Background Audio

On a phone, users leave your app all the time during a call: to check a message, look up a document, or lock the screen. Without setup, the OS may pause your app, and the call goes silent. This page shows how to keep a call's audio going when the user switches away from your mobile app.

Words used here:

• Background: your app is still running, but not on screen.
• Audio session: the phone's setting for how your app plays and records sound (for example, "this is a call, use the earpiece").
• Background mode: an iOS setting that tells the OS your app may keep running in the background for a reason, like playing audio.

What happens automatically

The SDK starts an audio session before join() connects, and stops it on leave() / dispose(). You don't need to do anything in code. You only need the iOS config change below.

If your app already manages its own audio session, turn this off:

new Livqeno({ manageAudioSession: false }); // your app already owns the audio session

When the app goes to the background:

• The call stays connected. A quick app switch shouldn't kick someone out of a meeting.
• Video stops (the OS pauses the camera) and starts again when the user comes back.
• The SDK tells you about the change, so you can react:

new Livqeno({
  onAppStateChange: (state) => {
    // 'active' | 'background' — your call, not automatic
  },
});

Keep audio playing in the background (iOS)

This is a one-time change to your iOS project config, not code. For audio to keep playing in the background, add the audio background mode to ios/YourApp/Info.plist:

<key>UIBackgroundModes</key>
<array>
  <string>audio</string>
</array>

Leave the call when the app goes to the background

Some apps would rather end the call, for example a quick video check-in that shouldn't keep running in someone's pocket. That's up to you. Use onAppStateChange with leave():

const livqeno = new Livqeno({
  onAppStateChange: (state) => {
    if (state === 'background') void livqeno.leave();
  },
});

What to expect

Common problems

Tips for production

• App Store review may ask why your app needs the audio background mode. Be ready to explain.
• Test on a real device: lock the screen and switch apps. A simulator isn't enough.

Related

• Reconnection: how the app state and network recovery work.
• React Native SDK: the full production checklist.