WhatsApp started as an instant messaging app and included features such as voice calls, video calls, stickers, WhatsApp Web, end-to-end encryption, and more, over time. Among the latest reports, WhatsApp Payments (India) will debut in coming month or two. However, the rise of video calling frenzy has put the WhatsApp users in a tizzy. While many people try out new video calling options, several complain of WhatsApp video calls not working on iPhone or Android.
To meet the growing demand, the Facebook-owned company recently bumped member limit from four (4) to eight (8) for group video/voice calls. That would’ve easily led people make more WhatsApp video calls with their friends, family, and others. However, there are several reasons why video calls would fail randomly. For starters, WhatsApp app requires permissions to microphone and camera to make video calls work properly. And that’s one of the things to check out.
In this post, we have tried to cover every possibility that leads to WhatsApp video calls failure with solutions. Let’s check them out.
1. Update WhatsApp
WhatsApp frequently updates its app on iOS and Android. The video call problems might occur due to an old WhatsApp build on your phone. Navigate to App Store or the Google Play Store and update the WhatsApp app to the latest version. The WhatsApp Beta channel users on Android and iOS should update the respective WhatsApp builds to the latest versions, which carry several bug fixes and performance improvements.
2. Use Strong Network Connection
Video calls require a stable network connection to work smoothly. Also, they consume more data than WhatsApp voice calls. So, make sure that your phone is connected to a stronger network and your phone shows enough bars for cellular network strength. For those who own a dual-band router, you should check if your phone supports the 5GHz Wi-Fi band. And if it does, connect the phone to your Wi-Fi network’s 5GHz band.
3. Allow Necessary Permissions to WhatsApp
As noted earlier, WhatsApp requires microphone and camera permissions to make video calls successfully. You might have denied those permissions while setting up the app for the first time. That could be the reason why audio and video might not be working as expected. Check your phone’s Settings and allow the necessary permissions to the app.
For iPhone
Open the device Settings app, scroll down till you see WhatsApp, and open it. That’ll open ‘Allow WhatsApp to the Access’ window. Make sure the options for Microphone and Camera are enabled.
For Android
On Android, there are two ways to open the permission manager. You can open the device Settings app and go to Apps and Notifications > See All Apps > and Navigate to WhatsApp.
Alternatively, you can long-press on the WhatsApp app icon and select the info option from the context menu that rolls out. That will directly take you to the app info menu. There, select the Permission menu and enable permissions for Camera and Microphone.
4. Check Content & Privacy Restrictions (iPhone)
Normally, the Content & Privacy Restrictions are turned off by default. You can skip this solution if you haven’t enabled Screen Time on your iPhone.
If you have Screen Time enabled and activated Content & Privacy Restrictions, then you should check if you’ve allowed WhatsApp app to access the Microphone.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on the iPhone.
Step 2: Navigate to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and make sure that the installed apps have permission to access the microphone.
5. Allow WhatsApp to Use Mobile Data (iPhone)
iOS lets you restrict mobile data use for certain apps from the settings menu. If the option is enabled for WhatsApp app, then you might not be able to make or receive video calls easily.
Open the iPhone Settings app and scroll down to WhatsApp. From the following menu, flick the switch next to Mobile Data to enable it.
6. Switch On Background Data Usage
Enabling this option allows you to receive WhatsApp video calls even when you are not using the app. On iPhone, open Settings and go to WhatsApp. Then turn on Background App Refresh to allow WhatsApp to use data in the background.
Android users can perform a long-press on the WhatsApp app icon and open App info menu. Open Mobile data & Wi-Fi menu, and enable Background data option.
7. Disable Data Saver/Low Data Mode
Data saver mode on iPhone or Android could be hindering WhatsApp to function normally. If you have enabled the low data mode on your phone then it might prevent WhatsApp from fetching details like incoming video call or make a video call correctly.
To disable the low data mode on the iPhone, open the Settings app > Cellular > Cellular Data Options and disable Low Data Mode from the following menu. Also, enable Data Roaming from the same window if you want to use WhatsApp video calls over cellular data while you’re on traveling in a different region.
For Android phones, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver and turn off the option.
8. Disable Battery Saver
Battery saver mode is intended to prevent apps from running in the background to save some battery juice. If you have enabled that option, then consider disabling it from the Setting menu. iPhone users can go to Settings > Battery and turn off Low Power Mode from the menu.
Android users can navigate to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver and switch off the option.
9. Turn off WhatsApp’s Low Data Usage
WhatsApp also offers Low Data usage mode from its app settings. Disable the option for a smooth WhatsApp video calling experience. Open WhatsApp and navigate to App Settings > Data and Storage Usage and turn off the Low Data Usage option.
10. Clear Cache (Android)
Clearing cache for WhatsApp won’t mess with any personal data; it will only delete temporary files. To clear cache, long-press on the WhatsApp app icon and open App info. Go to Storage & cache and then clear the cache.
11. Restart Phone and Reinstall WhatsApp
Rebooting the Android phone or iPhone often fixes some issues. You can restart your Android device or iPhone and check if the WhatsApp video calling is working or not. If not, then take a backup of your current WhatsApp data and try reinstalling the app.
Make WhatsApp Video Calls Again
WhatsApp video calls might not be feature-rich, but they are certainly popular since over 2 billion people use WhatsApp. While the app is quite simple to use, it’s the deeper settings and permissions that might prevent you from enjoying a video calling session. If you have figured out another solution, share it with us in the comments below.
Next up: Want to learn more about WhatsApp on iPhone? Read the post below to find the top tips and tricks for WhatsApp on iPhone.
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Last updated on 07 February, 2022
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