With a significant boost to its video calling capabilities, WhatsApp has revealed that users can now watch videos together while on the phone. This enhances the screen-sharing function that was unveiled in August of last year.

The maximum number of participants in a video call on WhatsApp has been raised to 32 on all devices.

Before this, the maximum number of participants for Windows and macOS users was eight, while the limit for mobile users was thirty-two.

This puts WhatsApp in line with Apple FaceTime, which can accommodate up to 32 users.

The speaker spotlight, a noteworthy new feature, makes sure the person speaking in a video conversation is visible on the screen by automatically highlighting them.

The parent company of WhatsApp, Meta, has also released the Meta Low Bitrate (MLow) codec to enhance call dependability, particularly on older devices or in low-network conditions.

With 10% less computing complexity than Opus, the previous codec, MLow claims twice the audio quality.

To improve calling experiences across Meta platforms, this codec which is already in use on Instagram and Messenger calls is also being rolled out on WhatsApp.

According to WhatsApp, all qualified users will have access to these updates throughout the upcoming weeks.

Transfer of chats between devices

It has been rumoured that WhatsApp is developing a new feature that would make it easier to move chat history between devices without depending on Google Drive backups.

Scan a QR code in the app settings to transfer chat history. This functionality was found in the most recent WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.13.6 release.

This development indicates that WhatsApp is still working to make platform migrations easier.

With the release of this capability, users will no longer have to manually back up their data to Google Drive or utilize physical cables to move their chat history between iOS and Android devices.

Although precise information regarding the execution of this feature for universal transfer is still lacking, it seems to provide a smoother and user-friendly experience for consumers, irrespective of the operating system on their device.

With restrictions for earlier Android versions, WhatsApp currently allows users to migrate their chat histories between iOS and Android devices through a different part of the app.

The new feature, which makes the migration procedure universally compatible across several systems, promises to improve this capability.

WhatsApp's dedication to enhancing user experience and streamlining data transfer procedures is evident from the feature's inclusion in the beta version, even if the feature's precise release date and capabilities are yet unknown.