# Video calls and knocking

> Call a teammate one to one from Chat or the People Map, answer or decline calls, transcribe a call with their agreement, and knock to ask for a word.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/calls-and-knock
Section: Communicate > Chat and calls
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-15

A video call is the quickest way to talk to one teammate: one click and their PlexiDesk rings. A knock is lighter still. It lets someone know you would like a word, and they choose when to answer, with a chat message or by calling you back.

Use a call when you need an answer now. Use a knock when you would like to talk but do not want to interrupt. For more than two people, start a meeting instead. See [PlexiiMeet: meetings](https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-overview).

## Before you start

- **Sign in.** Calls and knocks go between signed-in PlexiDesk users. See [Create an account and sign in](https://plexiidesk.com/help/account-sign-in).
- **Your teammate needs to be online** to answer. See [Presence and your status](https://plexiidesk.com/help/people-presence).
- **Allow your camera and microphone.** The first time you call or answer, your computer may ask you to let PlexiDesk use them. On a Mac, see [Allow microphone, camera and screen recording on a Mac](https://plexiidesk.com/help/mac-permissions).
- **Plans.** Video calls are part of every plan. Knocking, and calling from the map, start from the People Map, which is part of the Team plan. See [People Map](https://plexiidesk.com/help/people-map).

## Call a teammate

From a direct message in Chat:

1. Open your conversation with the person. See [PlexiiChat: channels and messages](https://plexiidesk.com/help/chat-overview).
2. Click **Call** at the top of the conversation. Its tooltip reads **Start a video call**.

In the **Message** tab of the Plexii panel, the same button is called **Meet**. In a direct message it calls the person straight away. See [Open, move and resize the Plexii panel](https://plexiidesk.com/help/plexii-panel).

From the People Map:

1. Point at a teammate who is online.
2. Click the video camera beside their name. Its tooltip reads **Call** and their name.

A call window appears at the bottom right of PlexiDesk. Its top line shows their name and where the call is: **Calling…**, **Connecting…**, then **Connected**. When they answer, their video fills the window and yours sits in the corner.

### During the call

The buttons along the bottom of the call window:

| Button | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Mute** or **Unmute** | Turns your microphone off or back on. |
| **Turn camera off** or **Turn camera on** | Stops or restarts your video. |
| **End call** (red) | Hangs up for both of you. |

The call window stays on top while you work elsewhere in PlexiDesk.

## Answer a call

When someone calls you, a card appears at the bottom right with their name and **Incoming video call…**. A desktop notification appears too, even when PlexiDesk is in front.

- Click **Accept** to answer. PlexiDesk turns on your camera and microphone and connects.
- Click **Decline** to turn it down. They see that you declined.

If you are already on a call, a new incoming call is declined for you.

## Transcribe a call

A call can be transcribed and summarised like a meeting, with the other person's agreement.

1. In the side menu, under **Apps**, click **Meet** in the **PlexiiApps** group.
2. Under **RECORDING**, below the **Meetings** list, tick **Transcribe & summarise my 1:1 calls (the other person is asked)**.

From then on, when one of your calls connects, PlexiDesk starts recording your microphone and asks the other person. They see a note under the video saying that you **asked Plexii to transcribe this call**, that it is recorded and transcribed on your computer, and that if they decline their voice is never captured and the call carries on.

They click **Yes, transcribe** or **Not my voice**. If they have the same setting turned on, that counts as a yes, so they are not asked.

A line at the bottom of the video says where things stand:

| The line says | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| **Recording · asking** and their name | They have not answered yet. Only your voice is being recorded. |
| **Recording · you and** their name **consented** | Both voices are being recorded. |
| **Recording · only you —** their name **declined (not recorded)** | Only your voice is recorded. The call carries on as normal. |
| Their name **is transcribing this call — their machine, not yours** | They asked, and you agreed. The recording is on their computer. |

To stop recording before the call ends, click **Stop** on that line. What was recorded so far is still wrapped up when the call ends.

When the call ends, the wrap-up opens with a summary and anything worth following up, and the call is saved in PlexiiMeet as **Call with** and their name. See [Meeting wrap-up and records](https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-wrap-up-and-records) and [Recording, consent and transcripts](https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-recording-and-consent).

## Knock to ask for a word

1. Open the People Map and point at a teammate who is online. See [People Map](https://plexiidesk.com/help/people-map).
2. Click the door beside their name. Its tooltip reads **Knock** and their name.

When it is outside their working hours, the door becomes a moon, and its tooltip adds **(it is after hours for them)**. You can still knock, but think about whether it can wait.

### When someone knocks on you

A card appears at the top right: their name, **knocked**, and **wants to reach you**. Choose:

- **Reply** to open a direct message with them in Chat.
- **Call back** to start a video call with them.
- **The cross** to dismiss it.

When PlexiDesk is in the background, a desktop notification tells you who knocked. Click it to reply.

A knock is not kept anywhere. Once you dismiss it, it is gone, and a newer knock replaces the one on screen.

## When a call does not connect

| You see | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| Their name, then **declined the call.** | They turned the call down. Try a knock or a message instead. |
| **Could not access your microphone or camera. Check system permissions.** | PlexiDesk could not use your camera or microphone. Allow them and try again. |
| **The connection failed.** | The two computers could not connect over the networks you are on. Try again, or try from a different network. |

## Tips

- **Knock before you call.** A knock lets someone finish what they are doing and reply when they are ready.
- **Look at their status first.** If someone is in focus or busy, a knock or a recorded message may be kinder than a call. See [Send a video or voice message](https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-video-voice-messages).
- **Mind the moon.** On the People Map, a moon on the knock button means it is after hours for them.

## Common questions

**Can I make an audio-only call?** Calls start with video. Click **Turn camera off** once you are connected to talk with audio only.

**Can I add a third person to a call?** No. A call is between two people. For more, start a meeting. See [Start or schedule a meeting](https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-start-or-schedule).

**Can I add a note to a knock?** No. A knock just says **wants to reach you**. To say more, send a message in Chat.

**Is a call recorded automatically?** No. A call is only transcribed when one of you has turned on **Transcribe & summarise my 1:1 calls**. The other person's voice is recorded only once they agree, either by clicking **Yes, transcribe** or because they have the same setting turned on.

## Related tasks

- [PlexiiChat: channels and messages](https://plexiidesk.com/help/chat-overview)
- [People Map](https://plexiidesk.com/help/people-map)
- [Presence and your status](https://plexiidesk.com/help/people-presence)
- [Recording, consent and transcripts](https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-recording-and-consent)
- [Meeting wrap-up and records](https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-wrap-up-and-records)
- [Send a video or voice message](https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-video-voice-messages)