# Voice and video calls

One-to-one voice and video calls go device to device. Group calls are free, unmetered, with screen sharing, raised hands and a choice of who to ring.

## One-to-one calls

- Tap Call in a DM. Calls start as voice; turn your camera on from the call controls once connected.
- Audio and video travel directly between the two devices. When a network blocks that, they go through a relay server that passes along encrypted media it cannot read.
- Either side can share their screen. Pressing Share while the other person shares takes it over.
- A dropped connection reconnects by itself (“Reconnecting…”) instead of ending the call.
- The callee's “Ringing…” shows once their device rings, unless they use privacy mode.

## Answering

- Every signed-in device rings. Answering on one stops the others, and the call stays on that device.
- On Android, answering from the lock screen keeps the phone locked; only the call is shown.
- Press a volume key, or Silence, to stop the ringing without declining.
- Decline with a message: pick a quick reply or type one, and it is sent to the DM, encrypted.

## Group calls

- Free and unmetered, on any plan.
- Voice and screen sharing. Group calls have no camera video.
- In the Android and desktop apps, a lobby lets you pick your microphone and see who is in before joining.
- Raise your hand: hands are listed in the order they went up. Send quick reactions too.
- A shared screen always takes the main stage; otherwise switch between grid and speaker view.

## Choose who to ring

When you start a group call, Ring · Everyone › opens a list of members. Untick anyone you do not want to disturb. Everyone can still see the call in the chat and join it; only the people you picked are rung.

On the web, starting a call in a group opens the same choice first. Joining a call that is already running joins straight away.

## Call history

Calls appear in the chat as call events (several in a row fold into one line) and in the Calls tab. Private chat keeps no call history.

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Source: https://chat.ababilx.com/docs/calls
Last updated: 2026-10-19