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 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
- Click above the chat list.
- In the Calls section, click Camera, Microphone, or Sound.
- Select a device.
- 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.
- Open the device settings.
- Tap.
- Select Yandex Messenger in the list of apps.
- Tap Permissions.
- Activate the Camera and Microphone options.
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.
- 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.
- Click.
- 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.
- Click.
- 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.
Camera access:
Microphone access:
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.
Make sure that access to the camera and microphone is allowed in your device's OS settings.
- Click.
- 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.
- Click.
- 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.
Camera access:
Microphone access:
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
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
- 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.
No. You only need an active internet connection. Yandex Messenger doesn't use your linked phone number to make calls.
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.
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.