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Enhance your video calls in Messenger
After focusing most of its attention on WhatsApp in 2024 (see next tip), Meta has added several useful features to its other messaging app, Messenger. These mainly focus on making your video calls “easier, more reliable and more fun”.
For starters, all video calls made over Wi-Fi now use HD by default to provide a higher-quality picture. To use HD over a mobile connection too, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of a Messenger call, choose ‘Call settings’ and switch on ‘Mobile data for HD video’ ( 1 in our screenshot below).
To improve the audio quality as well, tap ‘Microphone mode’ 2 and switch on ‘Voice isolation’. This will reduce background noise so the other person can hear you more clearly.
Another useful new option lets you leave voice or video messages when someone doesn’t answer your call. Tap the ‘Record message’ button to capture your audio or video message, then press Send.
Finally, Meta will soon introduce AI backgrounds that let you personalise your Messenger video calls with colourful themes. Once the feature is available, tap the Effects (smiley-face) icon during a call, select Backgrounds and either choose one of the AI images or enter a text prompt to generate your own.