Google Messages to Enable WhatsApp Video Calls

Google Messages is reportedly working on a new feature that would allow WhatsApp video calls; the feature was found in the app’s code and is not yet functional, but it reportedly activates when the caller’s device is not running Google Meet.

Users of the tech giant’s first-party app in Mountain View are reportedly able to make video calls more easily because of this functionality. According to a separate report, the app recently combined the gallery picker with the camera viewfinder when the camera option was opened.

A report from the Android Authority suggests that Google Messages may soon incorporate WhatsApp’s video calling functionality. The functionality was discovered by the publication in Google Messages version 20250131.

The code had a flag for the feature, which was turned on. As a result, consumers cannot try it out at this time.

According to screenshots the website posted, when users select the video call icon in Google Messages, a prompt advising them to use WhatsApp to make video calls appears. But following the reports, the feature only appears if the caller does not have Google Meet installed.

Interestingly, at the moment, users can only use Meet to make video calls; if they don’t have it loaded, the app asks them to do so before attempting again.

With this new functionality, WhatsApp does not direct users to the chat app when they make a video call. Rather, it is said to activate the full-screen video conference interface immediately.

If Google Messenger is the user’s main messaging program, this functionality could save them multiple clicks.

Though based on the article, the capability is limited to individual talks. The app can only use Meet to start video calls in group discussions.

Furthermore, it has been noted that Google Messages does not trigger the WhatsApp video call pop-up if the recipient does not have WhatsApp installed.

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