Calls & Conferences: General Information

Available Features

• The app allows you to call other users and conduct corporate meetings using instant or planned conferences, group chat conferences. There are integrations with the Calendar SmartApp and MS Outlook.
• You can control the microphone and camera, configure display of participants. In the web and desktop apps, screen sharing is available. Since version 3.62, remote control of the shared screen is available in the desktop app.
• The organizer or administrator can add users to an ongoing call or conference through the participant list or using invitation links, and disable video and microphones of participants. In conferences, administrator can enable the waiting room (lobby).
• Conferences have related chats for exchanging messages and files. If the number of a regular call participants exceeds two, a chat room is automatically created as well.
• To decline incoming calls automatically, in the user status settings, you can configure incoming calls to be rejected.
• Calls and conferences recording, noise supression, video blur & backgrounds, speech-to-text recognition (configuration is performed by the administrator), raising hand feature, and reactions are available.
• Integration with external conference systems and SIP telephony systems is supported (configuration is performed by the administrator).

Comparison of Calls and Conferences

Feature	Personal 1-1 Calls	Group Calls	Conferences
Scheduling	Not available	Not available	Available
Chat room	No, the personal chat is used	Available	Available
Waiting room	Not available	Not available	Available
Incoming call display	Separate window	Separate window	Notification. If the organizer specifically called you — a separate window.
Sound notification	Ringtone	Ringtone	Notification and reminder from the bot. If the organizer specifically called you — a ringtone.
Calendar integration	Not available	Not available	Available, including the MS Outlook add-in
Availability	Everyone	Everyone	Corporate users of Lite , CTS , eCTS

Limitations of Calls and Conferences

eXpress developers are actively working on improving the stability and functionality of calls and increasing the maximum number of participants.

Can Multiple Devices Be Used Simultaneously?

When the Leave call on other devices when current one connects setting of the app (introduced in version 3.43) is disabled, you can use two devices simultaneously for calls or conferences. When enabled, the system will switch from one device to another. You can also be in two different calls simultaneously on separate devices.

What's the Maximum Number of Participants? Why Can't I Start a Call in a Large Chat or in a Channel?

The maximum number of participants in a call or conference is 256 by default. In chats with more than 256 participants, it is not possible to make a group call or join a conference through the chat.

Calls and conferences are unavailable in channels.

I'm a Public User. Why Can't I Create Conferences?

Users with a personal account have limitations: they can call each other but conference creation is unavailable for them, however, they can join existing corporate conferences to which they are invited.

How Many Participants Are Visible on the Screen in Grid Mode?

Grid view displays video streams from all participants simultaneously as tiles on the screen.

Platform	Number of Participants
Android/iOS	4
Web/Desktop	16

Screen Sharing in a Call or Conference

In the web and desktop apps, one of the participants in a call or conference can share their screen or a separate window of an application running on their computer. To start sharing, use the special button on the call screen.

Can I Stream Video Through the App?

You cannot. The screen sharing function is not suitable for dynamic content and is optimized for static materials: tables, documents, presentations.

What Are the Technical Specifications for Screen Sharing?

Maximum frame rate: 15 fps. Maximum resolution: 1920?1080 px. Quality can be reduced in the call settings either by the user in the client app or by the administrator on the server.

Why Is Computer Sound Not Transmitted During Screen Sharing?

This capability hasn't been implemented.

Why Does the Camera Turn Off When I Start Sharing?

This is by design: you cannot show your screen and yourself at the same time. When you start sharing, the camera turns off, and the app shows a notification about it. To return to video, stop sharing. The restriction applies in the web/desktop app starting from version 3.72.

How Do I Remove the Participant Window That Covers Screen Sharing on My Phone?

Drag the window past the edge of the screen and release it: it collapses into a small button at the edge of the screen. To restore the window, tap this button. You can also collapse the window in a call without screen sharing.

When a participant starts screen sharing, the mobile app switches the layout to Speaker and shows the shared screen in the main window. A minimized window remains minimized until the end of the call, including after minimizing the application and changing the layout. On iPhone, the window cannot be collapsed to the edge on the side of the camera cutout.

