Signal makes it easier to start group video calls

Signal users may be familiar with the problem of creating group chats just for a group call, but that will soon be a thing of the past. You can now share a call link and have up to 50 people join in just a few seconds. Gone are the days when you had to select contacts individually.

Now all you have to do is create a call link after going to the “Calls” tab and send it to the person you want. The link is also reusable, which is handy if you have set call times. Participants can raise their hands and send emojis. Hosts can set up the room to require people to be approved before they can join the conversation.

Based on , the new group calling experience closely resembles Zoom. Those who are interested and still want a conference call-like experience might find the new update helpful. Like Zoom, the desktop app offers more options.

In addition to Zoom, these features will be familiar to frequent users of Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and some WhatsApp users. On all three platforms, raising your hands is a non-verbal way to signal to the speaker. has a smaller number of participants of 32 people after a . While there is no hand raise feature, certain gestures can send emojis for everyone to see. It's worth noting that many apps with group calling functionality perform similar functions.

These new features are available for Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. If you don't see them yet, we recommend updating your Signal app.