Use this guide to quickly start a basic video call with the Agora Video SDK for Android.

Prerequisites

• Android Studio 3.0 or later
• Android SDK API Level 16 or higher
• A mobile device running Android 4.1 or later
• A valid Agora account and an App ID

Set up the development environment

In this section, we will create an Android project, integrate the Agora Video SDK into the project, and add the Android device permissions to prepare the development environment.

Create an Android project

Now, let's build a project from scratch. Skip to Integrate the SDK if a project already exists.

Integrate the SDK

Choose either of the following methods to integrate the Agora Video SDK into your project.

Method 1: Automatically integrate the SDK with JCenter

Add the following line in the /app/build.gradle file of your project:

...
dependencies {
    ...
    // For x.y.z, please fill in a specific SDK version number, such as 3.0.0.
    // Get the latest version number through the release notes.
    implementation 'io.agora.rtc:full-sdk:x.y.z'
}

Method 2: Manually copy the SDK files

1. Go to SDK Downloads, download the latest version of the Agora Video SDK, and extract the files from the downloaded SDK package.
2. Copy the following files or subfolders from the libs folder of the downloaded SDK package to the path of your project.

Add project permissions

Add the following permissions in the /app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml file for device access according to your needs:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   package="io.agora.tutorials1v1acall">

   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS" />
   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

...
</manifest>

If your targetSdkVersion ≥ 29, add the following line in the <application> module in the AndroidManifest.xml file:

   <application
        android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true">
   </application>

Prevent code obfuscation

Add the following line in the app/proguard-rules.pro file to prevent obfuscating the code of the Agora SDK:

-keep class io.agora.**{*;}

Implement the basic video call

This section introduces how to use the Agora Video SDK to make a call. The following figure shows the API call sequence of a basic one-to-one video call.

1. Create the UI

Create the user interface (UI) for the one-to-one call in the layout file of your project. Skip to Import Classes if you already have a UI in your project.

If you are implementing a video call, we recommend adding the following elements into the UI:

• The local video view
• The remote video view
• The end-call button

You can also refer to the activity_video_chat_view.xml file in the Agora-Android-Tutorial-1to1 demo project.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:id="@+id/activity_video_chat_view"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context="io.agora.tutorials1v1vcall.VideoChatViewActivity">

    <RelativeLayout
        android:id="@+id/remote_video_view_container"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:background="@color/remoteBackground">
        <RelativeLayout
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="match_parent"
            android:layout_above="@id/icon_padding">
            <ImageView
                android:layout_width="@dimen/remote_back_icon_size"
                android:layout_height="@dimen/remote_back_icon_size"
                android:layout_centerInParent="true"
                android:src="@drawable/icon_agora_largest"/>
        </RelativeLayout>
        <RelativeLayout
            android:id="@+id/icon_padding"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="@dimen/remote_back_icon_margin_bottom"
            android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"/>
    </RelativeLayout>

    <FrameLayout
        android:id="@+id/local_video_view_container"
        android:layout_width="@dimen/local_preview_width"
        android:layout_height="@dimen/local_preview_height"
        android:layout_alignParentEnd="true"
        android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_marginEnd="@dimen/local_preview_margin_right"
        android:layout_marginRight="@dimen/local_preview_margin_right"
        android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/local_preview_margin_top"
        android:background="@color/localBackground">

        <ImageView
            android:layout_width="@dimen/local_back_icon_size"
            android:layout_height="@dimen/local_back_icon_size"
            android:layout_gravity="center"
            android:scaleType="centerCrop"
            android:src="@drawable/icon_agora_large" />
    </FrameLayout>

    <RelativeLayout
        android:id="@+id/control_panel"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
        android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/control_bottom_margin">

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/btn_call"
            android:layout_width="@dimen/call_button_size"
            android:layout_height="@dimen/call_button_size"
            android:layout_centerInParent="true"
            android:onClick="onCallClicked"
            android:src="@drawable/btn_endcall"
            android:scaleType="centerCrop"/>

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/btn_switch_camera"
            android:layout_width="@dimen/other_button_size"
            android:layout_height="@dimen/other_button_size"
            android:layout_toRightOf="@id/btn_call"
            android:layout_toEndOf="@id/btn_call"
            android:layout_marginLeft="@dimen/control_bottom_horizontal_margin"
            android:layout_centerVertical="true"
            android:onClick="onSwitchCameraClicked"
            android:src="@drawable/btn_switch_camera"
            android:scaleType="centerCrop"/>

