WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, allowing users to stay in touch with friends and family easily. One of the great features of WhatsApp is the ability to make video calls, allowing you to not just hear but also see the person you’re talking to.
When you make a WhatsApp video call, you may be wondering if there is a way to tell if the other person has accepted the call and is online. This can be useful to know if you’ve reached out to someone but they haven’t answered yet. Here are some tips on how to know if someone is online and available for a WhatsApp video call.
Check the video call status icon
The easiest way to know if someone is online and available for a WhatsApp video call is to check the status icon that appears when you call them. Here are the different call status icons and what they mean:
| Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Clock icon | Your call is ringing on the recipient’s device waiting for them to answer |
| Red phone icon | Call was not answered or unsuccessful |
| Green phone icon with timer | Call is currently connected |
So if you see the clock icon after making a video call, it means the recipient has not answered yet but your call is going through to their device. Once they answer, this will change to the green phone icon with a timer showing the call duration.
If it changes to the red phone icon, it means they did not answer and your call did not connect.
Check their online/last seen status
You can also check if the person you are trying to call is online by looking at their profile’s online/last seen status. To do this:
- Open your WhatsApp chat with the contact
- Tap on their name/profile picture at the top
- Here you’ll see their About section with their last seen status
If you see “online” under their name, that means they are currently online and more likely available for a video call. If you see “Last seen at [time]” that indicates the last time they were online on WhatsApp. If it was recently, they may still be available for a call.
Send a chat message first
Another option is to send the person a text chat message before attempting a video call. This allows you to confirm if they are online and responding. If they reply to your chat, then you know they are actively online and you can proceed to make your video call.
Even if they don’t reply right away, you’ll be able to see if your message has two check marks indicating it was delivered and read. The check marks under your message can confirm if the recipient is online but just not responding.
Check if they are showing as busy
WhatsApp has a busy status that users can turn on if they don’t want to be disturbed. If you call someone and they have this busy status enabled, you will get a notification saying “Recipient busy.”
Seeing this busy notification likely means they are online but have indicated they don’t want to be available for calls or messages temporarily. You may want to try contacting them again later when they aren’t showing as busy.
Try calling on WhatsApp Web
An additional option is to check WhatsApp Web, the web browser version, to attempt calling the person. Open WhatsApp Web on your computer and look for the person’s chat.
Make a WhatsApp video call to the person through the browser. If the call goes through and rings instead of failing outright, it’s a sign they are online but just not answering your mobile app calls.
You can hang up after just a few rings through WhatsApp Web without fully connecting the call. The goal is just to check if the call goes through indicating they are online.
Look for the missed call notification
Here is one more way to check if your WhatsApp video call is ringing for the recipient. After calling them, quickly switch back to your chat window with them.
If you see a notification for a missed call from you, it confirms your call successfully rang on their device. They did not answer, but were online for it to ring in the first place.
If you don’t even see your missed call notification in the chat, then it’s likely your call failed and did not even reach them.
Use WhatsApp’s call history
WhatsApp saves a history of your recent calls which you can use to check video call status as well. To see your call history:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the Calls tab at the top
- Here you will see your call history with the status of each call
A video call that rang successfully will show the duration as just a few seconds, indicating it rang but wasn’t answered. A failed call may have 0 seconds duration or not show up at all.
Conclusion
Being able to tell if your WhatsApp video call recipient is online and available can prevent wasted calls and frustration. Using the call status icons, online indicators, busy statuses, and call history logs, you can get a good sense of whether your call is reaching the recipient when you attempt it.
Remember that even if they are showing online, the person may still choose not to answer for various reasons. Don’t take an unanswered call as a personal slight – they may simply be busy at the moment. With the confirmation methods above, at least you’ll know your call is getting through to their device when you attempt it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see if someone is on a WhatsApp call?
There is no direct way to see if someone is already on a WhatsApp call. However, if you call them and get a “busy” notification, that likely indicates they are on another call.
Does WhatsApp show when you’re on a video call?
WhatsApp does not have an indicator that shows when you are on a video call. The only way for others to know is if they try to call you while you are already on a video call and get a “busy” notification.
Can you see if someone read your WhatsApp message?
Yes, WhatsApp has read receipts that notify when your message has been delivered and read. You can see two check marks next to sent messages – a single gray check for delivered, and double blue checks for read.
Can someone see if you’re online on WhatsApp?
Others can only see your online/last seen status if you have the “Last Seen” setting enabled under WhatsApp privacy settings. If you disable it, no one can see when you are online or last active on WhatsApp.
Can I make a WhatsApp call without the other person knowing?
No, there is no way to secretly make a WhatsApp call. They will always get a notification of your incoming call so they know you are trying to reach them. The call may not go through if they have you blocked.
Other WhatsApp Video Call Tips
Here are some additional tips for using WhatsApp video calling effectively:
- Check your internet connection speed to ensure smooth video calls
- Use headphones for better audio quality and privacy
- You can mute your mic during a call by tapping the mic icon
- Tap the camera icon to turn your video off and on during the call
- Swipe up from the bottom to open other apps while on a call
- Up to 8 people can join a group video call
WhatsApp video calling is a great free way to stay visually connected with loved ones near and far. By understanding the available status indicators and call features, you can have productive and successful video chats.