Setup

Set up CometChat Calls SDK v5 for React Native with installation, app credentials, initialization, authentication, and a basic calling flow.

Faster Integration with UI Kits

If you’re using CometChat UI Kits, voice and video calling can be quickly integrated:

• Incoming & outgoing call screens
• Call buttons with one-tap calling
• Call logs with history

👉 React Native UI Kit Calling Integration

Use this Calls SDK directly only if you need custom call UI or advanced control.

This guide walks you through installing the CometChat Calls SDK and configuring it in your React Native application.

Add the CometChat Dependency

Using npm

npm install @cometchat/calls-sdk-react-native

Using Yarn

yarn add @cometchat/calls-sdk-react-native

Install Required Dependencies

The Calls SDK relies on the following packages. Install them alongside the SDK:

Package	Version
@react-native-async-storage/async-storage	^2.1.2
react-native-background-timer	^2.4.1
react-native-performance	^5.1.2
react-native-svg	^15.12.0
react-native-url-polyfill	2.0.0
react-native-webrtc	124.0.7

Using npm

npm install @react-native-async-storage/async-storage@^2.1.2 react-native-background-timer@^2.4.1 react-native-performance@^5.1.2 react-native-svg@^15.12.0 react-native-url-polyfill@2.0.0 react-native-webrtc@124.0.7

Using Yarn

yarn add @react-native-async-storage/async-storage@^2.1.2 react-native-background-timer@^2.4.1 react-native-performance@^5.1.2 react-native-svg@^15.12.0 react-native-url-polyfill@2.0.0 react-native-webrtc@124.0.7

React Native New Architecture

The Calls SDK works with both the old architecture and the New Architecture, including bridgeless mode. No extra setup is needed — leave newArchEnabled set to whatever your app requires and follow the same integration steps either way.

The SDK ships as a legacy native module rather than a TurboModule/Fabric component. On the New Architecture it runs through React Native’s built-in interop layer, so the API and behavior are identical on both architectures.

iOS Configuration

Install CocoaPods Dependencies

Navigate to your iOS directory and install the pods:

cd ios
pod install
cd ..

Add Permissions

Add the required permissions to your ios/YourApp/Info.plist:

<key>NSCameraUsageDescription</key>
<string>Camera access is required for video calls</string>
<key>NSMicrophoneUsageDescription</key>
<string>Microphone access is required for voice and video calls</string>

Enable Background Modes

For calls to continue when the app is in the background:

1. Open your project in Xcode
2. Select your target and go to Signing & Capabilities
3. Click + Capability and add Background Modes
4. Enable:
   • Audio, AirPlay, and Picture in Picture
   • Voice over IP (if using VoIP push notifications)

Android Configuration

Add Permissions

Add the required permissions to your android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH" android:maxSdkVersion="30" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT" />

For Android 6.0 (API level 23) and above, you must request camera and microphone permissions at runtime before starting a call.

Request Runtime Permissions

Use a library like react-native-permissions or implement native permission requests:

import { PermissionsAndroid, Platform } from 'react-native';

async function requestCallPermissions(): Promise<boolean> {
  if (Platform.OS === 'android') {
    const granted = await PermissionsAndroid.requestMultiple([
      PermissionsAndroid.PERMISSIONS.CAMERA,
      PermissionsAndroid.PERMISSIONS.RECORD_AUDIO,
    ]);
    
    return (
      granted['android.permission.CAMERA'] === PermissionsAndroid.RESULTS.GRANTED &&
      granted['android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO'] === PermissionsAndroid.RESULTS.GRANTED
    );
  }
  return true;
}

Verify Installation

After installation, rebuild your app:

# iOS
npx react-native run-ios

# Android
npx react-native run-android

Related Documentation

• Authentication - Initialize the SDK and authenticate users
• Join Session - Start your first call