Element Call may not function correctly on certain devices.

[YamatoRyou]

Steps to reproduce

Enter a room that supports Element Call and initiate a call.

Outcome

What did you expect?

n/a

What happened instead?

Element Call fails to prepare as expected, instead displaying "Join as a guest".
A few seconds later, an EXA pop-up appears with an error message.
The embedded version of Element Call was used during testing.

A video demonstration:
https://youtube.com/shorts/oKfGPcV8ezc

Logs:
{5F842310-1EE1-88B2-040F-9BDC9C3E62CA}.zip
Password: {D3934BE6-BE70-1990-C585-971F41DB7B00}
Please download this file as soon as possible.

---

The test device is not mine, and it appears this issue only occurs on a limited number of specific devices. All my own Android devices are working fine.

Related: element-hq/element-call#3519

Your phone model

Redmi Note 12 Tutbo

Operating system version

HyperOS 1.0.18 (Android 14)

Application version and app store

Element 26.3.0-nightly (67d9049)

Homeserver

Synapse 1.148.0

Will you send logs?

Yes

Are you willing to provide a PR?

No

[jmartinesp]

From the logs:

// These look fine
03-07 03:40:01.294 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: properties: {"widgetId":"57146930-2398-41f0-a79d-85259b494582","parentUrl":"https://appassets.androidplatform.net/element-call/index.html","roomId":"!TxkGysRFDuDmqKPRpR:dl.example.com","password":null,"userId":"@test8:dl.example.com","displayName":"test8","deviceId":"...","baseUrl":"https://matrix-synapse.example.com:18009/","lang":"zh-CN","fonts":[],"fontScale":null,"theme":"light","viaServers":null,"homeserver":null,"posthogApiHost":null,"posthogApiKey":null,"posthogUserId":null,"rageshakeSubmitUrl":"https://element.io/bugreports/submit","sentryDsn":null,"sentryEnvironment":"DEBUG","e2eEnabled":true} configuration: {"preload":false,"perParticipantE2EE":false,"noiseSuppression":true,"echoCancellation":true} | 
...
// I don't see these when trying to open a call myself. I'm not sure why the register endpoint is used by EC though
03-07 03:40:01.561 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: [ElementCall] :2 FetchHttpApi: --> POST http://localhost:8008/_matrix/client/v3/register | 
...
03-07 03:40:01.568  E org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: onReceivedError error: -6 net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED | 
...
03-07 03:40:01.622 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: [ElementCall] :2 FetchHttpApi: <-- POST http://localhost:8008/_matrix/client/v3/register [61ms TypeError: Failed to fetch] | 

Maybe someone from @element-hq/voip should take a look?

[bmarty]

I think this is due to Element Call lobby to be displayed, and after 10s, the application consider that Element Call did not load correctly and show an error. Code: https://github.com/element-hq/element-x-android/blob/develop/features/call/impl/src/main/kotlin/io/element/android/features/call/impl/ui/CallScreenPresenter.kt#L158

We may want to remove this code since EC code is included in the app. Initially this error dialog was added to handle the no network case, where a ugly error web page was displayed. But now when starting a call in airplane mode, user will see this:

Not ideal/helpful, but not ugly.

[jmartinesp]

But that doesn't really solve the issue of EC not having the actual user's profile and using that to start the call, right? I think the latter is just a side-effect of EC not returning a 'call ready' notification from the widget, but that's because the call itself wasn't properly set up AFAICT.

[toger5]

This looks like EC is not started as a widget. The view shown in the YT video should never be visible in widget mode.
Checking the logs this is the url that is used:

https://appassets.androidplatform.net/element-call/index.html#?userId=%40test8%3Adl.example.com&roomId=%21TxkGysRFDuDmqKPRpR%3Adl.example.com&widgetId=57146930-2398-41f0-a79d-85259b494582&displayName=test8&lang=zh-CN&theme=light&clientId=0944d67b-f528-4158-bff7-4bbed472e4e5&deviceId=QgH1PpngBTJ%2B2I62iq1K77CjYWLxyr7MJrECQJ09hQQ&baseUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmatrix-synapse.example.com%3A18009%2F&parentUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fappassets.androidplatform.net%2Felement-call%2Findex.html&preload=false&perParticipantE2EE=false&intent=start_call_dm&rageshakeSubmitUrl=https%3A%2F%2Felement.io%2Fbugreports%2Fsubmit&sentryEnvironment=DEBUG

which does inlcude widgetId so it is very surprising that it shows the SPA mode.
(This is also the reason for the error screen by EX. If EC is not starting as a widget it does not sent the content_loaded action -> it stops EC after 10s)

But the real issue here is, that we do not start as a widget (the content_loaded action would otherwise be send immediately without needing network responses)

@YamatoRyou any other configuration you might have done? has it ever worked on this device?

