Audio calls on Omadle

Starting a call

Open a one-on-one chat and tap the phone button at the top. You can call someone once they've messaged you in that chat (whether they started the conversation or replied to you), or if you're friends. Until then, the phone button looks faded, and tapping it tells you why. Your browser may ask to use your microphone; allow it, or the call can't start. The other person sees your request in the chat, and you see "Calling…" with a countdown. If they don't answer within 20 seconds, the request expires, and you can cancel it before then.

Answering, or not

An incoming request shows up as a message in your chat with that person and in your notifications, and it rings until you answer or it expires (if your sounds are on). Anywhere else in the app, a small strip at the top shows it too, with Accept, Decline and a Dismiss button that also stops the ring. Nothing blocks what you're doing: you can keep chatting and let the request expire; it then shows as a missed call.

Group calls

In a group chat, tap the phone button at the top to start a call. Everyone in the group sees a message about it, with a short ring, and can join or leave whenever they like while it's on. Nobody can end it for everyone else: it ends when the last person leaves, after one hour like any call, or when one person has been alone in it for five minutes. If you've blocked someone, or they've blocked you, you can't be in the same group call.

During a call

A small bar at the top of the screen holds the call: the call's timer, Call volume, Mute and Hang up. It stays with you on every page, so you can keep using the rest of Omadle while you talk. Tap the name in the bar to see everyone in the call, with a green ring around whoever is speaking and a small microphone badge on anyone who's muted; from there, Open chat (or Open group in a group call) takes you back to the conversation. The Mute button lights up with a green ring while your microphone hears you, and if you start talking while muted, a small "You're muted" note reminds you. On a computer, ⌘D (Mac) or Ctrl+D mutes and unmutes, and ⇧⌘E (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+E hangs up. Closing or reloading the page ends the call (in a group call, it takes you out). You can be in one call at a time, and a call ends automatically after one hour. If you want to keep talking, just call again. You can also turn your camera on or share your screen; our video calls guide explains how.

Calls on your phone

While you're in a call, Omadle tries to keep your screen from turning off by itself. Keep the page open: if you lock your phone or switch to another app, your browser may pause the call until you come back. On Android, it can help to let Chrome run in the background: in your phone's Settings, open Apps, then Chrome, then Battery, and choose Unrestricted (the steps vary a little between phones).

If a call sounds too quiet, tap the volume button beside Mute in that bar and raise Call volume. On Android, also turn it up with your phone's volume buttons; if that doesn't help, press one, expand the panel that appears and raise Media.

Turning call requests off

Every call request offers a Turn off all call requests button, which declines it and stops requests from everyone, for audio and video calls alike. The switch lives in Edit profile as "Allow call requests", and you can flip it back whenever you like. Blocking someone stops their requests and ends any call with them straight away (in a group call, you leave it). Appear offline doesn't stop call requests; turning them off does. Our presence guide explains the difference.

When the connection wobbles

"Reconnecting…" means your connection dropped for a moment, for example while switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data. The call reconnects by itself; if the connection doesn't come back, the call ends and shows "Connection lost". An amber signal icon after the call time means the call is still on, but the audio may break up until the signal improves.

Supported browsers

Calls work in the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on computers, in Chrome and Firefox on Android, and in any browser on iPhone and iPad. Your browser needs permission to use your microphone; if it's blocked, allow it for Omadle in your browser's settings and try again.

Privacy and safety on calls

Only people in the call can hear it: no one outside a one-on-one call can join it, and only the group's members can join a group call. You can hang up at any moment, and if someone crosses a line, report them from the call's message in your chat, or block them to end the call at once (in a group call, you leave it). The same safety habits apply as in text chat: a stranger asking for your phone number is still a reason to slow down.