How to Enable/Activate Voice Calling on WhatsApp For Android

The voice calling feature is there in the latest build of WhatsApp which you can download from its official website. As this feature is still in beta testing mode, not everyone would get this with their Android devices just by downloading and installing the latest version of WhatsApp. If you don’t know how to enable it, follow this tutorial.

Minimum Requirements

The minimum requirements to get this feature on your Android device is as follows:

• Android OS version – 2.1 or above
• Tablet devices are not supported
• An internet connection

Once you meet the above criteria, you can start getting this feature at your device. The first thing you need to do is updating your app to its latest version.

One can download the latest version of WhatsApp by clicking on this link.

Once downloaded, tap on the file to install it on your Android phone. After the successful installation, WhatsApp calling feature should be automatically activated on your device.

Now, you need to find one of your friends who are already using this feature and ask him/her to call you at WhatsApp. Once your friend calls, the WhatsApp voice calling will automatically included into your app screen with the grant of inviting other friends at your contact list for the same feature.

But as I told earlier that this feature is still in beta mode, you might not get this activated at your Android device even after you followed the above steps. In that case, you can follow an alternative trick to activate the WhatsApp Voice Calls, but you need to have a rooted Android device.

So, if you’re ready to root your device, follow the tutorial below.

How to Enable Voice Calling on WhatsApp For Android [Root Required]

As of now, the trick has some barriers. Just like this – it can only be executed on rooted Android device. Other mobile users cannot use it now. They may have to wait until it is launched globally.

To enable WhatsApp voice calling, you need two things. First, obviously WhatsApp. Just make sure it is the latest version.

Secondly, ES File Explorer File Manager which is an all-in-one file explorer for Android.

If you have already installed this application, go ahead. Open up ES File Explorer File Manager and enable “Root Explorer”. To do so, just swipe from left to right, expand “Tools”, scroll down and tap on Root Explorer’s ON/OFF button.

Now, navigate to the following path.

Device >> data >> data >> com.whatsapp >> shared_prefs

On this screen, you can find some .xml files. Open com.whatsapp_preferences.xml file using the ES File Explorer File Manager app.

Tap on the menu button and select Edit.

Go to the bottom and you can find the </map> tag in the last line. Just add the following lines before the </map> tag.

<boolean name="call" value="true"/>
<string name="call_allowed">all</string>

Now, save your changes. To save, you can tap on back button and the save window will appear automatically. After that, open your stock Settings app, open Apps section and tap on “FORCE STOP” button to stop WhatsApp.

Then, open WhatsApp again. If everything is successfully done, you will get the new tab on your screen along with Chats and Contacts.

To call someone, just tap on the NEW CALL button that is positioned at the top navigation menu bar and select contact.

That’s it! You’ve successfully enabled WhatsApp free Voice Calling feature.

News Update for Activating WhatsApp Voice Calling Feature

There is a buzz in Reddit regarding the new calling feature of WhatsApp with some screenshots. Reportedly, this new voice calling feature allows the WhatsApp users make voice calls to their online buddies for free of cost (corresponding data transfer charges are only applied according to the data plan) by simply tapping the “Call” icon to start voice chatting with their WhatsApp friends.

The above screenshot was posted by a Reddit user, Kunal Bhoir. He said that the feature is like an invite thing where any person does not having the “voice call” feature should get a call from a person who is already using this calling feature. He also posted that it only seems to work for users running KitKat 4.4.4 on Samsung Grand Prime.