How to Mute Calls on WhatsApp: Android, iPhone and Web

Overview: "Muting calls on WhatsApp" means two different things depending on what is happening. If you are already on a call and want the other person to stop hearing you, you mute your microphone using the button on the active call screen. If you want incoming WhatsApp calls to stop ringing your phone, you change notification or privacy settings. This guide covers both scenarios separately for Android, iPhone, and WhatsApp Web, plus how to stop unknown callers from ringing, how to mute group call alerts, what you can and cannot do in a group call, and when to block instead of mute.

For businesses managing WhatsApp outbound campaigns alongside call settings, a WhatsApp bulk message sender free tool handles bulk sends separately. This guide covers the call and notification controls available in WhatsApp.

The steps you need depend entirely on which scenario applies to you. This table maps the four most common situations to the correct setting.

Muting your microphone during an active call is the same whether it is a voice or video call, but the button placement differs slightly on the call screen.

• Answer or start the WhatsApp voice call.
• On the call screen, look for the microphone icon, it appears in the row of call controls at the bottom or centre of the screen.
• Tap the microphone icon once. It turns red or shows a strikethrough (the exact visual depends on your WhatsApp version and Android device).
• Your microphone is now muted. The other person can no longer hear you, but you can still hear them.
• Tap the microphone icon again to unmute. The icon returns to its active state.

A video call on Android has two separate controls: one for audio (microphone) and one for video (camera). Muting your microphone during a video call silences your audio while your camera continues sending video, unless you also toggle the camera off.

• Start or answer the WhatsApp video call.
• On the video call screen, look for the microphone icon (audio) and the camera icon (video), both appear in the row of controls at the bottom.
• Tap the microphone icon to mute your audio. Your video continues but the other person can no longer hear you.
• To also stop sending your video: tap the camera icon to turn it off. Your screen goes dark or shows your initials to the other person.
• Tap either icon again to re-enable audio or video.

On iPhone, the call screen layout is similar to Android. The microphone mute button appears in the row of call controls.

• Answer or start the WhatsApp voice call.
• On the active call screen, tap the microphone icon. It changes appearance (dims, turns red, or shows a slash) to indicate mute is active.
• The other person can no longer hear you. You can still hear them fully.
• Tap the icon again to unmute.

The video call interface on iPhone has the same two separate controls as Android: microphone and camera.

• Start or answer the WhatsApp video call on iPhone.
• On the video call screen, tap the microphone icon to mute your audio. Your video stream continues.
• Tap the camera icon to turn off your video separately.
• The other person sees a muted indicator for audio and a dark screen or your initials when video is off.
• Tap either icon again to re-enable.

On newer iPhone models with Face ID, the call screen may arrange the icons slightly differently from older models, but the microphone and camera icons are always present and clearly labeled in the WhatsApp call interface.

WhatsApp Desktop (Windows and Mac) supports voice and video calls. WhatsApp Web also supports calls as of 2026 for most users. The desktop call interface includes the same microphone mute button.

• Start or answer a call in WhatsApp Desktop or WhatsApp Web.
• The call window opens. Look for the microphone icon in the bottom row of call controls.
• Click the microphone icon to mute your audio.
• Click it again to unmute.
• For video calls, a separate camera icon controls video independently from the microphone.

On WhatsApp Desktop, you can also mute incoming call notification sounds by going to WhatsApp Settings > Notifications and toggling off the notification sounds under Calls.

Also Read: 12 Benefits of WhatsApp Marketing in 2026: Why It Works

If you want WhatsApp calls to stop ringing your phone, during work hours, at night, or permanently for certain contacts, the settings are in two places: inside WhatsApp and in your Android system.

Method 1 - Change the WhatsApp call ringtone to silent:

• Open WhatsApp > tap the three-dot menu > Settings.
• Tap Notifications.
• Scroll to the Calls section.
• Tap Ringtone.
• Select None or Silent from the ringtone options.
• Incoming WhatsApp calls will still arrive (and appear in your Calls log) but will not ring audibly.

Method 2 - Disable call vibration:

• In WhatsApp > Settings > Notifications > Calls, tap Vibrate.
• Select Off. WhatsApp calls will not vibrate your phone.

Method 3 - Android Do Not Disturb / Modes: 

• Open your Android Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb. 

• Configure it to silence all calls or allow only specific contacts. 

You can schedule DND for specific hours or activate it manually. This silences all calls (including WhatsApp) rather than WhatsApp specifically.

For hiding the caller name and other identifying details from WhatsApp notifications on iPhone (and similar controls on Android), how to hide name on WhatsApp notification iPhone covers the full notification privacy setup beyond just call sounds.

