How to Add Contacts for Video Calls in Videocall

Before you can call someone on Videocall, they need to be in your contacts. The whole system is built around usernames instead of phone numbers or email addresses — here's exactly how it works.

How usernames work

Videocall doesn't use email/password accounts. When you first open the extension, you choose a username. That username is your identity on Videocall — it's what other people search for to find and add you, and it's what you'll search for to find them. There's no verification step and nothing to confirm by email; picking a username is the entire setup.

How to add a contact

  1. Open Videocall from your Chrome toolbar. Make sure you've already added the extension and chosen your own username.
  2. Search for their username. Use the contacts panel to search for the exact username of the person you want to call. Ask them ahead of time what username they picked, the same way you'd ask for a phone number.
  3. Add them to your contacts. Once you find the right username, add it to your contacts list. It's a good idea to ask the other person to add you back by your username too, so you're both set up to call each other.

Why usernames instead of phone numbers or email

Videocall keeps contact info to a minimum on purpose. Because you're only ever adding someone by a username, you're not handing over a phone number or an email address just to have a video chat. It also means there's no account form standing between you and your first call — you decide who can find you by simply choosing what username to share, and with whom.

How to know when a contact is online

Once someone is in your contacts list, Videocall shows their status — whether they're currently online and available. You don't need to message them elsewhere to check if they're free; if their status shows online, they're reachable for a call right then. If they're offline, that's your signal to try again later rather than sending a call that won't connect.

How to start the call

When a contact is online, click the call button next to their name. If your connection allows it, the call connects peer-to-peer over WebRTC, and you'll be talking within moments. If they're offline, you can try again later, or reach out another way to arrange a time. There's no need to schedule anything in advance — Videocall is built for calling the moment both of you happen to be free.

A few practical notes

  • Usernames are case- and spelling-sensitive, so double-check before searching — a small typo means you won't find the right person.
  • Both people need the Videocall extension installed for a call to work, so if a contact search comes up empty, they may not have added it yet.
  • Videocall is desktop-only right now, so contacts on mobile devices won't be reachable until the extension expands beyond Chrome.

Once your contact list is set up, calling is just a click away — and from there it's worth knowing what else you can do mid-call, like sharing files during a video call.

Related guides

Ready when you are.

Free, simple, and right in your browser. Make your next call a Videocall.

Add to Chrome — it's free