How to Video Call on WhatsApp (Step by Step)
A simple, beginner-friendly guide to making video calls on WhatsApp using your iPhone or Android phone. See your family face-to-face in minutes.
Video calling is one of the best ways to stay connected with your family and friends, especially grandchildren who live far away. WhatsApp makes this easy and free — all you need is a phone and a WiFi connection.
This guide walks you through every step, whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone. Take it slowly, one step at a time, and you will be video calling with confidence very soon.
What You Need Before You Start
- A smartphone (iPhone or Android)
- WhatsApp installed on your phone
- A WiFi connection (video calls use data, so WiFi saves your phone bill)
- The phone number of the person you want to call — they must also have WhatsApp
If you do not have WhatsApp yet, read our complete WhatsApp guide for seniors first. It covers how to download and set up the app from scratch.
How to Make a WhatsApp Video Call on iPhone
These steps are for iPhones (any model).
Step 1: Open WhatsApp
Find the green WhatsApp icon on your iPhone screen and tap it. If you cannot find it, swipe down from the middle of your screen to bring up the search bar. Type "WhatsApp" and tap the app when it appears.
Step 2: Find the Person You Want to Call
At the bottom of your screen you will see several tabs. Tap Chats. Look for the name of the person you want to video call. If you have chatted with them before, they will appear in your list of conversations.
If their name is not there, tap the pencil icon in the top right corner of the screen to start a new conversation. A list of your contacts will appear. Scroll through or type their name at the top to find them.
Step 3: Open Your Conversation with Them
Tap on their name to open your chat with them.
Step 4: Tap the Video Camera Icon
Look at the top right corner of the screen. You will see a small icon that looks like a video camera. Tap it.
A message will appear asking if you want to start a video call. Tap Video Call to confirm.
Step 5: Wait for Them to Answer
Your phone will now ring their phone. You will see your own face in a small box on the screen while you wait. When they answer, their face will appear on the main screen and your face will move to a smaller box in the corner.
Step 6: End the Call
When you are finished talking, tap the red circle button at the bottom of the screen. This hangs up the call.
How to Make a WhatsApp Video Call on Android
These steps work for Samsung, Google Pixel, and most other Android phones.
Step 1: Open WhatsApp
Find the green WhatsApp icon on your home screen and tap it. If you cannot find it, swipe up from the bottom of your screen to see all your apps. You can also tap the search bar (if your phone has one) and type "WhatsApp".
Step 2: Go to Your Chats
At the bottom of your screen, tap the Chats tab. You will see a list of your conversations.
Step 3: Find the Person You Want to Call
Scroll through your list and tap on the name of the person you want to video call.
If they are not in your list, tap the chat bubble icon with a pencil in the bottom right corner of the screen. A list of your contacts will appear. Type their name at the top or scroll to find them.
Step 4: Tap the Video Camera Icon
Once you are inside your chat with that person, look at the top right corner of the screen. You will see a video camera icon. Tap it.
Step 5: Wait for Them to Pick Up
Your phone will call their phone. You will see your own face while the call connects. Once they answer, their face will fill the screen.
Step 6: End the Call
When you are ready to hang up, tap the red button at the bottom of the screen.
How to Make a Group Video Call on WhatsApp
You can video call more than one person at the same time. This is great for family gatherings when everyone is in different places.
WhatsApp allows up to 8 people on a group video call at once.
Method 1: Start from a Group Chat
If you already have a group chat set up with your family:
- Open WhatsApp and tap Chats
- Tap on your family group chat
- Tap the video camera icon in the top right corner
- WhatsApp will call everyone in the group at once
Method 2: Add People During a Call
You can also start with one person and add others once the call has started:
- Start a normal video call with one person as described above
- Once they have answered, look for the Add Participant button on the screen
- Tap it and choose who else to add
- They will receive a notification to join the call
Tips for Better Video Quality
A good video call depends on a few simple things. Here is how to get the best picture and sound every time.
Use WiFi whenever possible. Video calls use a lot of internet data. On WiFi, this is free. On mobile data, it costs money and may slow down your connection.
Sit close to your WiFi router. The closer you are to the router, the stronger your connection. If you are in a room far from the router, the picture may freeze or become blurry.
Make sure your face is well lit. Sit facing a window or a lamp. If the light is behind you, you will look like a shadow on screen. The other person will struggle to see your face clearly.
Prop your phone against something. Holding your phone for a long call is tiring. Rest it against a book, a cup, or use a small phone stand. This keeps the picture steady too.
