How to Enable Low Light on a WhatsApp Video Call

WhatsApp’s low-light setting can brighten your video-call preview when the room is dim, making your face easier for the other person to see. You need an active video call and a phone with a WhatsApp version that offers the option; availability and labels can vary by device and app version.

What You’ll Need

A phone with WhatsApp installed and camera permission enabled.
An active WhatsApp video call. You can enable the effect after the call connects.
A reasonably current version of WhatsApp. If the control is missing, check your app store for an update.

Step-by-Step

Start or answer a video call. Open the chat with the person you want to call and tap the video-camera icon, or answer an incoming video call. The low-light option is generally accessed from the live call screen, not from WhatsApp’s regular chat settings.
Make sure your camera is on. If your video is off, tap the camera button on the call screen to turn it on. The other person may not see the effect until your camera is transmitting video.
Open the call’s video effects or controls. Look around the call screen for an effects, camera, or more-options control. On supported phones, you may also need to swipe down from the top of the screen to open the device’s video-call controls. The exact control and its location depend on the operating system and device.
Turn on Low light. Tap the Low light option or its corresponding toggle if it appears. On some devices, the control is presented as a video effect rather than a WhatsApp-specific setting. Wait a moment for the image to adjust.
Check the result in your preview. Look at the small self-view on the call screen. If the image looks clearer, leave the setting on. If it looks washed out or grainy, turn it off and try adding a nearby light instead.
Keep the call active while you adjust. Avoid closing the call screen unless you know the call will continue in the background on your phone. You can usually reopen the controls and change the effect during the call.
Turn the effect off when it is no longer needed. Open the same control and switch Low light off. The setting may reset when the call ends, or it may remain available for later calls, depending on your phone and software.

If you cannot find Low light in WhatsApp or in the phone’s call controls, your device or current software may not support this particular effect. The setting is not available in the same place on every phone, and the absence of a button does not necessarily mean your camera is malfunctioning.

Common Mistakes

Looking in WhatsApp’s general settings. This is a call-time effect on supported devices, so it may not appear in the app’s usual Settings menus. Start a video call and inspect the live call controls.
Expecting the recipient’s screen to change. Low light adjusts the video sent from your camera; it does not brighten the other person’s room or change how their screen is configured.
Confusing it with the phone screen’s brightness. Raising display brightness makes your screen easier for you to see, but does not necessarily brighten the video your camera sends.
Assuming every phone has the toggle. Support varies by device, operating system, and app version. Updating WhatsApp may help, but it cannot add a device-level feature that your phone does not support.
Using it as a substitute for light. Digital brightening can make a dark picture more visible, but it cannot restore details the camera did not capture. Very dark scenes can still appear noisy or unclear.

Tips

Place a lamp or other soft light in front of you, slightly above eye level, rather than directly behind you. Even a small amount of room light often produces a more natural picture than software brightening alone.
Keep the camera lens clean and avoid covering it with a finger, case edge, or privacy accessory. A smudged lens can make an already dim image look hazy.
Hold the phone steady and frame your face in the preview. Movement is harder to follow in low light, so resting your phone against a stable surface can help.
Try the setting briefly before an important call, if possible. This lets you check whether your device has the control and whether the result looks natural in your room.
If you use a device-level video effect, remember that it may affect other video-call apps too. Review the phone’s controls if another app’s camera image changes unexpectedly.

Troubleshooting

There is no Low light option. First, make sure you are in a video call with the camera on. Look through the call screen controls and, if your phone provides them, its system video-call effects. Update WhatsApp through your device’s official app store, then restart the app and check again. If it is still missing, the feature may not be supported on that device or software combination.

The option appears but does not seem to work. Confirm that your own camera preview is visible and that you have not muted or disabled video. Tap the control again to check whether it is enabled, then wait a few seconds. If the picture remains dark, add a light source and check that the lens is unobstructed.

The picture becomes grainy or unnatural. Turn Low light off and improve the lighting in the room. Software brightening can amplify image noise, especially when the scene is extremely dark. Move closer to a soft light source rather than pointing the camera at a bright window or lamp.

Your video is black or WhatsApp cannot use the camera. Check your phone’s app permissions and allow WhatsApp to access the camera. Close other apps that may be using the camera, then end and restart the call. If the problem continues, restart the phone and check for updates to WhatsApp and the operating system.

The other person still sees a dark image. Ask them to check your video after you enable the effect. Their display may be dim, but the most useful checks are on your end: confirm the effect is on, brighten the room, clean the lens, and make sure your face is not backlit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Low light available on every WhatsApp video call?
No. Its availability depends on the phone and software. Some devices do not offer a low-light video control.

Can I turn it on before the call starts?
Usually, you need to be in a live video call to find the call effects. Start or answer a call, turn on your camera, and then look for the option.

Does Low light brighten the other person’s video?
No. It affects the video from your camera. The other caller needs to adjust their own lighting or supported camera effects.

Will it work on a WhatsApp voice call?
No. It is a video effect, so your camera must be on for it to affect the image you send.

Does enabling it use more battery?
Video calls already use the camera, screen, and network. The effect’s power use depends on the device, so turn it off when you do not need it if battery life is a concern.

What if my phone has no Low light control?
Use a soft light in front of you, clean the camera lens, and position the phone steadily. Also check for WhatsApp and system updates; if the control remains absent, it may not be supported on your device.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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