element-hq / element-hq/element-call

Element X iOS: incoming 1:1 call shows “Handset Mode”, no separate audio call button, microphone appears unavailable

Open
#3,866 2 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
T-Defect
Dominant language
TypeScript
Stars
996
Forks
213
Avg merge
1d 6h
Merged PRs (30d)
54

Description

### Steps to reproduce

1. Open a 1:1 direct message between Android and iPhone users in Element X.
2. Start a call from the Android side.
3. Accept the incoming call on the iPhone.
4. Observe the call UI and microphone behavior.

### Outcome

## Summary

On iPhone, 1:1 calls in Element X behave incorrectly.

## Symptoms

- In the DM header on iPhone there is no separate audio call button, only a video call icon.
- When the iPhone user answers the call, the app shows **"Handset Mode"**.
- The iPhone user reports that the microphone appears unavailable / disabled during the call.
- Voice messages on the same iPhone work normally.
- The issue seems specific to the iPhone user. On Android the call UI/behavior is different.

## Actual result

- The iPhone UI only shows a video call action instead of a separate audio call button.
- After answering, the app shows **"Handset Mode"**.
- The iPhone user cannot properly use the microphone during the call / the app indicates the microphone is unavailable.

## Expected result

- A normal 1:1 audio call flow should be available on iPhone.
- The microphone should work during the call.
- The call UI should clearly expose audio calling.

## Environment

- Client on affected side: Element X on iPhone
- Other side: Element X on Android
- Homeserver: self-hosted Synapse
- Call type: 1:1 call
- Reproducible: yes

## Additional notes

- No newer Element X update is available in the App Store for the affected user.
- The problem appears only with the iPhone user.
- Screenshots are attached.
- I can also provide logs if needed.

### Your phone model

_No response_

### Operating system version

_No response_

### Application version

_No response_

### Homeserver

_No response_

### Will you send logs?

Yes

![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/07214608-56c6-4b60-a3e9-f9e11955e024)

Image

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reproducing the 1:1 call from Android to iPhone and compare the iPhone call UI and microphone state with Android. Review the call and audio-device handling reached by this flow, using the attached screenshots and available logs; done means an audio call action is exposed and the iPhone microphone works during the call.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
typescript
Domain
audio-video-rtc, mobile-dev
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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