> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.readout.tv/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Video calls and drop-ins

> Video call the TV, with what each caller says captioned, or drop in on the room.

With a USB webcam on [Readout's screen](https://docs.readout.tv/home/raspberry-pi.md), the family can video call the TV, or
drop in on the room, from the app's [remote](https://docs.readout.tv/home/remote.md).

## Video call the TV

Press **Video call**. The TV answers by itself: it turns on, switches to the Pi, chimes, and you fill
the screen, with your voice from the TV. What you say is captioned along the bottom, big. In the
app you see the room, with yourself small in the corner, and **Mute** and **Hang up** beside it.

* **More than one of you.** While someone is on a call, the remote says so, and **Join the call**
  puts you on it too, up to four at once. The TV shows everyone side by side, each captioned under
  their name.
* **Add someone.** **Add someone** rings someone else in your account. Or make a link for anyone
  else, such as a doctor or a friend: they join from any phone or computer, with no app or account.
  A link works until the call ends.
* **Camera off** turns your camera off, and the TV shows your name instead.
* **Share screen**, on a computer, puts your screen on the TV in place of your camera.
* **Whoever is at the TV** can hang up with OK on the TV's remote.

## Drop in

**Drop in** shows what the camera sees, and plays what it hears, in the app. Nobody at the TV has to
answer, and nothing from the app is seen or heard in the room.

* **The TV says so.** A notice at the top of the screen says who dropped in, with a chime.
* **Silent drop-ins**, in the remote's settings for that TV, turn the notice and chime off. Only the
  account's owner can turn it on; anyone can turn it off. Each drop-in is noted in
  [Activity](https://docs.readout.tv/account/activity-and-notifications.md).
* It ends with **Leave**, when you close the remote, or after 10 minutes.

> [!TIP]
>
> Choose a webcam with a light and a shutter, so whoever is in the room can see when it's on.

## When Readout updates

Calls and drop-ins carry on. The captions pause for a few seconds, then carry on by themselves.


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