SessionSettingsBuilder

Configure CometChat Calls SDK v5 session settings on Android for call behavior, UI options, participant controls, and features.

The SessionSettingsBuilder is a powerful configuration tool that allows you to customize every aspect of your call session before participants join. From controlling the initial audio/video state to customizing the UI layout and hiding specific controls, this builder gives you complete control over the call experience.

Proper session configuration is crucial for creating a seamless user experience tailored to your application’s specific needs.

These are pre-session configurations that must be set before joining a call. Once configured, pass the SessionSettings object to the joinSession() method. Settings cannot be changed after the session has started, though many features can be controlled dynamically during the call using call actions.

Kotlin

val sessionSettings = CometChatCalls.SessionSettingsBuilder()
    .setTitle("Team Meeting")
    .setDisplayName("John Doe")
    .setType(SessionType.VIDEO)
    .setLayout(LayoutType.TILE)
    .startAudioMuted(false)
    .startVideoPaused(false)
    .build()

Java

SessionSettings sessionSettings = new CometChatCalls.SessionSettingsBuilder()
    .setTitle("Team Meeting")
    .setDisplayName("John Doe")
    .setType(SessionType.VIDEO)
    .setLayout(LayoutType.TILE)
    .startAudioMuted(false)
    .startVideoPaused(false)
    .build();

Session Settings

Title

Method: setTitle(String)

Sets the title that appears in the call header. This helps participants identify the purpose or name of the call session. The title is displayed prominently at the top of the call interface.

Kotlin

.setTitle("Team Meeting")

Java

.setTitle("Team Meeting")

Parameter	Type	Default
title	String	null

Display Name

Method: setDisplayName(String)

Sets the display name that will be shown to other participants in the call. This name appears on your video tile and in the participant list, helping others identify you during the session.

Kotlin

.setDisplayName("John Doe")

Java

.setDisplayName("John Doe")

Parameter	Type	Default
displayName	String	null

Session Type

Method: setType(SessionType)

Defines the type of call session. Choose VIDEO for video calls with camera enabled, or AUDIO for audio-only calls. This setting determines whether video streaming is enabled by default.

Kotlin

.setType(SessionType.VIDEO)

Java

.setType(SessionType.VIDEO)

Parameter	Type	Default
type	SessionType	VIDEO

SessionType Values

Value	Description
VIDEO	Video call with camera enabled
AUDIO	Audio-only call

Layout Mode

Method: setLayout(LayoutType)

Sets the initial layout mode for displaying participants. TILE shows all participants in a grid, SPOTLIGHT focuses on the active speaker with others in a sidebar, and SIDEBAR displays the main speaker with participants in a side panel.

Kotlin

.setLayout(LayoutType.TILE)

Java

.setLayout(LayoutType.TILE)

Parameter	Type	Default
layout	LayoutType	TILE

LayoutType Values

Value	Description
TILE	Grid layout showing all participants equally
SPOTLIGHT	Focus on active speaker with others in sidebar
SIDEBAR	Main speaker with participants in a sidebar

Idle Timeout Period

Method: setIdleTimeoutPeriod(int)

Configures the timeout duration in seconds before automatically ending the session when you’re the only participant. This prevents sessions from running indefinitely when others have left.

Kotlin

.setIdleTimeoutPeriod(300)

Java

.setIdleTimeoutPeriod(300)

Parameter	Type	Default
seconds	int	300

Start Audio Muted

Method: startAudioMuted(boolean)

Determines whether the microphone is muted when joining the session. Set to true to join with audio muted, requiring users to manually unmute. Useful for large meetings to prevent background noise.

Kotlin

.startAudioMuted(true)

Java

.startAudioMuted(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
muted	boolean	false

Start Video Paused

Method: startVideoPaused(boolean)

Controls whether the camera is turned off when joining the session. Set to true to join with video disabled, allowing users to enable it when ready. Helpful for privacy or bandwidth considerations.

Kotlin

.startVideoPaused(true)

Java

.startVideoPaused(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
paused	boolean	false

Audio Mode

Method: setAudioMode(AudioMode)

Sets the initial audio output device for the call. Options include SPEAKER for loudspeaker, EARPIECE for phone earpiece, BLUETOOTH for connected Bluetooth devices, or HEADPHONES for wired headphones.

Kotlin

.setAudioMode(AudioMode.SPEAKER)

Java

.setAudioMode(AudioMode.SPEAKER)

Parameter	Type	Default
audioMode	AudioMode	SPEAKER

AudioMode Values

Value	Description
SPEAKER	Device loudspeaker
EARPIECE	Phone earpiece
BLUETOOTH	Connected Bluetooth device
HEADPHONES	Wired headphones

Initial Camera Facing

Method: setInitialCameraFacing(CameraFacing)

Specifies which camera to use when starting the session. Choose FRONT for the front-facing camera (selfie mode) or BACK for the rear camera. Users can switch cameras during the call.

Kotlin

.setInitialCameraFacing(CameraFacing.FRONT)

Java

.setInitialCameraFacing(CameraFacing.FRONT)

Parameter	Type	Default
cameraFacing	CameraFacing	FRONT

CameraFacing Values

Value	Description
FRONT	Front-facing camera
BACK	Rear camera

Low Bandwidth Mode

Method: enableLowBandwidthMode(boolean)

Enables optimization for poor network conditions. When enabled, the SDK reduces video quality and adjusts streaming parameters to maintain call stability on slow or unstable connections.

