Direct message calls

Call anyone straight from a conversation or their profile.

Start a call from a conversation

Desktop

1. Open a direct message conversation.
2. Select the Call icon in the conversation header.
3. The call starts. The other person receives an incoming call notification.

Mobile

1. Open a direct message conversation.
2. Tap the Call icon in the header.
3. A confirmation sheet appears, showing who is in the conversation.
4. Tap Start call. The other person receives an incoming call notification.

The sheet is headed Start voice call? when nobody is in the call yet. If someone is already on the call it reads Join voice call? and the button says Join call instead, along with how many people are in there.

For group conversations, all members receive a notification and can join the call.

tip

When a direct message is pinned as a tab, a call in that conversation sits side by side with the messages, so you can talk and keep chatting at once. The same side by side layout appears when you pop the call out into its own window.

Join a call that is already happening

Desktop

Open the conversation and select the call option in the header to join.

Mobile

If a call is already running in a conversation, the phone icon in the header is replaced by a Join call button. If you are already in that call, it reads View call instead and takes you back to it.

Conversations with a call in progress are also grouped under an Active calls heading at the top of your Messages list, each with its own Join call button.

tip

In a call on your computer and want to carry on from your phone? Open Root on your phone and tap Join on mobile. See Move a call to your phone.

Start a call from a user's profile

You can call any community member directly from their profile, even if you don't have an existing conversation with them. A direct message conversation is created automatically when you start the call.

Desktop

1. Select a user's name or profile picture in the member list or in a message to open their profile.
2. In their profile, select the Call icon .
3. The call starts. The other person receives an incoming call notification.

Mobile

1. Tap a user's name or profile picture to open their profile.
2. Tap the call icon . It sits in a row of icons with the message and add friend icons, and has no text label.
3. Confirm on the Start voice call? sheet by tapping Start call.

The call does not begin the moment you tap the icon. You get the same confirmation sheet as anywhere else.

note

If the other user's privacy settings prevent direct messages, you'll see an "Action not allowed" message and the call won't connect.

Answer an incoming call

When someone calls you, an incoming call window appears.

Desktop

1. When you see the incoming call window, select the accept icon to join the call, or the decline icon to decline it.
2. You're now connected to the call.

Mobile

1. When you receive a call notification, tap the accept icon to answer, or the decline icon to decline the call.
2. On Join voice call?, tap Join call. If you're already in another call, you'll see Switch voice call? instead.
3. You're now connected to the call.

You can also decline the call by not responding. The incoming call window eventually closes.

note

On mobile, if you are already in a call and accept an incoming call, a confirmation sheet appears asking you to confirm the switch. Tap Switch call to disconnect from the current call and answer the incoming one.

End a call

Desktop

Select the Disconnect icon to leave the call.

Mobile

Tap the Leave icon to leave the call.

If you're the only person remaining in the call, the call ends automatically.