Clean your camera lens. The camera lens on the back of your phone can get smudgy. Give it a gentle wipe with a soft cloth. A clean lens gives a sharper picture.
Close other apps before you call. Having many apps open at once can slow your phone down. Before a video call, press your phone's square or recent-apps button and swipe away apps you are not using.
Speak clearly and at a normal pace. If the connection is slow, the sound may lag slightly. Speak at a steady pace and pause between sentences to make it easier to follow.
What to Do If Your Call Drops
If your call suddenly disconnects, do not worry — this happens to everyone. Here is what to do.
Check your WiFi connection. Open your phone Settings and look at the WiFi symbol. If it has an exclamation mark or says "No internet", your WiFi is the problem. Try moving closer to your router, or turn WiFi off and back on.
Call them back. Simply repeat the steps above to start a new call. The other person will see that you called and will usually call back too.
Restart WhatsApp. Close the app completely and open it again. This often fixes connection issues.
Restart your phone. If calls keep dropping, turn your phone off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears up many problems.
Try a voice call instead. A regular WhatsApp voice call uses less data than video. If video keeps failing, tap the phone icon instead of the camera icon to make a voice call only.
If calls drop frequently, your WiFi signal may be weak throughout your home. See our WiFi troubleshooting guide for ways to improve it.
How Much Data Does a WhatsApp Video Call Use?
This is a question many people ask, especially if they have a limited mobile data plan.
A WhatsApp video call uses roughly 5 to 8 MB of data per minute. So a 10-minute call uses about 50 to 80 MB of data.
To put that in perspective: if your monthly mobile data plan is 1 GB (1,000 MB), one 10-minute video call would use about 5–8% of that.
The simplest solution: always use WiFi for video calls. When you are connected to your home WiFi, data usage does not count against your mobile plan. It is completely free.
If you must use mobile data for a call, keep it short or switch to a voice-only call, which uses far less data (about 0.5 MB per minute).
If you are unsure how much mobile data you have, contact your phone provider and they will tell you your plan details.
Other Ways to Video Call Your Family
WhatsApp is excellent, but it is not the only option. If someone in your family does not have WhatsApp, here are alternatives:
- FaceTime — Works between iPhones and iPads. Free and easy to use.
- Zoom — Great for group calls and works on any device.
- Google Meet — Free and built into many Android phones.
Read our full guide on the best video calling apps for seniors to compare all your options.
You might also want to read our guide on how to send photos on WhatsApp, which shows you how to share pictures during or after a call.
Common Problems and Solutions
"My camera shows a black screen"
Go to your phone Settings, find WhatsApp, and make sure Camera permission is turned on.
"They cannot hear me"
Check that your phone is not on mute. Also check that WhatsApp has Microphone permission in your phone Settings.
"The video is blurry or keeps freezing"
This usually means your WiFi connection is weak. Try moving closer to your WiFi router.
"I accidentally started a voice call instead"
No problem — during a voice call, tap the video camera icon on the screen to switch to video.
"WhatsApp cannot access my camera or microphone"
On iPhone: go to Settings > Privacy > Camera and make sure WhatsApp is allowed. Do the same for Microphone.
On Android: go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Permissions and turn on Camera and Microphone.
"The other person's face is very small"
Try turning your phone sideways (landscape mode). This often makes the other person's face fill the screen better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WhatsApp video calling free?
Yes, completely free. WhatsApp uses your internet connection, not your phone minutes. If you are on WiFi, it costs nothing at all. Even on mobile data, you are only using data — not paying per minute like an old-fashioned phone call.
Can I video call someone in another country?
Yes. WhatsApp video calls work worldwide, as long as both people have WhatsApp and an internet connection. There is no extra charge for international calls — it works exactly the same as calling someone next door.
How many people can I video call at once?
WhatsApp allows group video calls with up to 8 people. To start a group call, open a group chat and tap the video camera icon. Everyone in the group will be invited to join.
Do I need to create an account to use WhatsApp?
Yes, you need a WhatsApp account. Setting it up is free and only takes a few minutes — you just need your phone number. Once it is set up, you do not need to log in each time. See our complete WhatsApp guide for seniors for setup help.
What if the person I want to call does not have WhatsApp?
You cannot WhatsApp-call someone without the app. Ask them to download it (it is free) or use a different app like FaceTime or Zoom. See our best video calling apps for seniors guide for more options.
Related guides you might find helpful:
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