What you need before you start
Very little. A phone or laptop with a camera and a microphone, a recent browser, and a connection that can handle a video call. If you can watch a video without it buffering, you can use this. There is nothing to install and no sign-up in the way, so the whole preparation is about thirty seconds.
One thing is worth doing first: look at yourself. Open your phone camera, check the light on your face and what is on the wall behind you. It is the difference between being a face and being a dark shape in front of a window.
The three steps from tap to conversation
Every chat follows the same short path.
- 1
Allow your camera and tap Start
Press Start Video Chat. Your browser asks to use the camera and microphone. Say yes. If you accidentally say no, the camera icon in the address bar lets you change it.
- 2
We pair you with someone who is online
Matching looks for another person who is looking for a conversation right now. It is the same random video chat you may have used elsewhere, with nothing to scroll or filter.
- 3
Talk, or tap Next
Stay if it is good. Tap Next to leave and be matched again. Nobody is told why, and nobody is offended.
What each button does
Three controls matter during a call, and they are all on the call screen:
Next
Ends the call and starts a new match. Use it as often as you like.
Block
Ends the call and makes sure you are not matched with that person again.
Report
Tells us someone broke the rules. Reports are reviewed. The community guidelines explain what is not allowed.
Free matches, coins and what they cover
Every day you get 10 free matches, and you do not need to sign up to use them. They are there so you can see what the product is before you decide anything. When they are used up, you can wait for tomorrow's 10 or carry on with coins.
Coins pay for longer or premium sessions. The cost is shown before you spend any, and an account is what lets you hold them between visits. The full picture is on the free video chat page, and anything to do with payments is covered by the refund policy.
If something does not work
Most problems come down to one of four causes.
- Black square instead of a face. Camera permission is blocked, or another app is using the camera. Close the other app and allow access in your browser.
- No sound. Check the microphone permission and your device volume. Some browsers mute until you tap once on the page.
- Matching takes a long time. Fewer people are online at quiet hours. Wait a moment, or try again a little later.
- The picture freezes. Move closer to your router or switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi. A refresh fixes most stuck calls.
Still stuck? Write to support[at]shaglechat.net, or look at the safety and help page for common issues.