Remote Desktop Control

Starting with version 3.62, the desktop app allows you to grant another participant remote control of your shared desktop, so they can control it through the web or desktop app. Remote control is not supported outside of calls or conferences. Only one participant can control the shared screen at a time. The clipboard is supported (text only).

For Administrators: Requirements for Remote Desktop Control

CTS

eCTS

• The desktop app version for all call participants must be 3.62 or higher.
• The server software version on
  CTS
  /
  eCTS
  must be 3.55 or higher.
• Remote control must be enabled on
  CTS
  /
  eCTS
  via a special flag in the admin panel under the VoEx section.

How to Grant Control of Your Screen?

1. Start sharing your screen in the desktop app and click the remote control button on the call screen.
2. In the dialog box, grant control to the other participant.
3. The other participant must accept control in the dialog box on their end in the web or desktop app.
4. The other participant now controls your screen. Either you or the other participant can end control using the same button on the call screen.

How to Request Control of Someone Else's Screen?

1. The other participant starts sharing their screen in the desktop app.
2. Request control from the other participant using the remote control button on the call screen in the web or desktop app.
3. Confirm that you want to request control in the dialog box.
4. The other participant must allow you to control their screen in the dialog box on their end.
5. You now control the other participant's screen. Either you or the other participant can end control using the same button on the call screen.

Links for Calls, Conferences and Call Recordings

Who Can Create an Invitation Link and How?

A participant who is an administrator can create an invitation link for group calls and conferences, and for recordings in the call or conference settings or context menu.

What Settings Can Be Configured for a Link?

On the link creation and editing screens, you can set its expiration date, which servers' users it will be available to, and whether a password will be required to open it. A QR code generator is available.

If the link is automatically generated after creating a conference, it is available to everyone, including guests.

For call recording links, you can additionally configure link availability by participant type: administrators only, participants only, or everyone.

Access Option	Description
Trusted corporate servers	Access for users from your or trusted (trusted) corporate servers in your organization ( Lite , CTS , eCTS ).
Any corporate servers	Access for users from any corporate server, including other organizations ( Lite , CTS , eCTS ).
Everyone (including guests)	Access for any users, including personal account holders on RTS and guests ( RTS , Lite , CTS , eCTS ). CTS eCTS By default, guest profiles are created on RTS . If necessary, the corporate server administrator can switch guest profile creation to corporate server. After this, guest profiles will be created there for all new links to chats, calls, and conferences created by users of this corporate server.

How to Manage Previously Created Links?

Open the call or conference settings or context menu > select Access links. Here you'll see a list of all previously created links, where you can change their settings, copy them, or revoke (delete) them. ⚠️ This feature was introduced in version 3.63 of the mobile clients; it will be available in the web/desktop app later.

Can the Link Be Shown to Regular Participants, Not Just Administrators?

Yes. To do this, open Access Links > Edit and make the link visible and copyable for participants.

Why Can’t I Delete the Last Link of a Conference?

The main conference link cannot be deleted; it can only be edited through the conference settings.

Noise Suppression, Echo Cancellation, and Voice Smoothing

Noise suppression helps remove extraneous noise and background sounds so they do not disturb other participants. To enable this feature, start a call or join a conference, open Settings (Call settings), and turn on Noise suppression.

In the same place, during a call or conference, voice smoothing is available: it equalizes the volume of participants — making voices that are too quiet louder and voices that are too loud quieter. It is useful when some participants are noticeably harder to hear than others.

Echo cancellation works without a separate setting and removes feedback — your own voice picked up by your microphone from the speakers. It is designed for a short distance between the speakers and the microphone and does not handle strong echo in a large room: in that case, a headset will help.

Camera Background Blur & Virtual Backgrounds

The background blur and virtual background (since 3.43) feature for the camera image is available in the calls settings.

Why Can't I Use Blur/Background Feature?

