fine to look at the screen rather than the camera — most people do

What if it goes wrong?

If the call drops or something goes wrong, simply hang up and try again. This happens to everyone — even people who have been using video calls for years. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes.

Can you video call more than one person at once?

Yes — WhatsApp allows group video calls with up to 32 people. Once you're on a call with someone, you can tap the add participant icon to bring more people into the call. This is perfect for a family catch-up where everyone joins in at the same time.

Is WhatsApp video calling free?

Yes, completely free — no matter how long you call, and no matter where in the world the other person is. WhatsApp calls use your internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) rather than your phone's call allowance, so there are no extra charges from your phone provider.

For more step-by-step guides to video calling on WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom, and Google Meet — all written in plain English — visit freecallsforseniors.co.uk.

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