Group calls

You can make audio and video calls in group chats with up to 40 members. During group calls in Yandex Messenger, chat members can use the same features as during Yandex Telemost meetings.

Group calls are available:

In the Yandex Messenger app for PCs running on Windows or macOS.
In the web version of Yandex Messenger on your PC: in Yandex Browser, Google Chrome, Opera, and Mozilla Firefox.
In the Yandex Messenger app for devices running on Android 7.0 and later.
In the Yandex Messenger app for devices running on iOS 14.1 and later.

Choose devices for audio and video

Your audio output device can be the built-in speaker, speakerphone, wireless headset, or headphones. For video calls, you can switch between the rear and front-facing cameras. To learn more, see Manage group calls.

You can use the built-in speaker, speakerphone, a wireless headset, or headphones as an audio device for making calls. For video calls, you can switch between the rear and front-facing cameras. To learn more, see Manage group calls.

In the app settings, select your camera, microphone, and audio output device for making calls:

Click above the chat list.
In the Calls section, click Camera, Microphone, or Sound.
Select a device.

In the app settings, select the camera, microphone, and audio device for making calls:

Click above the chat list.
In the Calls section, click Camera, Microphone, or Sound.
Select a device.

Allow access to the microphone and camera

The first time you call somebody or accept an incoming call, the app requests access to the microphone (and the camera, if it's a video call). You can allow access right away or later in the app settings.

Allow access in the settings

Note. Mobile device manufacturers can change the Android interface. Below are instructions for Android without modifications.

Open the device settings.
Tap Apps and notifications → App permissions → Show all apps.
Select Yandex Messenger in the list of apps.
Tap Permissions.
Activate the Camera and Microphone options.

Allow access in the settings

Open the device settings.
Select Yandex Messenger in the list of apps.
Activate the Microphone and Camera options.

Make sure that access to the camera and microphone is allowed in your device's OS settings.

Windows 10

Camera access:

Click → → Privacy.
In the menu on the left, select Camera.
Make sure that the Allow apps to access your camera option is turned on in the settings.
Make sure that the Camera option is turned on in the list of apps that can access the camera.

Microphone access:

Click → → Privacy.
In the menu on the left, select Microphone.
Make sure that the Allow apps to access your microphone option is turned on in the settings.
Make sure that the Voice Recorder option is turned on in the list of apps that can access the microphone.

Tip. Also check that the Yandex.Chats app is added to the antivirus exception list.

macOS

Check whether Yandex Messenger (the Yandex.Chats app in the system settings) has:

The first time you try to call somebody or accept an incoming call, the browser requests access to the microphone. You can allow access immediately or later in the app settings.

Select a browser

Make sure that access to the camera and microphone is allowed in your device's OS settings.

Windows 10

Camera access:

Click → → Privacy.
In the menu on the left, select Camera.
Make sure that the Allow apps to access your camera option is turned on in the settings.
Make sure that the Camera option is turned on in the list of apps that can access the camera.

Microphone access:

Click → → Privacy.
In the menu on the left, select Microphone.
Make sure that the Allow apps to access your microphone option is turned on in the settings.
Make sure that the Voice Recorder option is turned on in the list of apps that can access the microphone.

Tip. Check if Yandex Messenger (Yandex.Chats) has been added to the antivirus exception list.

macOS

Check whether the browser in which you're using Yandex Messenger has:

Start a group call

Call group chat members

Open a group chat.
Press the icon in the upper-right corner.

Group chat members will see a notification about a call above the chat list and will be able to join it.

Call members from a list

In the chat list, press .
In the lower-left corner, press .
Choose the people you want to call from the list of members.
Press Call.

The chat members you invited will see a notification above the chat list and will be able to join the call.

Attention. You can't call chat members on devices running on iOS yet.

If a person you invited to the call didn't answer it right away, they can join later. To do this, they need to open the chat with an active group call and press Join at the top of the chat.

During the call, you can communicate in a group chat, share your screen, and record the call.

When the call is finished, the messages sent by the call members, the information about the time and duration of the call, and the recording of the call (if it was on) are saved in the chat history. To learn more about actions available during a group call, see Manage group calls.

Manage group calls


Icon	Action
	The microphone is disabled. Tap to enable it.
	The microphone is enabled. Tap to disable it.
	Video is disabled. Tap to enable it.
	Video is enabled. Tap to disable it.
	View the list of chat members.
	Enable gallery view.
	Enable speaker view.
	Open a group chat.
	End a group call.