The feature is not supported in the web app on Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari browsers. It is also unavailable on computers with less than 4 GB of RAM, processors with fewer than 4 cores, or core frequencies below 2.5 GHz. Additionally, virtual backgrounds are not available to public users on .

For Administrators: Requirements for Virtual Backgrounds

Version	Description
Up to 3.62	The client requires access to the effectssdk.ai resource.
3.62 and later	The effectsdk_session_server microservice is required on CTS, which was introduced with server software version 3.62+.

Why Is the Virtual Background Flipped in the Preview?

If you enable a virtual background with text or an image, it will appear mirrored in the preview window — this is normal; other participants will see it correctly.

How to Get More Backgrounds?

You can upload personal backgrounds in the app's settings. Your company admin can add more backgrounds for everyone on your server — ask your organization's support for help.

Recording Calls and Conferences

To enable recording, open the additional menu (three dots) during a call or conference.

Why Is the Recording Unavailable?

Enabling recording is available only to the conference administrator or any participant in a group call, except for guests and public users.

To use the recording feature, the server-side must be pre-configured by administrator, and client apps must be updated to version 3.10 or later. To get more details, check the documentation for administrators or contact your organization's support team or eXpress support.

Can a Regular Participant Start Recording in a Conference?

By default, only the conference administrator can start recording in a conference, while in a group call any participant except guests and public users can do so.

The corporate server administrator can allow any participant to start recording in a conference — then the recording option will appear for everyone. This setting is server-wide; it cannot be changed for an individual conference.

Why Does a Window With Buttons Appear When Recording Is Turned On?

Only the person who started the recording sees this notification. It indicates who will be able to download the recording and has buttons for going to access settings and for enabling transcription. The transcription button appears if transcription is available on the server.

Transcription must be enabled during the call: after it ends, it can no longer be started. In the web/desktop app, the notification closes automatically after 30 seconds. When recording is paused and resumed, the notification isn't shown again.

The Message With a Recording Link Shows the Wrong Time or Language

The message about a ready recording is sent by a built-in bot. The language of its messages and the time zone in which it specifies the time are set by the corporate server administrator — the same for all users. Your app settings do not affect them.

If the time or language is wrong, contact your organization's support team: this is changed in the administrator panel.

How to Configure Recording Availability?

Starting from version 3.50, you can configure who can download the recording:

• On the conference scheduling screen, or in the Recordings Bot, or in the settings of an ongoing call/conference (only for their administrator);
• For the entire corporate server (only for
  CTS
  /
  eCTS
  administrator).

What Is Included in a Recording?

The recording includes participant video feeds, their names, microphone audio, and shared screens (including the cursor). The following are not recorded: chat messages, system sounds, interface pop-ups, and status indicators (microphone icon, speaker indication). The server determines the participant layout in the recording; changing the layout on your device does not affect the recording.

Are Participants Notified That a Recording Is in Progress?

Yes. When recording starts, other participants see a window requesting consent to record, hear an audio announcement, and see a recording indicator with a timer. Consent can be either accepted or they can leave the meeting, but it does not turn off an already enabled microphone, camera, or screen sharing — if you continue speaking or showing your screen without accepting consent, it will still be included in the recording.

What Does the “Recording Bot” Do Among Participants?

This is a system recording bot. It is responsible for saving the recording and is hidden from the regular participant list (it does not affect the participant count); you can see it in the “Chat Info” screen.

How Long Are Recordings Stored?

Recordings are stored on the server for a limited time. The retention period for recordings is set by the administrator and can be seen in messages with links to the recordings.

For Administrators: Configuring Recordings Retention

CTS

eCTS

The storage period for recordings is configured by the server administrator in the admin panel under File Service and can be seen in the messages with links for recordings.

Can't Play the Recording. What Should I Do?

To play recordings, the device must have the h265/HEVC codecs installed. For Windows, these codecs can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store or installed via the third-party K-lite Codec Pack.

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❓Related Topics:
• Recording did not arrive, an error was displayed, or there is no sound or video in the recording