Many in India use WhatsApp for video calls, so it becomes a major problem when the call shows "Connecting" and drops the call within seconds. In most cases, WhatsApp video call issues are caused by a few settings on your phone or your network. But the good news is that you can sort these issues in a couple of minutes. In this guide, I have listed different fixes for Android phones and iPhones if you are facing WhatsApp video call issues.
What Causes a WhatsApp Video Call Problem?
First of all, a WhatsApp video call needs a stable internet connection. In addition, it needs access to your phone's camera and microphone and the app should be updated. Here are the most common culprits.
- Call stays on "Connecting" or "Reconnecting": The network is weak or the your Wi-Fi router is blocking calls.
- Black screen or the other person can't see you: The camera permission is blocked or another app is using the camera.
- No sound during video call: The microphone permission is turned off or a Bluetooth device is connected.
- Blurry video or frequent freezing: Data saving settings or call relay are reducing the video call quality.
- Incoming calls don't ring: Battery restrictions on your Android phone or notification alert for calls are silenced.
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Switch Between Wi-Fi and Mobile Data
This is the first step you should take if you are facing WhatsApp video call issues. If you are on Wi-Fi, turn it off and then make the call on mobile data. Next, if you are on mobile data, connect to a Wi-Fi network and try again.
Also, turn off any VPN app running on your phone because it can slow down or block the call. If the call works on mobile data but not on Wi-Fi, most likely your router is the problem. So check your Wi-Fi router settings and change the DNS server.
And if mobile data doesn't work despite a good signal, go through our guide on APN settings on Android phones to reset the network configuration.
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Allow Camera and Microphone Access
WhatsApp can't send your video or audio if these two permissions are denied. If you see a blank screen on WhatsApp video calls, try these fixes.
- On Android: Press and hold the WhatsApp icon and open App info > Permissions. Now, tap on Camera and Microphone one by one. Here, choose "Allow only while using the app".
- On iPhone: Open Settings > Apps > WhatsApp and turn on the toggles for both Camera and Microphone.
On Android 12 and later, there are also system toggles that block the camera and microphone for all apps on your phone. On stock Android phones, you will find the setting under Settings > Security and privacy > Privacy > Privacy controls. Here, make sure Camera access and Microphone access are turned on.
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Restart Your Phone and Free Up the Camera
For a successful WhatsApp video call, no other app should be using the camera or microphone. So, if other apps like Google Meet, Instagram or the Camera app is open in the background, close it and restart your phone.
After the reboot process, open the Camera app and switch to the front camera. If the preview screen shows a blank screen there as well, it means the problem is with the camera itself and not with the WhatsApp app.
If WhatsApp still freezes or closes during video calls, force stop the app and clear its cache from the App info page. I have explained the steps in a separate article so follow our guide if the WhatsApp app is not responding on Android.
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Turn Off Battery Saver and Data Saver
Power and data saving modes restrict what apps can do in the background and this can stop calls from connecting or ringing. WhatsApp also suggests turning off the battery saver when video calls don't work.
- On Android: Turn off Battery Saver and Data Saver from the Settings app or the Quick Settings panel. Next, open the App info page of WhatsApp, tap on battery and set it to Unrestricted.
- On iPhone: Turn off Low Power Mode under Settings > Battery. For Low Data Mode, check Settings > Mobile Service > Mobile Data Options.
Finally, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Storage and data. If "Use less data for calls" is enabled, turn it off because it reduces the call quality to save data.
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Disconnect Bluetooth Devices
When earbuds or a speaker is connected, the phone may route the call audio to that device and it may seem as if the call has no sound. WhatsApp says turning off Bluetooth as one of its troubleshooting steps for video calls.
So, turn off Bluetooth from the Quick Settings panel or Control Centre and call again. If other apps are silent as well, follow our guide to fix no sound on iPhone.
Update WhatsApp and Your Phone's Software
An old version of WhatsApp can have bugs that may cause WhatsApp video call issues. So, open the Play Store or App Store, search for WhatsApp and tap on Update.
In addition, your phone's software matters too. WhatsApp now requires Android 6.0 or later and on iPhones, you must be on iOS 15.1 or later.
Not only that, WhatsApp has started blocking phones that run an outdated OS, so go ahead and install any pending system update on your phone.
Turn Off Protect IP Address in Calls
WhatsApp has a privacy setting that relays all your calls through its servers to hide your IP address from the other person. It's a useful privacy feature, but the call quality may drop when it's enabled.
If your video looks blurry or lags even on a strong Wi-Fi connection, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Privacy > Advanced. Here, turn off "Protect IP address in calls". Now, check whether WhatsApp video call improves.
Check Your Wi-Fi Router's Firewall
If you face WhatsApp video call issues only on one Wi-Fi network, that network is most likely blocking the connection. This is pretty common on office, college and hotel networks and you can't do much there apart from switching to mobile data.
For your home Wi-Fi, I would suggest restarting the router first. If that doesn't help, open the router's admin page and look at the firewall settings.
According to WhatsApp, calling needs UDP and TCP ports 3478, 3480 and 3484 to be allowed. If you don't know much about your router, your internet provider can help you with the router settings.
Check If WhatsApp Is Down or Reinstall the App
When video calls fail for many users at the same time, the problem is likely at WhatsApp's end. You can open Downdetector and search for WhatsApp to see whether other users are also facing the same issue. In that case, wait for the service to come back.
To check whether your phone has issues, make the call from another device. You can link WhatsApp to another phone as a companion device and then make the video call.
If the call works on the secondary phone, back up your chats from Settings > Chats > Chat backup on the main phone and reinstall WhatsApp. This will likely fix the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my WhatsApp video call not ringing?
Check if notifications are allowed for WhatsApp and Do Not Disturb is turned off. Also, go to Settings > Privacy > Calls in WhatsApp and turn off "Silence unknown callers" if calls from unsaved numbers don't ring.
Why do I have a WhatsApp video call problem with only one contact?
The issue is most likely on their side. The other person may have a weak network or an old version of WhatsApp. Calls also don't go through if the contact has blocked you.
Why can the other person not hear me clearly on a video call?
Make sure the microphone permission is allowed and that your phone's case is not covering the microphone.
Can I make WhatsApp video calls from a laptop?
Yes. WhatsApp Web now supports voice and video calls in the browser. For this to work, allow camera and microphone access in your browser.
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