WhatsApp Video Calling Feature Removed in Latest Android Beta Update

Advertisement
By Ketan Pratap | Updated: 16 May 2016 18:13 IST
Highlights
  • Latest beta release of WhatsApp for Android removes Video Call function.
  • The new update bumps the version to 2.16.81.
  • We can expect broader rollout of video calls on WhatsApp soon.
WhatsApp doesn't seem quite ready to roll out its video calling feature yet. The company has pulled the feature from its latest beta app version. WhatsApp Video Calling was spotted last week in v2.16.80 of the Android app available via the Google Play beta testing program. The 'Video Call' feature wasn't functional though it was accessible via the call button within a conversation and appeared alongside the choice of audio call.

Now, WhatsApp v2.16.81 for Android has now rolled out via the Google Play beta testing program removes the feature, and the video call option is no longer visible via call button. Users can sideload the updated app via the APK Mirror. We wonder what this means to the timeline and the manner of the video calling feature rollout. To refresh, the messaging service rolled out voice calling in a phased manner and was initially available to select users via an invite-based system. On tapping the call button while using the v2.16.80 of the WhatsApp beta for Android, users were greeted with a message saying "Couldn't place call. Video Calling is unavailable at this time."

WhatsApp has been lately working on adding various features to its messaging service. It is expected to add call back, voicemail, and zip file sharing features apart from the video calls support to the service soon.

Recently, WhatsApp launched desktop apps for Windows and Mac. With the launch of desktop app, WhatsApp made its messaging service available across all popular platforms in app form. The WhatsApp desktop app, just like the Web client, requires users to scan a QR code using the WhatsApp app on the smartphone. On the smartphone, users will have to look for WhatsApp Web menu under Settings.

Advertisement

Earlier this year, the messaging service WhatsApp announced that it now had 1 billion monthly active users.

 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: Apps, Facebook, Social, WhatsApp
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. How to Reset Your Instagram Reels Algorithm
  2. iQOO 15R Battery Capacity, Thickness Announced by Company
  3. Nothing Phone 4a Series Tipped to Launch Globally on This Date
  4. Motorola Razr 70 Could Launch Soon as Foldable Phone Visits TDRA Database
  5. Infinix Note 60, Note 60 Pro, Note 60 Ultra May Be Sold in These Variants
  6. Oakley Meta Glasses Now Available in India for Athletes
  7. OpenAI Introduces Codex App With Agentic Coding for macOS
  8. Psych Siddhartha OTT Release Date: When and Where to Watch it Online?
  9. Nintendo Switch Is Now Nintendo's Best-Selling Console Ever
  1. Scientists Track Rapidly Growing Sunspot Behind Intense Solar Storms Toward Earth
  2. Motorola Razr 70 Global Launch Seems Imminent as Foldable Phone Visits UAE’s TDRA Certification Database
  3. Crypto Wrench Attacks Surged in 2025, Total Recorded Losses Hit $41 Million: Report
  4. Philips TAA1009 In-Ear, SHP9500 Headphones Launched in India Alongside New Soundbar, Speaker Models
  5. Supreme Court Questions WhatsApp Policy of Sharing User Data With Meta Entities
  6. Nintendo Switch Becomes Best-Selling Nintendo Console Ever; Switch 2 Sales Cross 17 Million Units
  7. NASA’s Perseverance Makes History on Mars with Claude AI at the Helm
  8. Redmi K90 Ultra Tipped to Launch With Dimensity 9500 Chip, Active Cooling Fan
  9. Mozilla Firefox Will Let You Decide How Much AI You Want in Your Browser
  10. Oppo Find X10 Pro Will Launch With Two 200-Megapixel Rear Cameras, Tipster Claims
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.