Kotlin

.enableLowBandwidthMode(true)

Java

.enableLowBandwidthMode(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
enabled	boolean	false

Auto Start Recording

Method: enableAutoStartRecording(boolean)

Automatically starts recording the session as soon as it begins. When enabled, recording starts without manual intervention, ensuring the entire session is captured from the start.

Kotlin

.enableAutoStartRecording(true)

Java

.enableAutoStartRecording(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
enabled	boolean	false

Hide Control Panel

Method: hideControlPanel(boolean)

Hides the bottom control bar that contains call action buttons. Set to true to remove the control panel entirely, useful for custom UI implementations or view-only modes.

Kotlin

.hideControlPanel(true)

Java

.hideControlPanel(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Header Panel

Method: hideHeaderPanel(boolean)

Hides the top header bar that displays the call title and session information. Set to true to maximize the video viewing area or implement a custom header.

Kotlin

.hideHeaderPanel(true)

Java

.hideHeaderPanel(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Session Timer

Method: hideSessionTimer(boolean)

Hides the session duration timer that shows how long the call has been active. Set to true to remove the timer display from the interface.

Kotlin

.hideSessionTimer(true)

Java

.hideSessionTimer(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Leave Session Button

Method: hideLeaveSessionButton(boolean)

Hides the button that allows users to leave or end the call. Set to true to remove this button, requiring an alternative method to exit the session.

Kotlin

.hideLeaveSessionButton(true)

Java

.hideLeaveSessionButton(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Toggle Audio Button

Method: hideToggleAudioButton(boolean)

Hides the microphone mute/unmute button from the control panel. Set to true to remove audio controls, useful when audio control should be managed programmatically.

Kotlin

.hideToggleAudioButton(true)

Java

.hideToggleAudioButton(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Toggle Video Button

Method: hideToggleVideoButton(boolean)

Hides the camera on/off button from the control panel. Set to true to remove video controls, useful for audio-only calls or custom video control implementations.

Kotlin

.hideToggleVideoButton(true)

Java

.hideToggleVideoButton(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Switch Camera Button

Method: hideSwitchCameraButton(boolean)

Hides the button that allows switching between front and rear cameras. Set to true to remove this control, useful for devices with single cameras or fixed camera requirements.

Kotlin

.hideSwitchCameraButton(true)

Java

.hideSwitchCameraButton(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Recording Button

Method: hideRecordingButton(boolean)

Hides the recording start/stop button from the control panel. Set to false to show the recording button, allowing users to manually control session recording.

Kotlin

.hideRecordingButton(false)

Java

.hideRecordingButton(false)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	true

Hide Screen Sharing Button

Method: hideScreenSharingButton(boolean)

Hides the screen sharing button from the control panel. Set to true to remove screen sharing controls, useful when screen sharing is not needed or managed separately.

Kotlin

.hideScreenSharingButton(true)

Java

.hideScreenSharingButton(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Audio Mode Button

Method: hideAudioModeButton(boolean)

Hides the button that toggles between speaker, earpiece, and other audio output modes. Set to true to remove audio mode controls from the interface.

Kotlin

.hideAudioModeButton(true)

Java

.hideAudioModeButton(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Raise Hand Button

Method: hideRaiseHandButton(boolean)

Hides the raise hand button that participants use to signal they want to speak. Set to true to remove this feature from the interface.

Kotlin

.hideRaiseHandButton(true)

Java

.hideRaiseHandButton(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Share Invite Button

Method: hideShareInviteButton(boolean)

Hides the button that allows sharing session invite links with others. Set to false to show the invite button, enabling easy participant invitation.

Kotlin

.hideShareInviteButton(false)

Java

.hideShareInviteButton(false)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	true

Hide Participant List Button

Method: hideParticipantListButton(boolean)

Hides the button that opens the participant list view. Set to true to remove access to the participant list, useful for simplified interfaces.

Kotlin

.hideParticipantListButton(true)

Java

.hideParticipantListButton(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Change Layout Button

Method: hideChangeLayoutButton(boolean)

Hides the button that allows switching between different layout modes (tile, spotlight, sidebar). Set to true to lock the layout to the initial setting.

Kotlin

.hideChangeLayoutButton(true)

Java

.hideChangeLayoutButton(true)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	false

Hide Chat Button

Method: hideChatButton(boolean)

Hides the button that opens the in-call chat interface. Set to false to show the chat button, enabling text communication during calls.

Kotlin

.hideChatButton(false)

Java

.hideChatButton(false)

Parameter	Type	Default
hide	boolean	true

Enum Values

Enum	Value	Description
SessionType	VIDEO	Video call with camera enabled
	AUDIO	Audio-only call
LayoutType	TILE	Grid layout showing all participants equally
	SPOTLIGHT	Focus on active speaker with others in sidebar
	SIDEBAR	Main speaker with participants in a sidebar
AudioMode	SPEAKER	Device loudspeaker
	EARPIECE	Phone earpiece
	BLUETOOTH	Connected Bluetooth device
	HEADPHONES	Wired headphones
CameraFacing	FRONT	Front-facing camera
	BACK	Rear camera