Telegram Adds Group Video Calls: How It Works & Getting Started

The Telegram app has finally added support for group video calls, and it is already being pushed for users via the stable channel. The update, which began rolling out last week, introduces support for animated backgrounds as well, adding a dash of fun personalization to the messaging app. Users who are currently on v7.8 of the Telegram app can access the two aforementioned features, alongside a host of other notable changes.

Over the past few months, a slew of useful tricks such as recorded chats, live voice chats to take on Clubhouse, and the ability to transfer conversations from WhatsApp have made their way to Telegram. Recently, the communication app also got a payments system overhaul, scheduled voice chats, auto-delete timer for messages, and expiring invites to further help it gain an edge over rival platforms.

Originally announced back in April, group video calling is finally going live on Telegram for all users. However, the process of starting a group video chat is not as easy on Telegram as it is on WhatsApp. In order to begin a group video call, users first need to start a voice call, and once it connects, they are then able to tap on the video icon that appears at the bottom. Tapping on the tile of any attendee opens it up to a larger window for a focused view with the remaining participants appearing in the form of a scrollable row of tiles at the bottom.

Telegram Also Optimizes Group Video Calls

Telegram group video calls currently only support up to 30 participants, but the company has promised to raise the upper limit soon. In addition to sharing the view in front of their camera, Telegram now also allows users to share the on-screen content on their phone, tablet, or desktop. In order to enable screen-sharing during video calls, users are required to tap on the menu button that appears in the top right corner, and then hit the Share screen option in the dialog box.

To make the most out of a tablet’s larger screen real estate, Telegram has accordingly optimized the group video call UI. Instead of only a single pinned tile and a scrollable row at the bottom, tablet and PC users can choose between a split-screen view or an asymmetrical grid view. These tile views are optimized for both portrait and landscape orientations, and accordingly, adjust the tile size depending on the number of attendees in a group video call. This is something users won’t come across on WhatsApp.

For those using Telegram’s desktop client, group video calls will automatically open in a new window, ensuring that users don’t have to minimize their ongoing work. Plus, the screen-sharing experience on desktops has been optimized in such a way that users can choose which program they specifically want to present, instead of sharing the whole screen. For ease of use, any participant sharing their screen will also have their tile automatically pinned in a larger window. These minor, but meaningful changes, should enhance the Telegram experience and are likely to prove beneficial to users.

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