WhatsApp Testing Built-in Noise Cancellation for Voice and Video Calls

For users whose primary mode of communication is via WhatsApp's video and voice calling features, the platform is reportedly rolling out a new feature to make communication more effortless. Following earlier reports, WhatsApp is now testing a noise cancellation feature for voice and video calls and it's already available for a limited number of users on the app's Android beta channel.

Taking WhatsApp Calls from a Noisy Cafe Will Soon Be Easier

Spotted by WABetaInfo in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.14.1, the platform is rolling out a Noise Cancellation feature in the UI. It utilises real-time processing to detect and filter out ambient noise. Unfortunately, the feature is only available to select users even in Beta, but it is expected to expand soon to more devices.

Image Credit: WABetaInfo

By suppressing unwanted background sounds, the tech preserves the speaker's voice. This makes conversations sound much more natural and easier to understand without requiring the user to shout or move to a quiet room. It's worth noting that the feature only filters the background noise on the user's end and helps the other person hear them more clearly.

For users lucky enough to be in the current testing phase, accessing the feature is pretty straightforward. During an active voice or video call, users can open the calling menu to find a new toggle for noise cancellation. Enabling the same is expected to turn on the post-processing, which should help filter out unwanted noise.

WABetaInfo suggests the feature will be enabled by default once the user receives support for it. If users find that the noise cancellation is aggressively clipping their voice or altering the audio, it can be turned off easily during a call. As mentioned earlier, the feature only clears the background noise in the device that has it enabled. So, for a better call experience, both parties will need to enable it.

Noise cancellation in WhatsApp is gradually rolling out in the WhatsApp Beta version 2.26.14.1. It's only available to select Beta users, and a wider rollout is expected in a few weeks. This will be followed by a broader rollout to WhatsApp's stable version in a few months. The platform continues to bring new features, alongside the ones it recently rolled out, like a Dedicated Hub for all Online Contacts.