Highlights

• WhatsApp Voice Chats are now available to all group chats, allowing seamless drop-in audio conversations without ringing members.
• Users can start a voice chat by swiping up in a group chat.
• The chat is pinned at the bottom, letting members join or leave anytime without disruption.
• This low-interruption format is similar to Discord, Telegram and Slack, offering a casual voice chat experience.

Caption – WhatsApp now adds Voice Chat feature to groups of all sizes. (Image credit – Meta)

WhatsApp is making it easier to have casual voice conversations in groups. The app has expanded its Voice Chat feature, now available to all group chats, no matter the size.

WhatsApp Voice Chats – What’s New?

This feature was previously only available in WhatsApp‘s larger groups, but now any group can start a voice chat. Unlike traditional group calls that ring every member, voice chats work more like a drop-in audio hangout. When someone starts one, it doesn’t ring anyone and instead, a quiet pop-up appears in the chat letting people join if they want.

WhatsApp says the new update lets group members chat live using voice while still sending messages in the chat. You can join or leave anytime without interrupting the ongoing conversation.

How ‘Audio Hangouts’ in Group Chats Work?

To start a voice chat, just swipe up from the bottom of the group chat and hold for a few seconds. The best part is that it is low-disruption without any notifications or ringtones.

Once active, the voice chat is pinned to the bottom of the group chat. This makes it easy to see who’s talking, control your audio settings and join or leave freely.

New participants can join in at any time. And like everything else on WhatsApp, voice chats are end-to-end encrypted by default.

While this kind of voice chat experience has been around on platforms like Discord, Telegram and Slack, it’s new to WhatsApp users. These platforms already let users hop in and out of live group voice chats without needing to place a formal call.

Now, WhatsApp users get a similar and seamless way to chat with their groups, no pressure, no ringing, just drop in and talk.

FAQs

Q1. What is WhatsApp’s new Audio Hangouts feature?

Answer. WhatsApp Voice Chats now allow drop-in audio conversations in all group chats without ringing members. Users can join or leave anytime during the chat.

Q2. How do you start a voice chat in a WhatsApp group?

Answer. Swipe up from the bottom of the group chat and hold for a few seconds. The voice chat is pinned to the bottom, making it easy to see and join freely.

Q3. How is this different from a traditional WhatsApp group call?

Answer. Unlike a group call, voice chats don’t ring members and instead show a quiet pop-up notification in the chat. Participants can join or leave anytime.

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