Also Read: How to Enable Voice Typing in WhatsApp: Android and iPhone

Method 1 - Disable WhatsApp call sounds from iOS Settings:

• Open iPhone Settings > Notifications.
• Scroll to and tap WhatsApp.
• Under Alerts, toggle off Sounds. WhatsApp notifications and calls will arrive silently - visible on screen but without audio.
• To also remove visual call alerts: toggle off Allow Notifications entirely (WhatsApp calls still show in the Calls log inside WhatsApp).

Method 2 - Focus / Do Not Disturb:

• Open iPhone Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb.
• Tap Customize Focus. Under Allowed Notifications, configure which people and apps can interrupt.
• To silence all WhatsApp calls: exclude WhatsApp from allowed apps.
• Schedule DND or activate it manually from Control Centre.

Method 3 - Silence Unknown Callers (iOS): iPhone has a native "Silence Unknown Callers" setting at Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. This silences all calls from numbers not in your contacts, not just WhatsApp.

If a specific group keeps triggering call alerts - especially group video call pings - you can mute call notifications for that group independently from its message notifications.

• Open WhatsApp and go to the group chat.
• Tap the group name at the top to open Group Info.
• Tap Notifications (or Custom Notifications on some versions).
• Find the Mute option or the Calls section within group notifications.
• Select a duration: 8 hours, 1 week, or Always.

This only mutes call notifications for this specific group. Messages from the group are unaffected unless you also mute messages. You can reverse this at any time by returning to Group Info > Notifications and disabling the mute.

Also Read: How to See Archive Chat in WhatsApp: Android, iPhone and Web

WhatsApp's Silence Unknown Callers feature stops calls from numbers not in your contacts from ringing your phone. The calls still arrive and appear in your Calls log, so you can see who tried to reach you and call back if relevant.

• Open WhatsApp > Settings.
• Tap Privacy.
• Tap Calls.
• Toggle on Silence Unknown Callers.

For businesses and individuals wanting stronger call and account-level privacy beyond the Silence Unknown Callers feature, securing your WhatsApp business chats covers the full set of WhatsApp privacy controls including two-step verification, last seen settings, and call privacy configuration.

If a participant's background noise is disruptive, the only options are:

• Ask them directly (in the call or via message) to mute their microphone.
• Lower your own device volume to reduce the impact of their audio on your listening experience.
• If the person is also disruptive in the group chat: group admins can remove a participant from the group, which would also end their access to group calls.

Also Read: WhatsApp Business for Restaurants: Complete Guide (2026)

Muting (or silencing) and blocking are frequently confused. They serve very different purposes.

Use silencing when you want control over interruptions without affecting the relationship or contact. Use blocking when you want to completely prevent all contact from a specific person.

Microphone mute button not visible during a call: The call may be running in the background (minimized). Bring the call back to the foreground by tapping the green call bar at the top of the screen (iPhone) or the WhatsApp call notification (Android). The microphone icon is only visible on the active call screen.

Ringtone still rings after setting it to None: Two possible causes: (1) Your Android or iPhone's system-level Do Not Disturb or Silent mode may be overriding the app setting, check that WhatsApp calls are not in an "always allow" exception list. (2) WhatsApp may need a restart after changing ringtone settings. Close WhatsApp fully and reopen.

Silence Unknown Callers is on but a known number is still being silenced: The number may not be saved in your phone contacts. Silence Unknown Callers checks your phone's contact book, not your WhatsApp contact list. If someone is in your WhatsApp but not saved in your phone contacts, their calls may be silenced. Save the number in your phone contacts to restore normal ringing.

Group call notifications still ringing despite muting the group: Check whether you muted the group's messages but not its calls specifically. In WhatsApp, group message mute and group call mute are separate settings. Return to Group Info > Notifications and confirm calls are also muted.

Muting on WhatsApp covers two distinct actions: silencing your microphone during an active call (tap the mic icon on the call screen) and stopping incoming call ringtones (WhatsApp notification settings or your phone's Do Not Disturb). Both are straightforward once you know which one you need.

For unknown callers specifically, enable Silence Unknown Callers in WhatsApp Settings > Privacy > Calls. For persistent group call alerts, mute call notifications within Group Info > Notifications. And if a specific contact needs to be fully stopped rather than just silenced, blocking is the more effective option.

For businesses managing WhatsApp outbound campaigns alongside these privacy settings, Roklo is a free bulk message sender that handles how to send bulk WhatsApp messages from a browser, no API required, no saved contacts needed.

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