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Quickstart

This page provides a step-by-step guide on how to create a basic Video Calling app using the Agora Video SDK.

Understand the tech​

To start a Video Calling session, implement the following steps in your app:

  • Initialize the Agora Engine: Before calling other APIs, create and initialize an Agora Engine instance.

  • Join a channel: Call methods to create and join a channel.

  • Send and receive audio and video: All users can publish streams to the channel and subscribe to audio and video streams published by other users in the channel.

Video calling workflow

Prerequisites​

  • Android Studio 4.2 or higher.
  • Android SDK API Level 21 or higher.
  • Two mobile devices running Android 5.0 or higher.
  • A camera and a microphone

Set up your project​

This section shows you how to set up your Android project and install the Agora Video SDK.

  1. Create a new project.

    1. Open Android Studio and select File > New > New Project....
    2. Select Phone and Tablet > Empty Activity and click Next.
    3. Set the project name and storage path.
    4. Select Java or Kotlin as the language, and click Finish to create the Android project.
    Note
    After you create a project, Android Studio automatically starts gradle sync. Ensure that the synchronization is successful before proceeding to the next step.

  1. Add a layout file for your activity.

    Set up two container elements in your activity to display local and remote video streams. Refer to Create a user interface to get a bare bones sample layout.

Install the SDK​

Use either of the following methods to add Video SDK to your project.

  1. Open the settings.gradle file in the project's root directory and add the Maven Central dependency, if it doesn't already exist:


    _3
    repositories {
    _3
    mavenCentral()
    _3
    }

    info

    If your Android project uses dependencyResolutionManagement, the method of adding the Maven Central dependency may differ.

  2. To integrate the Video SDK into your Android project, add the following to the dependencies block in your project module build.gradle file:

    • Groovy build.gradle

      implementation 'io.agora.rtc:full-sdk:x.y.z'

    • Kotlin build.gradle.kts

      implementation("io.agora.rtc:full-sdk:x.y.z")

    Replace x.y.z with the specific SDK version number, such as 4.5.0.

    info

    To get the latest version number, check the Release notes. To integrate the Lite SDK, use io.agora.rtc:lite-sdk instead.

  3. Prevent code obfuscation

    Open the /app/proguard-rules.pro file and add the following lines to prevent the Video SDK code from being obfuscated:

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

Implement Video Calling​

This section guides you through the implementation of basic real-time audio and video interaction in your app.

The following figure illustrates the essential steps:

Quick start sequence

This guide includes complete sample code that demonstrates implementing basic real-time interaction. To understand the core API calls in the sample code, review the following implementation steps and use the code in your MainActivity file.

Import Agora classes​

Import the relevant Agora classes and interfaces:

import io.agora.rtc2.Constants;import io.agora.rtc2.IRtcEngineEventHandler;import io.agora.rtc2.RtcEngine;import io.agora.rtc2.RtcEngineConfig;import io.agora.rtc2.video.VideoCanvas;import io.agora.rtc2.ChannelMediaOptions;

Initialize the engine​

For real-time communication, initialize an RtcEngine instance and set up event handlers to manage user interactions within the channel. Use RtcEngineConfig to specify the application context, App ID, and custom event handler, then call RtcEngine.create(config) to initialize the engine, enabling further channel operations. In your MainActivity file, add the following code:

// Fill in the app ID from Agora Consoleprivate String myAppId = "<Your app ID>";private RtcEngine mRtcEngine;private void initializeAgoraVideoSDK() {    try {        RtcEngineConfig config = new RtcEngineConfig();        config.mContext = getBaseContext();        config.mAppId = myAppId;        config.mEventHandler = mRtcEventHandler;        mRtcEngine = RtcEngine.create(config);    } catch (Exception e) {        throw new RuntimeException("Error initializing RTC engine: " + e.getMessage());    }}

Join a channel​

To join a channel, call joinChannel with the following parameters:

  • Channel name: The name of the channel to join. Clients that pass the same channel name join the same channel. If a channel with the specified name does not exist, it is created when the first user joins.

  • Authentication token: A dynamic key that authenticates a user when the client joins a channel. In a production environment, you obtain a token from a token server in your security infrastructure. For the purpose of this guide Generate a temporary token.

  • User ID: A 32-bit signed integer that identifies a user in the channel. You can specify a unique user ID for each user yourself. If you set the user ID to 0 when joining a channel, the SDK generates a random number for the user ID and returns the value in the onJoinChannelSuccess callback.

