video-controls

name	video-controls
description	Control video during calls — pause/resume camera, switch front/back camera. Use when implementing camera toggle, camera switch, or custom video buttons. Triggers on "pause video", "resume video", "switch camera", "camera toggle", "video controls".
inclusion	manual

CometChat Calls SDK v5 — Video Controls

Overview

Programmatically control the local camera (pause/resume) and switch between front/back cameras during an active call.

Key Imports

import com.cometchat.calls.core.CallSession
import com.cometchat.calls.model.CameraFacing
import com.cometchat.calls.listeners.MediaEventsListener

Implementation

Pause / Resume Video

val callSession = CallSession.getInstance()

callSession.pauseVideo()   // turn off camera
callSession.resumeVideo()  // turn on camera

Switch Camera

callSession.switchCamera()  // toggle front ↔ back

Listen for Video Events

callSession.addMediaEventsListener(this, object : MediaEventsListener() {
    override fun onVideoPaused() {
        // Update video button to "off" state, show avatar
    }
    override fun onVideoResumed() {
        // Update video button to "on" state, show video
    }
    override fun onCameraFacingChanged(facing: CameraFacing) {
        when (facing) {
            CameraFacing.FRONT -> { /* front camera active */ }
            CameraFacing.REAR -> { /* rear camera active */ }
        }
    }
    // ... other required overrides
    override fun onAudioMuted() {}
    override fun onAudioUnMuted() {}
    override fun onRecordingStarted() {}
    override fun onRecordingStopped() {}
    override fun onAudioModeChanged(audioMode: AudioMode) {}
})

Initial Video Settings (Pre-Session)

val sessionSettings = CometChatCalls.SessionSettingsBuilder()
    .setSessionType(SessionType.VIDEO)
    .startVideoPaused(false)                        // start with camera on
    .setInitialCameraFacing(CameraFacing.FRONT)     // start with front camera
    .hideToggleVideoButton(false)                   // show video toggle
    .hideSwitchCameraButton(false)                  // show camera switch
    .build()

Gotchas

• pauseVideo() / resumeVideo() only work during an active session
• switchCamera() toggles between front and back — no parameter needed
• CameraFacing enum: FRONT, REAR
• For voice calls (SessionType.VOICE), set .startVideoPaused(true)
• Camera permissions must be granted at runtime before joining

Sample App Reference

• CallActivity.kt — Sets startVideoPaused(true) for voice calls