Icon	Action
	The microphone is disabled. Tap to enable it.
	The microphone is enabled. Tap to disable it.
	Video is disabled. Tap to enable it.
	Video is enabled. Tap to disable it.
	View the list of chat members.
	Enable gallery view.
	Enable speaker view.
	Open a group chat.
	End a group call.


Icon	Action
	The microphone is disabled. Click to enable it.
	The microphone is enabled. Click to disable it.
	Video is disabled. Click to enable it.
	Video is enabled. Click to disable it.
	View the list of chat members.
	Enable gallery view.
	Enable speaker view.
	Share your screen with the group call members. You can share the window of an open program, a browser tab, or your entire screen.
	You're sharing your screen. Click to end screen sharing.
	You're not recording the group call. Click to start recording.
	You're recording the group call. Click to stop recording. After you end the call, the recording is saved in the group chat history.
	Open a group chat.
	End a group call.


Icon	Action
	The microphone is disabled. Click to enable it.
	The microphone is enabled. Click to disable it.
	Video is disabled. Click to enable it.
	Video is enabled. Click to disable it.
	View the list of chat members.
	Enable gallery view.
	Enable speaker view.
	Share your screen with the group call members. You can share the window of an open program, a browser tab, or your entire screen.
	You're sharing your screen. Click to end screen sharing.
	You're not recording the group call. Click to start recording.
	You're recording the group call. Click to stop recording. After you end the call, the recording is saved in the group chat history.
	Open a group chat.
	End a group call.


Icon	Action
	The microphone is disabled. Click to enable it.
	The microphone is enabled. Click to disable it.
	Video is disabled. Click to enable it.
	Video is enabled. Click to disable it.
	View the list of chat members.
	Enable gallery view.
	Enable speaker view.
	Share your screen with the group call members. You can share the window of an open program, a browser tab, or your entire screen.
	You're sharing your screen. Click to end screen sharing.
	You're not recording the group call. Click to start recording.
	You are recording the group call. Click to stop recording. After you end the call, the recording will be saved in the group chat history.
	Open a group chat.
	End a group call.


Icon	Action
	The microphone is disabled. Click to enable it.
	The microphone is enabled. Click to disable it.
	Video is disabled. Click to enable it.
	Video is enabled. Click to disable it.
	View the list of chat members.
	Enable gallery view.
	Enable speaker view.
	Share your screen with the group call members. You can share the window of an open program, a browser tab, or your entire screen.
	You're sharing your screen. Click to end screen sharing.
	You're not recording the group call. Click to start recording.
	You are recording the group call. Click to stop recording. After you end the call, the recording will be saved in the group chat history.
	Open a group chat.
	End a group call.

“Picture-in-picture” mode

Note. Available in Yandex Messenger app on devices running on Android 8.0 and later and iOS 14.1 and later.

In the “picture-in-picture” mode (PIP), the call window will resize to a mini window floating on top of other apps. You can drag it across the screen to a convenient spot. PIP mode is enabled by default.

To display the call window in PIP mode, tap the chat icon in the upper-left corner.

Share screen

You can share your screen with the group call members in the web version of Yandex Messenger on a computer, in the Yandex Messenger desktop application on Windows and macOS, and in the Yandex Messenger app for mobile devices running on Android 7.0 and later.

Learn more about sharing your screen in Help:

Recording a group call

You can record group calls in the web version of Yandex Messenger and in the Yandex Messenger desktop application on Windows and macOS.

Learn more about recording group calls in Help:

Questions and issues

I can't make or answer a call

Make sure that your smartphone or computer is connected to the internet. For example, try opening the ya.com website. If you're offline, restart the router. If it doesn't help, contact your internet provider.
Log out of Yandex Messenger, and then log in again.
Make sure that access to the camera and microphone is allowed in your device's OS settings.
Try changing the device for audio and video capture.
If you're using Yandex Messenger on a PC running on Windows, make sure that the microphone and camera aren't used by other apps: that makes them inaccessible to Yandex Messenger.

If the problem persists, contact support.

Do I need a SIM card to make calls in Yandex Messenger?

No. You only need an active internet connection. Yandex Messenger doesn't use your linked phone number to make calls.

How much internet traffic does a video call use?

On mobile devices, the average traffic usage during a video call ranges between 300 MB and 1.5 GB. It depends on the connection quality, screen resolution, and other factors. Desktop apps use more traffic. You can ask your provider for details.

The sound is quiet or missing.

Check the sound level during a regular phone call. Adjust the volume. If you can't hear the person you're talking to, ask them to check that their microphone is on and working correctly.

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