  • Channel media options: Configure ChannelMediaOptions to define publishing and subscription settings, optimize performance for your specific use-case, and set optional parameters.

For Video Calling, set the channelProfile to CHANNEL_PROFILE_COMMUNICATION and the clientRoleType to CLIENT_ROLE_BROADCASTER.

// Fill in the channel nameprivate String channelName = "<Your channel name>";// Fill in the temporary token generated from Agora Consoleprivate String token = "<Your token>";private void joinChannel() {    ChannelMediaOptions options = new ChannelMediaOptions();    options.clientRoleType = Constants.CLIENT_ROLE_BROADCASTER;    options.channelProfile = Constants.CHANNEL_PROFILE_COMMUNICATION;    options.publishCameraTrack = true;    options.publishMicrophoneTrack = true;    mRtcEngine.joinChannel(token, channelName, 0, options);}

Subscribe to Video SDK events​

The Video SDK provides an interface for subscribing to channel events. To use it, create an instance of IRtcEngineEventHandler and implement the event methods you want to handle.

info

To ensure that you receive all Video SDK events, set the Agora Engine event handler before joining a channel.

private final IRtcEngineEventHandler mRtcEventHandler = new IRtcEngineEventHandler() {    // Triggered when the local user successfully joins the specified channel.    @Override    public void onJoinChannelSuccess(String channel, int uid, int elapsed) {        super.onJoinChannelSuccess(channel, uid, elapsed);        showToast("Joined channel " + channel);    }    // Triggered when a remote user/host joins the channel.    @Override    public void onUserJoined(int uid, int elapsed) {        super.onUserJoined(uid, elapsed);        runOnUiThread(() -> {            // Initialize and display remote video view for the new user.            setupRemoteVideo(uid);            showToast("User joined: " + uid);         });    }    // Triggered when a remote user/host leaves the channel.    @Override    public void onUserOffline(int uid, int reason) {        super.onUserOffline(uid, reason);        runOnUiThread(() -> {            showToast("User offline: " + uid);         });    }};

Enable the video module​

Follow these steps to enable the video module:

  1. Call enableVideo to enable the video module.
  2. Call startPreview to enable local video preview.
private void enableVideo() {    mRtcEngine.enableVideo();    mRtcEngine.startPreview();}

Display the local video​

Call setupLocalVideo to initialize the local view and set the local video display properties.

private void setupLocalVideo() {    FrameLayout container = findViewById(R.id.local_video_view_container);    SurfaceView surfaceView = new SurfaceView(getBaseContext());    container.addView(surfaceView);    mRtcEngine?.setupLocalVideo(VideoCanvas(surfaceView, VideoCanvas.RENDER_MODE_FIT, 0))}

Display remote video​

When a remote user joins the channel, call setupRemoteVideo and pass in the remote user's uid, obtained from the onUserJoined callback, to display the remote video.

private void setupRemoteVideo(int uid) {    FrameLayout container = findViewById(R.id.remote_video_view_container);    SurfaceView surfaceView = new SurfaceView(getBaseContext());    surfaceView.setZOrderMediaOverlay(true);    container.addView(surfaceView);    mRtcEngine.setupRemoteVideo(new VideoCanvas(surfaceView, VideoCanvas.RENDER_MODE_FIT, uid));}

Handle permissions​

To access the camera and microphone on Android devices, declare the necessary permissions in the app's manifest and ensure that the user grants these permissions when the app starts.

  1. Open your project's AndroidManifest.xml file and add the following permissions before <application>:


    _15
    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera" android:required="false" />
    _15
    <!--Required permissions-->
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA"/>
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO"/>
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS"/>
    _15
    <!--Optional permissions-->
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE"/>
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE"/>
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH"/>
    _15
    <!-- For devices running Android 12 (API level 32) or higher and integrating Agora Video SDK version v4.1.0 or lower, you also need to add the following permissions -->
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT"/>
    _15
    <!-- For Android 12.0 or higher, the following permissions are also required -->
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE"/>
    _15
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_SCAN"/>