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/btn_mute"
            android:layout_width="@dimen/other_button_size"
            android:layout_height="@dimen/other_button_size"
            android:layout_toLeftOf="@id/btn_call"
            android:layout_toStartOf="@id/btn_call"
            android:layout_marginRight="@dimen/control_bottom_horizontal_margin"
            android:layout_centerVertical="true"
            android:onClick="onLocalAudioMuteClicked"
            android:src="@drawable/btn_unmute"
            android:scaleType="centerCrop"/>
    </RelativeLayout>

</RelativeLayout>

2. Import Classes

Import the following classes in the activity file of your project:

import io.agora.rtc.IRtcEngineEventHandler;
import io.agora.rtc.RtcEngine;
import io.agora.rtc.video.VideoCanvas;

import io.agora.rtc.video.VideoEncoderConfiguration;

3. Get the device permission

Call the checkSelfPermission method to access the camera and the microphone of the Android device when launching the activity.

// Java
private static final int PERMISSION_REQ_ID = 22;

// Ask for Android device permissions at runtime.
private static final String[] REQUESTED_PERMISSIONS = {
        Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO,
        Manifest.permission.CAMERA,
        Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
};

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_video_chat_view);

    // If all the permissions are granted, initialize the RtcEngine object and join a channel.
    if (checkSelfPermission(REQUESTED_PERMISSIONS[0], PERMISSION_REQ_ID) &&
            checkSelfPermission(REQUESTED_PERMISSIONS[1], PERMISSION_REQ_ID) &&
            checkSelfPermission(REQUESTED_PERMISSIONS[2], PERMISSION_REQ_ID)) {
        initEngineAndJoinChannel();
    }
}

private boolean checkSelfPermission(String permission, int requestCode) {
    if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, permission) !=
            PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
        ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, REQUESTED_PERMISSIONS, requestCode);
        return false;
    }

    return true;
}

// Kotlin
// Ask for Android device permissions at runtime.
override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
  super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
  setContentView(R.layout.activity_voice_chat_view)

  // If all the permissions are granted, initialize the RtcEngine object and join a channel.
  if (checkSelfPermission(Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO, PERMISSION_REQ_ID_RECORD_AUDIO) && checkSelfPermission(Manifest.permission.CAMERA, PERMISSION_REQ_ID_CAMERA)) {
    initAgoraEngineAndJoinChannel()
  }
}

private fun initAgoraEngineAndJoinChannel() {
  initializeAgoraEngine()
  setupLocalVideo()
  joinChannel()
}

private fun checkSelfPermission(permission: String, requestCode: Int): Boolean {
  Log.i(LOG_TAG, "checkSelfPermission $permission $requestCode")
  if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, 
          permission) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {

    ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this,
            arrayOf(permission),
            requestCode)
    return false
  }
  return true
}

4. Initialize RtcEngine

Create and initialize the RtcEngine object before calling any other Agora APIs.

In the string.xml file, replace agora_app_id with your App ID. Call the create method and pass in the App ID to initialize the RtcEngine object.

You can also listen for callback events, such as when the local user joins the channel, and when the remote user joins the channel. Do not implement UI operations in these callbacks.

// Java
private RtcEngine mRtcEngine;
private final IRtcEngineEventHandler mRtcEventHandler = new IRtcEngineEventHandler() {
    @Override
    // Listen for the onJoinChannelSuccess callback.
    // This callback occurs when the local user successfully joins the channel.
    public void onJoinChannelSuccess(String channel, final int uid, int elapsed) {
        runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                Log.i("agora","Join channel success, uid: " + (uid & 0xFFFFFFFFL));
            }
        });
    }

    @Override
    // Listen for the onUserJoined callback.
    // This callback occurs when the remote user successfully joins the channel.
    // You can call the setupRemoteVideo method in this callback to set up the remote video view.
    public void onUserJoined(final int uid, int elapsed) {
        runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                Log.i("agora","Remote user joined, uid: " + (uid & 0xFFFFFFFFL));
                setupRemoteVideo(uid);
            }
        });
    }

    @Override
    // Listen for the onUserOffline callback.
    // This callback occurs when the remote user leaves the channel or drops offline.
    public void onUserOffline(final int uid, int reason) {
        runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                Log.i("agora","User offline, uid: " + (uid & 0xFFFFFFFFL));
                onRemoteUserLeft();
            }
        });
    }
};

...

