Is your suggestion related to a problem?
Yes. Element X iOS only shows a video call button (camera icon) in room headers. There is no way to initiate an audio-only call directly.
On Element X Android, users can start a video call and toggle the camera off to switch to audio-only mode ("Handset Mode") — this works fine. However, on iOS there is no equivalent workflow or dedicated audio call button.
This is a significant regression from Element Classic iOS, which had separate audio (phone icon) and video (camera icon) call buttons.
Describe the solution you'd like:
Add a phone/handset icon button next to the existing video call button in 1:1 DM rooms. Tapping it should start a MatrixRTC/Element Call session with the camera disabled by default and only microphone active.
This doesn't require legacy VoIP support — it's simply starting an Element Call with camera: off, microphone: on as the initial state. Android already supports this workflow (Handset Mode), iOS should match it.
Describe alternatives you've considered:
- Starting video call then disabling camera: no clear way to do this on iOS
- Using Element Classic instead: losing Sliding Sync, MAS, and modern features
- Using a different messenger: defeats the purpose of Matrix
Additional context:
Audio-only calls are the most common call type for family/friend groups. Not everyone wants video every time — sometimes you're cooking, driving (hands-free), or just don't want to show your face. Every competing messenger (WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Discord) has a dedicated audio call button. Its absence in Element X iOS is the #1 complaint from non-technical users in our self-hosted family deployment.
Our setup: Synapse v1.149.1 + MAS + LiveKit SFU + coturn. Video calls work perfectly on both Android and iOS. Audio calls work on Android (via camera toggle / Handset Mode) but have no equivalent on iOS.
Is your suggestion related to a problem?
Yes. Element X iOS only shows a video call button (camera icon) in room headers. There is no way to initiate an audio-only call directly.
On Element X Android, users can start a video call and toggle the camera off to switch to audio-only mode ("Handset Mode") — this works fine. However, on iOS there is no equivalent workflow or dedicated audio call button.
This is a significant regression from Element Classic iOS, which had separate audio (phone icon) and video (camera icon) call buttons.
Describe the solution you'd like:
Add a phone/handset icon button next to the existing video call button in 1:1 DM rooms. Tapping it should start a MatrixRTC/Element Call session with the camera disabled by default and only microphone active.
This doesn't require legacy VoIP support — it's simply starting an Element Call with
camera: off, microphone: onas the initial state. Android already supports this workflow (Handset Mode), iOS should match it.Describe alternatives you've considered:
Additional context:
Audio-only calls are the most common call type for family/friend groups. Not everyone wants video every time — sometimes you're cooking, driving (hands-free), or just don't want to show your face. Every competing messenger (WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Discord) has a dedicated audio call button. Its absence in Element X iOS is the #1 complaint from non-technical users in our self-hosted family deployment.
Our setup: Synapse v1.149.1 + MAS + LiveKit SFU + coturn. Video calls work perfectly on both Android and iOS. Audio calls work on Android (via camera toggle / Handset Mode) but have no equivalent on iOS.