How To Mute WhatsApp Calls: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to silence the digital chatter? Learning how to mute WhatsApp calls is crucial for maintaining your peace and sanity in our hyper-connected world. This article will provide you with a straightforward guide, followed by a comprehensive FAQ section to cover all your questions about managing WhatsApp call notifications.

Muting WhatsApp Calls: The Definitive Guide

Unfortunately, WhatsApp doesn’t offer a direct, native feature to completely mute all incoming calls. Think of it like trying to block the sun; you can’t completely eliminate it, but you can certainly dim its glare. However, there are several effective workarounds to significantly reduce interruptions from unwanted WhatsApp calls. These methods range from silencing notifications to leveraging Focus Modes (Do Not Disturb) on your device.

Here’s a breakdown of the most effective methods:

1. Silencing Notifications for WhatsApp: This is the most basic, yet often overlooked, approach. You can mute notifications on a per-chat basis or globally for the entire app.

   • Per-Chat Muting: Open the individual or group chat, tap the three dots (menu), and select “Mute notifications.” You can choose to mute for 8 hours, 1 week, or always. This won’t stop calls, but it will silence the associated notification sound.
   • Global App Muting (Android): Go to your phone’s settings, then “Apps” or “Application Manager.” Find WhatsApp, then “Notifications.” Here, you can customize notification settings, including completely disabling sound or vibration for call notifications.
   • Global App Muting (iOS): Open the Settings app, scroll down to WhatsApp, and tap “Notifications.” You can customize sounds, banners, and badges. Turn off “Sounds” to mute call notifications.

2. Utilizing Focus Modes (Do Not Disturb): Both Android and iOS offer powerful Focus Modes that allow you to silence all or specific notifications based on your activity or time of day.

   • Android: Access Digital Wellbeing & parental controls > Focus mode. You can select apps to pause, including WhatsApp. Alternatively, swipe down from the top of your screen to access quick settings, where you’ll likely find a “Do Not Disturb” icon. You can customize this mode in your settings.
   • iOS: Go to Settings > Focus. You can choose from pre-set modes like “Do Not Disturb,” “Work,” “Personal,” or create custom modes. Within each mode, you can specify which contacts and apps are allowed to send you notifications. Ensure WhatsApp is not on the allowed list to effectively mute call notifications.

3. Blocking Specific Contacts: If a particular individual is the source of unwanted calls, the most direct approach is to block them. This will prevent them from calling or messaging you.

   • Open the chat with the contact, tap their name at the top, scroll down, and tap “Block [Contact Name].”

4. Custom Ringtones and Notification Sounds: Assigning a silent or very quiet ringtone specifically for WhatsApp calls can create the illusion of muting them.

   • Android: Go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Notifications. Find the “Incoming calls” notification category and change the sound to “Silent” or a very low volume tone.
   • iOS: iOS doesn’t offer per-app custom ringtones. However, you can adjust the overall system volume to be very low during specific times.

5. Third-Party Apps (Use with Caution): While rare, some third-party apps claim to offer more granular control over WhatsApp notifications. However, exercise extreme caution when using these. They often require access to sensitive data and may violate WhatsApp’s terms of service, potentially leading to account suspension. It’s generally not recommended to rely on these.

6. Airplane Mode (The Nuclear Option): The most absolute method to mute all WhatsApp activity, including calls, is to enable Airplane Mode. This disconnects your device from Wi-Fi and cellular networks, rendering WhatsApp useless until disabled. Obviously, this is a drastic measure that also affects other functionalities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the answers to the 12 most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Can I selectively mute WhatsApp calls from specific contacts but still receive messages?

   Yes, the best approach is to block the specific contacts who are calling you frequently. This prevents both calls and messages from them. For others, you can customize notifications as outlined above.

2. Does muting notifications also mute calls?

   No, muting notifications only silences the audible and visual alerts. The call will still come through; you just won’t be notified of it unless you are actively using WhatsApp.

3. How do I know if someone is calling me on WhatsApp if I have notifications muted?

   If you are actively using WhatsApp, you’ll see the incoming call screen. If your phone is locked or you’re using another app, you won’t receive any visual or audible notification (depending on your muting settings). You will see a missed call notification once you open WhatsApp again.

4. Is there a way to automatically reject all WhatsApp calls during certain hours?

   WhatsApp itself doesn’t have this feature. You can use Focus Modes (Do Not Disturb) on your phone to silence all calls (or selectively allow certain contacts) during specific times.

5. Will the caller know if I have muted their WhatsApp calls?

   No, the caller will not receive any indication that you have muted their calls. It will appear as a normal call on their end. The call will ring for them until it goes to voicemail (if enabled) or is disconnected.

6. Can I mute WhatsApp calls on WhatsApp Web or Desktop?

   Yes, you can mute notifications on WhatsApp Web and Desktop. Click the three dots (menu) and go to Settings > Notifications. You can disable sounds and desktop alerts. However, just like on the mobile app, muting notifications won’t prevent the call from coming through if you are actively using the app.

7. I accidentally blocked someone. How do I unblock them?

   Open WhatsApp, tap the three dots (menu), go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked contacts. Find the contact you want to unblock and tap on their name. A pop-up will appear asking if you want to unblock them.

8. Is it possible to forward WhatsApp calls to another number?

   No, WhatsApp does not offer a native call forwarding feature.

9. How do I disable WhatsApp call notifications on my Apple Watch?

   Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap “Notifications.” Scroll down to the “Mirror iPhone Alerts From” section and toggle off WhatsApp.

10. Are third-party apps safe for muting WhatsApp calls?

    Generally, no. Use extreme caution when using third-party apps that claim to modify WhatsApp functionality. Many of these apps are malicious or violate WhatsApp’s terms of service. Stick to the built-in features of your phone and WhatsApp for the safest experience.

11. How do I know if someone has blocked me on WhatsApp?

    There’s no definitive way to know for sure, but some indicators include: you can no longer see their profile picture, you can’t see their “last seen” status, messages you send to them only show one checkmark (sent), and you can’t call them. However, these indicators can also mean they’ve simply changed their privacy settings.

12. What’s the difference between muting a chat and blocking a contact?

    Muting a chat only silences notifications from that chat. You will still receive messages and calls, but you won’t be alerted to them unless you are actively using WhatsApp. Blocking a contact prevents them from contacting you at all. They cannot send you messages or call you.