  2. Use the following code to handle runtime permissions in your Android app. The logic ensures that the necessary permissions are granted before starting Video Calling. In your MainActivity file, add the following code:

    private static final int PERMISSION_REQ_ID = 22; private void requestPermissions() {     ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, getRequiredPermissions(), PERMISSION_REQ_ID); } private boolean checkPermissions() {     for (String permission : getRequiredPermissions()) {         if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, permission) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {             return false;         }     }     return true; } private String[] getRequiredPermissions() {     if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.S) {         return new String[]{             Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO,             Manifest.permission.CAMERA,             Manifest.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE,             Manifest.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT         };     } else {         return new String[]{             Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO,             Manifest.permission.CAMERA         };     } } @Override public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, @NonNull String[] permissions, @NonNull int[] grantResults) {     super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults);     if (requestCode == PERMISSION_REQ_ID && checkPermissions()) {         startVideoCalling();     } }

Start and close the app​

When a user launches your app, start real-time interaction. When a user closes the app, stop the interaction.

  1. In the onCreate callback, check whether the app has been granted the required permissions. If the permissions have not been granted, request the required permissions from the user. If permissions are granted, initialize RtcEngine and join a channel.

    @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {     super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);     setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);     if (checkPermissions()) {         startVideoCalling();     } else {         requestPermissions();     } }

  1. When a user closes the app, or switches the app to the background, call stopPreview to stop the video preview and then call leaveChannel to leave the current channel and release all session-related resources.

    private void cleanupAgoraEngine() {     if (mRtcEngine != null) {         mRtcEngine.stopPreview();         mRtcEngine.leaveChannel();         mRtcEngine = null;     } }

Complete sample code​

A complete code sample demonstrating the basic process of real-time interaction is provided for your reference. To use the sample code, copy the following lines into the MainActivity file in your project. Then, replace <projectname> in package com.example.<projectname> with your project's name.

Complete sample code for real-time Video Calling
package com.example.<projectname>;import android.Manifest;import android.content.pm.PackageManager;import android.os.Bundle;import android.view.SurfaceView;import android.widget.FrameLayout;import android.widget.Toast;import androidx.annotation.NonNull;import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;import androidx.core.app.ActivityCompat;import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat;import io.agora.rtc2.ChannelMediaOptions;import io.agora.rtc2.Constants;import io.agora.rtc2.IRtcEngineEventHandler;import io.agora.rtc2.RtcEngine;import io.agora.rtc2.RtcEngineConfig;import io.agora.rtc2.video.VideoCanvas;public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {    private static final int PERMISSION_REQ_ID = 22;    private String myAppId = "<Your app ID>";    private String channelName = "<Your channel name>";    private String token = "<Your token>";    private RtcEngine mRtcEngine;    private final IRtcEngineEventHandler mRtcEventHandler = new IRtcEngineEventHandler() {        // Callback when successfully joining the channel        @Override        public void onJoinChannelSuccess(String channel, int uid, int elapsed) {            super.onJoinChannelSuccess(channel, uid, elapsed);            showToast("Joined channel " + channel);        }        // Callback when a remote user or host joins the current channel        @Override        public void onUserJoined(int uid, int elapsed) {            super.onUserJoined(uid, elapsed);            runOnUiThread(() -> {                // When a remote user joins the channel, display the remote video stream for the specified uid                setupRemoteVideo(uid);                showToast("User joined: " + uid); // Show toast for user joining            });        }        // Callback when a remote user or host leaves the current channel        @Override        public void onUserOffline(int uid, int reason) {            super.onUserOffline(uid, reason);            runOnUiThread(() -> {                showToast("User offline: " + uid); // Show toast for user going offline            });        }    };    @Override    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);        if (checkPermissions()) {            startVideoCalling();        } else {            requestPermissions();        }    }    private void requestPermissions() {        ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, getRequiredPermissions(), PERMISSION_REQ_ID);    }    private boolean checkPermissions() {        for (String permission : getRequiredPermissions()) {            if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, permission) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {                return false;            }        }        return true;    }    private String[] getRequiredPermissions() {        if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.S) {            return new String[]{                Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO,                Manifest.permission.CAMERA,                Manifest.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE,                Manifest.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT            };        } else {            return new String[]{                Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO,                Manifest.permission.CAMERA            };        }    }    @Override    public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, @NonNull String[] permissions, @NonNull int[] grantResults) {        super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults);        if (requestCode == PERMISSION_REQ_ID && checkPermissions()) {            startVideoCalling();        }    }    private void startVideoCalling() {        initializeAgoraVideoSDK();        enableVideo();        setupLocalVideo();        joinChannel();    }    private void initializeAgoraVideoSDK() {        try {            RtcEngineConfig config = new RtcEngineConfig();            config.mContext = getBaseContext();            config.mAppId = myAppId;            config.mEventHandler = mRtcEventHandler;            mRtcEngine = RtcEngine.create(config);        } catch (Exception e) {            throw new RuntimeException("Error initializing RTC engine: " + e.getMessage());        }    }    private void enableVideo() {        mRtcEngine.enableVideo();        mRtcEngine.startPreview();    }    private void setupLocalVideo() {        FrameLayout container = findViewById(R.id.local_video_view_container);        SurfaceView surfaceView = new SurfaceView(getBaseContext());        container.addView(surfaceView);        mRtcEngine.setupLocalVideo(new VideoCanvas(surfaceView, VideoCanvas.RENDER_MODE_FIT, 0));    }    private void joinChannel() {        ChannelMediaOptions options = new ChannelMediaOptions();        options.clientRoleType = Constants.CLIENT_ROLE_BROADCASTER;        options.channelProfile = Constants.CHANNEL_PROFILE_COMMUNICATION;        options.publishCameraTrack = true;        options.publishMicrophoneTrack = true;        mRtcEngine.joinChannel(token, channelName, 0, options);    }    private void setupRemoteVideo(int uid) {        FrameLayout container = findViewById(R.id.remote_video_view_container);        SurfaceView surfaceView = new SurfaceView(getBaseContext());        surfaceView.setZOrderMediaOverlay(true);        container.addView(surfaceView);        mRtcEngine.setupRemoteVideo(new VideoCanvas(surfaceView, VideoCanvas.RENDER_MODE_FIT, uid));    }    @Override    protected void onDestroy() {        super.onDestroy();        cleanupAgoraEngine();    }    private void cleanupAgoraEngine() {        if (mRtcEngine != null) {            mRtcEngine.stopPreview();            mRtcEngine.leaveChannel();            mRtcEngine = null;        }    }    private void showToast(String message) {        runOnUiThread(() -> Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, message, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show());    }}
info