// Initialize the RtcEngine object.
private void initializeEngine() {
    try {
        mRtcEngine = RtcEngine.create(getBaseContext(), getString(R.string.agora_app_id), mRtcEventHandler);
    } catch (Exception e) {
        Log.e(TAG, Log.getStackTraceString(e));
        throw new RuntimeException("NEED TO check rtc sdk init fatal error\n" + Log.getStackTraceString(e));
    }
}

// Kotlin
private var mRtcEngine: RtcEngine? = null
private val mRtcEventHandler = object : IRtcEngineEventHandler() {

  // Listen for the onUserJoined callback.
  // This callback occurs when the remote user successfully joins the channel.
  // You can call the setupRemoteVideo method in this callback to set up the remote video view.
  override fun onUserJoined(uid: Int, elapsed: Int) {
    runOnUiThread { setupRemoteVideo(uid) }
  }

  // Listen for the onUserOffline callback.
  // This callback occurs when the remote user leaves the channel or drops offline.
  override fun onUserOffline(uid: Int, reason: Int) {
    runOnUiThread { onRemoteUserLeft() }
  }

}

...

// Initialize the RtcEngine object.
private fun initializeAgoraEngine() {
  try {
    mRtcEngine = RtcEngine.create(baseContext, getString(R.string.agora_app_id), mRtcEventHandler)
  } catch (e: Exception) {
    Log.e(LOG_TAG, Log.getStackTraceString(e))

    throw RuntimeException("NEED TO check rtc sdk init fatal error\n" + Log.getStackTraceString(e))
  }
}

5. Set the local video view

After initializing the RtcEngine object, set the local video view before joining the channel so that you can see yourself in the call. Follow these steps to configure the local video view:

• Call the enableVideo method to enable the video module.
• Call the createRendererView method to create a SurfaceView object.
• Call the setupLocalVideo method to configure the local video display settings.

// Java
private void setupLocalVideo() {

    // Enable the video module.
    mRtcEngine.enableVideo();

    // Create a SurfaceView object.
    private FrameLayout mLocalContainer;
    private SurfaceView mLocalView;

    mLocalView = RtcEngine.CreateRendererView(getBaseContext());
    mLocalView.setZOrderMediaOverlay(true);
    mLocalContainer.addView(mLocalView);
    // Set the local video view.
    VideoCanvas localVideoCanvas = new VideoCanvas(mLocalView, VideoCanvas.RENDER_MODE_HIDDEN, 0);
    mRtcEngine.setupLocalVideo(localVideoCanvas);
}

// Kotlin
private fun setupLocalVideo() {

  // Enable the video module.
  mRtcEngine!!.enableVideo()

  val container = findViewById(R.id.local_video_view_container) as FrameLayout

  // Create a SurfaceView object.
  val surfaceView = RtcEngine.createRendererView(baseContext)
  surfaceView.setZorderMediaOverlay(true)
  container.addView(surfaceView)
  // Set the local video view.
  mRtcEngine!!.setupLocalVideo(VideoCanvas(surfaceView, VideoCanvas.RENDER_MODE_FIT, 0))
}

6. Join a channel

After initializing the RtcEngine object and setting the local video view (for a video call), you can call the joinChannel method to join a channel. In this method, set the following parameters:

• token: Pass a token that identifies the role and privilege of the user. You can set it as one of the following values:

  • A temporary token generated in Console. A temporary token is valid for 24 hours. For details, see Get a Temporary Token. When joining a channel, ensure that the channel name is the same with the one you use to generate the temporary token.
  • A token generated at the server. This applies to scenarios with high-security requirements. For details, see Generate a token from Your Server. When joining a channel, ensure that the channel name and uid is the same with those you use to generate the token.
  • If your project has enabled the app certificate, ensure that you provide a token.
  • Ensure that you do not set token as "".

• channelName: Specify the channel name that you want to join. Users that input the same channel name join the same channel.

• uid: ID of the local user that is an integer and should be unique. If you set uid as 0, the SDK assigns a user ID for the local user and returns it in the onJoinChannelSuccess callback.

  Once the user joins the channel, the user subscribes to the audio and video streams of all the other users in the channel by default, giving rise to usage and billing calculation. If you do not want to subscribe to a specified stream or all remote streams, call the mute methods accordingly.

For more details on the parameter settings, see joinChannel.

// Java
private void joinChannel() {

    // Join a channel with a token.
    mRtcEngine.joinChannel(YOUR_TOKEN, "demoChannel1", "Extra Optional Data", 0);
}

// Kotlin
private fun joinChannel() {

  // Join a channel with a token.
  mRtcEngine!!.joinChannel(token, "demoChannel1", "Extra Optional Data", 0)
}

7. Set the remote video view

In a video call, you should be able to see other users too. This is achieved by calling the setupRemoteVideo method after joining the channel. The difference between setting the local and remote view is that you need to specify the ID of the remote user when setting up the remote view.

