Random chat on your phone: a complete guide

No app required

Stranger Chat is a browser app. On an iPhone, open Safari; on Android, Chrome works well. Add the page to your home screen from the share menu and it behaves like an installed app — no App Store or Play Store involved.

Camera and microphone permissions

The first time you press Start with video, your phone asks for camera and microphone access. Allow both, and if a call shows a black screen or no sound, check the site's permissions in Settings: Safari (Settings → Safari → Camera/Microphone) and Chrome (site settings → camera/microphone). The full walkthrough lives in the camera and microphone guide.

On mobile, the browser shows which camera it is using. You can switch between front and back cameras with the flip button, and rotate to landscape for a wider frame.

Video on a data connection

Video is peer-to-peer, so it uses your network directly. On mobile data, turn off your camera or switch to text chat to keep usage low, close heavy background apps, and keep your phone plugged in for long sessions — video calls are the fastest way to drain a battery.

Filters work on the phone too

Everything from the desktop works on mobile: up to five interests, language and country filters. On a phone, the country filter is especially handy — if it is evening for you but you want a morning crowd, pick a country where it is already evening. See the best times to chat guide for the timezone math.

Privacy on the move

You stay anonymous on mobile exactly as on desktop: no account, no name, and your session id stays in your browser. Be careful about what your camera reveals in public or on a commute — if you wouldn't want a stranger to see your surroundings, keep video off until you are somewhere private. Anyone misbehaving can be reported and blocked in one tap.

Keep exploring:
• All blog posts
• Fix camera and mic problems
• Omegle alternatives for iPhone
• Omegle alternatives for Android

Frequently asked questions

• Does random chat work on iPhone and Android?
  Yes. It runs in Safari on iPhone and Chrome on Android, with no app to install.

• Do I need to download anything?
  No. Open the site in your browser and press Start. Adding the page to your home screen makes it feel like an app, but it is optional.

• My camera won't start on my phone — what do I do?
  Check the site's camera and microphone permissions in your browser settings, then allow both and refresh. The troubleshooting guide has the step-by-step for iOS and Android.