# Turning On WhatsApp Calling

> Turn WhatsApp Calling on or off for a connected number, what changes when you do, who can do it, and what to do if the switch won't change.

Source: https://docs.theavoxai.com/connections/calling

Each connection has its own **Calling** switch. Turning it on enables the WhatsApp Business Calling
API for that number with Meta, so customers can call your business over WhatsApp, and it unlocks the
[Calls](https://docs.theavoxai.com/calls) page in your dashboard. For how calling works on WhatsApp's side, see
[Calling on WhatsApp](https://docs.theavoxai.com/whatsapp/calling).

## Who can turn Calling on

| Action | Admin | Manager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Turn Calling on or off | Yes | No |
| See whether Calling is on | Yes | Yes |
| Use the Calls page once it's on | Yes | Yes |

The Owner is the Switchboard's first Admin, so the Owner can change it too. The Manager column shows
the defaults: an Admin can give a Manager the **Manage connections** permission, which includes the
Calling switch. Without it, the switch is greyed out. See
[Permissions](https://docs.theavoxai.com/switchboard/members#permissions).

## Before you start

The connection must be **Connected**. The switch is shown on **Connected** and **Paused**
connections, and it's turned off for editing while the connection is paused - resume it first.

## Turn Calling on

**1. Find the switch**

On [Connections](https://docs.theavoxai.com/connections), find the **Calling** row on the connection's card. It's also on the
connection's own page (click **Settings**), in its own **Calling** section.

**2. Flip it on**

Avox asks Meta to enable calling for this number. The switch stays on only once Meta confirms. The
[Avox Avatar](https://docs.theavoxai.com/avox-avatar) says "Calling's on."

**3. Open Calls**

Open [Calls](https://docs.theavoxai.com/calls) in the sidebar. The page now shows the call log and the **Request calling
permission** card.

> **Note**
>
> The [Calls](https://docs.theavoxai.com/calls) page follows your Switchboard's most recently connected number. When you have
> several connections, turn Calling on for that one to open the page.

## What changes when Calling is on

- **Customers can call your number** from WhatsApp. Each call's events - such as connect and
  terminate - are logged on [Calls](https://docs.theavoxai.com/calls) and in the **Recent calls** list on [Health](https://docs.theavoxai.com/health).
- **New callers become contacts.** A number that calls you for the first time is added to
  [Contacts](https://docs.theavoxai.com/contacts).
- **You can ask customers for permission to call them**, with **Request calling permission** on
  [Calls](https://docs.theavoxai.com/calls). WhatsApp requires that permission before a business calls a customer.
- **Call events appear in Logs** under the event type `calls`. See [Logs](https://docs.theavoxai.com/logs).

## Ways to ask a customer for permission

WhatsApp needs the customer's permission before your business calls them. Once Calling is on, you can
ask in several places:

- [Calls page](https://docs.theavoxai.com/calls#request-calling-permission): The **Request calling permission** card: pick a contact and click **Send request**.

- [Inbox](https://docs.theavoxai.com/inbox#request-a-call): **Request a call** in the chat header of an open conversation.

- [Automations](https://docs.theavoxai.com/automation/actions#request-a-call): The **Request a call** action asks automatically when an automation fires.

- [Calling permission template](https://docs.theavoxai.com/templates/create#calling-permission-request): A Utility template that asks for permission, for customers outside the 24-hour window.

A permission request sent as a normal message follows the
[24-hour reply window](https://docs.theavoxai.com/whatsapp/messaging-window). Custom message templates can also carry a **Call on
WhatsApp** button - see [Buttons](https://docs.theavoxai.com/templates/create#buttons).

## Turn Calling off

Flip the same switch off. Avox asks Meta to disable calling for the number, and the avatar says
"Calling's off."

With Calling off, the [Calls](https://docs.theavoxai.com/calls) page shows "Calling isn't enabled on this connection yet - turn
it on in Connections to start seeing call history here." with an **Enable calling in Connections**
button that opens the connection's page. Calls already logged stay in your history and show again when
you turn Calling back on. Permission requests return "Enable calling on this connection first."

## If the switch won't change

When the change doesn't go through, the switch moves back to where it was and you see "Couldn't update
calling settings" with "The WhatsApp connection attempt didn't go through."
([AVX-3002](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3002)).

| Likely cause | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| The switch is greyed out | You don't have the **Manage connections** permission, or the connection is paused. Ask an Admin, or resume the connection first. |
| The connection is paused or not connected | Resume or reconnect it on [Connections](https://docs.theavoxai.com/connections) first. |
| Meta declined the change for this number | Click **Check health now** on [Health](https://docs.theavoxai.com/health) and check the number in WhatsApp Manager with **Open in Meta**. Meta decides which numbers can use calling. |
| The connection needs to be reconnected | Connect the number again with the [setup wizard](https://docs.theavoxai.com/connections/setup). |

Still stuck? Contact [Support](https://docs.theavoxai.com/support) with the connection's Phone Number ID from the connection
page.