Shortly after a remote user joins the channel, the SDK gets the remote user's ID in the onUserJoined callback. Call the setupRemoteVideo method in the callback, and pass in the uid to set the video view of the remote user.

// Java
    @Override
    // Listen for the onUserJoined callback.
    // This callback occurs when the remote user successfully joins the channel.
    // You can call the setupRemoteVideo method in this callback to set up the remote video view.
    public void onUserJoined(final int uid, int elapsed) {
        runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                Log.i("agora","Remote user joined, uid: " + (uid & 0xFFFFFFFFL));
                setupRemoteVideo(uid);
            }
        });
    }

private void setupRemoteVideo(int uid) {

    // Create a SurfaceView object.
    private RelativeLayout mRemoteContainer;
    private SurfaceView mRemoteView;


    mRemoteView = RtcEngine.CreateRendererView(getBaseContext());
    mRemoteContainer.addView(mRemoteView);
    // Set the remote video view.
    mRtcEngine.setupRemoteVideo(new VideoCanvas(mRemoteView, VideoCanvas.RENDER_MODE_HIDDEN, uid));

}

// Kotlin
  // Listen for the onUserJoined callback.
  // This callback occurs when the remote user successfully joins the channel.
  // You can call the setupRemoteVideo method in this callback to set up the remote video view.
  override fun onUserJoined(uid: Int, elapsed: Int) {
    runOnUiThread { setupRemoteVideo(uid) }
  }


private fun setupRemoteVideo(uid: Int) {
  val container = findViewById(R.id.remote_video_view_container) as FrameLayout

  if (container.childCount >= 1) {
    return
  }

  // Create a SurfaceView object.
  val surfaceView = RtcEngine.CreateRendererView(baseContext)
  container.addView(surfaceView)

  // Set the remote video view.
  mRtcEngine!!.setupRemoteVideo(VideoCanvas(surfaceView, VideoCanvas.RENDER_MODE_FIT, uid))
}

8. Additional steps

You can implement more advanced features and functionalities in a call.

// Java
public void onLocalAudioMuteClicked(View view) {
    mMuted = !mMuted;
    mRtcEngine.muteLocalAudioStream(mMuted);
}

// Kotlin
fun onLocalAudioMuteClicked(view: View) {
  val iv = view as ImageView
  if (iv.isSelected) {
    iv.isSelected = false
    iv.clearColorFilter()
  } else {
    iv.isSelected = true
    iv.setColorFilter(resources,getColor(R.color.colorPrimary), PorterDuff.Mode.MULTIPLY)
  }

  mRtcEngine!!.muteLocalAudioStream(iv.isSelected)
}

// Java
public void onSwitchCameraClicked(View view) {
    mRtcEngine.switchCamera();
}

// Kotlin
fun onSwitchCameraClicked(view: View) {
  mRtcEngine!!.swithcCamera()
}

9. Leave the channel

Call the leaveChannel method to leave the current call according to your scenario, for example, when the call ends, when you need to close the app, or when your app runs in the background.

// Java
@Override
protected void onDestroy() {
    super.onDestroy();
    if (!mCallEnd) {
        leaveChannel();
    }
    RtcEngine.destroy();
}

private void leaveChannel() {
    // Leave the current channel.
    mRtcEngine.leaveChannel();
}

// Kotlin
override fun onDestroy() {
  super.onDestroy()

  leaveChannel()
  RtcEngine.destroy()
  mRtcEngine = null
}

private fun leaveChannel() {
  // Leave the current channel.
  mRtcEngine!!.leaveChannel()
}

Sample code

You can find the complete code logic in the VideoChatViewActivity.java file in the Agora-Android-Tutorial-1to1 demo project.

Run the project

Run the project on your Android device. You can see both the local and remote video views when you successfully start a one-to-one video call in the app.

Reference

• We provide an open-source Group-Video-Call demo project that implements the group video call on GitHub. For scenarios involving group video calls, you can download the demo project as a code source reference.
• For how to implement a video call with the chatting functionality, see How To: Build A Communication App With Chat And Video Calling In Android.
• FAQ: How can I set the log file?
• FAQ: How can I solve black screen issues?
• FAQ: Why is no audio or video captured on Android 9 devices?
• FAQ: How can I implement call notification in a call application?