For the myAppId and token variables, replace the placeholders with the values you obtained from Agora Console. Ensure you enter the same channelName you used when generating the temporary token.

Create a user interface​

To connect the sample code to your existing UI, ensure that your XML layout includes the container UI element IDs used to Display the local video and Display remote video.

Alternatively, use the following sample code to generate a basic user interface. Replace the existing content in /app/src/main/res/layout/activity_main.xml with this code.

UI design

Sample code to create the user interface
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"    android:layout_width="match_parent"    android:layout_height="match_parent"    tools:context=".MainActivity">    <FrameLayout        android:id="@+id/local_video_view_container"        android:layout_width="match_parent"        android:layout_height="match_parent"        android:background="@android:color/white" />    <FrameLayout        android:id="@+id/remote_video_view_container"        android:layout_width="160dp"        android:layout_height="160dp"        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"        android:background="@android:color/darker_gray"        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" /></androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>

Test the sample code​

Take the following steps to test the sample code:

  1. In MainActivity update the values for myAppId, and token with values from Agora Console. Fill in the same channelName you used to generate the token.

  2. Enable developer options on your Android test device. Turn on USB debugging, connect the Android device to your development machine through a USB cable, and check that your device appears in the Android device options.

  3. In Android Studio, click Sync Project with Gradle Files to resolve project dependencies and update the configuration.

  4. After synchronization is successful, click Run app. Android Studio starts compilation. After a few moments, the app is installed on your Android device.

  1. Launch the App, grant recording and camera permissions. If you set the user role to host, you will see yourself in the local view.

  1. On a second Android device, repeat the previous steps to install and launch the app. Alternatively, use the Web demo to join the same channel and test the following use-cases:

    • If users on both devices join the channel as hosts, they can see and hear each other.
    • If one user joins as host and the other as audience, the host can see themselves in the local video window; the audience can see the host in the remote video window and hear the host.

Reference​

This section contains content that completes the information on this page, or points you to documentation that explains other aspects to this product.

  • If a firewall is deployed in your network environment, refer to Connect with Cloud Proxy to use Agora services normally.

Next steps​

After implementing the quickstart sample, read the following documents to learn more:

  • To ensure communication security in a test or production environment, best practice is to obtain and use a token from an authentication server. For details, see Secure authentication with tokens.

Video Calling