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Video Calls

Video calls let your visitors have face-to-face conversations with your team directly from your website. No downloads, no separate apps — everything happens inside the Knock Knock widget.

Starting a Video Call​

A visitor can start a video call by clicking the Video button on the widget. Their browser will ask for permission to use the camera and microphone. Once granted, the call connects and the visitor sees the video interface.

Video Layout​

During an active video call, the visitor sees:

  • Remote video — a large view showing your agent's camera feed
  • Local video — a smaller picture-in-picture view of the visitor's own camera (mirrored, so it looks natural like a mirror)
  • Call duration timer — a running clock showing how long the call has been going
note

The local video preview is mirrored so the visitor sees themselves the way they would in a mirror. The agent sees the visitor's video in the correct orientation.

Call Controls​

A control bar at the bottom of the video interface gives the visitor access to:

ControlWhat It Does
Mute MicrophoneTurns the visitor's microphone on or off
Toggle CameraTurns the visitor's camera on or off
Screen ShareShares the visitor's screen with the agent
Flip CameraSwitches between front and rear cameras (mobile devices only)
Expand / MinimizeToggles between the full widget view and a compact floating bubble
End CallDisconnects the call

Screen Sharing​

Visitors can share their screen during a video call. This is useful when they need to show the agent what they are looking at — for example, an error on a page or a product they have questions about.

When screen sharing is active:

  • The shared screen replaces the main video area
  • The agent's video moves to a smaller overlay
  • The visitor can stop sharing at any time by clicking the screen share button again

Audio and Video Settings​

During a call, the visitor can open the settings panel to adjust their devices:

  • Microphone — choose which audio input device to use
  • Speaker — choose which audio output device to use
  • Camera — choose which camera to use (useful if they have multiple cameras)
  • Volume — adjust the playback volume

For more details, see Audio and Video Settings.

Remote Mute Status​

If the agent mutes their microphone during the call, the visitor sees a mute indicator on the agent's video. This lets the visitor know the agent cannot hear them temporarily and avoids confusion.

Minimized View​

If the visitor wants to continue browsing your website during a call, they can minimize the video to a floating bubble. The bubble shows:

  • The call duration timer so they know the call is still active
  • A tap or click to expand back to the full video view

This lets visitors multitask without ending the conversation.

tip

The minimized bubble is great for screen sharing scenarios. The visitor can share their screen, minimize the call, and navigate their browser while the agent watches.

Listener Mode​

If a visitor denies camera and microphone permissions in their browser, they can still join the call in listener mode. In this mode:

  • The visitor can see and hear the agent
  • The visitor cannot send audio or video
  • A message informs the visitor that they are in listener mode and explains how to grant permissions if they change their mind

This ensures that a visitor is never completely locked out of a call just because of a permissions issue.

warning

If a visitor accidentally denies camera or microphone access, they may need to update their browser permissions and refresh the page. Listener mode keeps them connected in the meantime.