[YamatoRyou]

This looks like EC is not started as a widget. The view shown in the YT video should never be visible in widget mode. Checking the logs this is the url that is used:

https://appassets.androidplatform.net/element-call/index.html#?userId=%40test8%3Adl.example.com&roomId=%21TxkGysRFDuDmqKPRpR%3Adl.example.com&widgetId=57146930-2398-41f0-a79d-85259b494582&displayName=test8&lang=zh-CN&theme=light&clientId=0944d67b-f528-4158-bff7-4bbed472e4e5&deviceId=QgH1PpngBTJ%2B2I62iq1K77CjYWLxyr7MJrECQJ09hQQ&baseUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmatrix-synapse.example.com%3A18009%2F&parentUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fappassets.androidplatform.net%2Felement-call%2Findex.html&preload=false&perParticipantE2EE=false&intent=start_call_dm&rageshakeSubmitUrl=https%3A%2F%2Felement.io%2Fbugreports%2Fsubmit&sentryEnvironment=DEBUG

which does inlcude widgetId so it is very surprising that it shows the SPA mode. (This is also the reason for the error screen by EX. If EC is not starting as a widget it does not sent the content_loaded action -> it stops EC after 10s)

But the real issue here is, that we do not start as a widget (the content_loaded action would otherwise be send immediately without needing network responses)

@YamatoRyou any other configuration you might have done? has it ever worked on this device?

There is no additional configuration, and the trial starts immediately after installation. But there are some details worth noting on this device:

• The device is installed with the stable version of EXA (25.11.x); the nightly version (26.3.0-nightly-67d90492) and the debug version installed to try out the voice call function (Support for Voice Call only (no video), parity with web #5995 (comment)). Only the stable version behaves "relatively normal" (There is a problem that it cannot be hung up: Unable to hang up on certain device. element-call#3519)", the above problems have occurred in the other 2 versions;
• The device has been taken away and I cannot provide new logs at the moment.

[toger5]

Thanks @YamatoRyou for catching up on this.
I am wondering if the webview stores any browser context? Does not get deconstructed correctly. I think this view is what we end up with after hangup. (where we expect the app to already have killed the view.)

[YamatoRyou]

Thanks @YamatoRyou for catching up on this. I am wondering if the webview stores any browser context? Does not get deconstructed correctly. I think this view is what we end up with after hangup. (where we expect the app to already have killed the view.)

I cannot judge this. Since the device has already been taken, I need to wait until I receive it again before making the following attempts:

1. Conduct multiple tests, clearing the app data after each test to control for variables;
2. This phone's system is optimized for Chinese users and has a built-in third-party browser, whose data may not be shared with the system's built-in webview (this requires in-depth testing).

You can also share some testing methods you deem suitable (how I should do this), and I will begin immediately upon receiving the device.

[toger5]

has a built-in third-party browser

This sounds very interesting. I am not sure how exactly webviews are done on android. If they can be changed by the builtin browser.
If the browser does not support a feature we require for EC this could also result in the view you are seeing.
It would be great to know what is missing however to provide better user feedback.

[jmartinesp]

The WebView component is also updated through Play Store (and maybe other stores?) now: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.webview

Maybe these users have a very outdated or modified version?

[toger5]

from the logs: 03-07 03:40:00.509 25576 25576 I WebViewFactory: Loading com.google.android.webview version 118.0.5993.80 (code 599308033)

[toger5]

This also looks interesting:

03-07 03:40:01.318 25576 25576 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: Audio: enabling webview in-call audio mode | 
03-07 03:40:01.321 25576 25576 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: Adding callback in controls.onAudioPlaybackStarted | 
03-07 03:40:01.322 25576 25576 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: Adding callback in controls.onOutputDeviceSelect | 
03-07 03:40:01.323 25576 25576 E org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: onReceivedError error: -1 发生了网络错误。 | 
03-07 03:40:01.323 25576 25576 E org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: onReceivedHttpError error: 404 Not Found | 
03-07 03:40:01.345 25576 25576 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: [ElementCall] :2 [MediaDevices AudioInput] [audio-input] available devices: {} | 
03-07 03:40:01.347 25576 30402 W cr_media: Requires MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS and RECORD_AUDIO. No audio device will be available for recording
03-07 03:40:01.349 25576 25576 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: [ElementCall] :2 [MediaDevices ControlledAudioOutput] [controlled-output] available devices: {} | 
03-07 03:40:01.351 25576 25576 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: [ElementCall] :2 [MediaDevices ControlledAudioOutput] [controlled-output] available raw devices: [] | 
03-07 03:40:01.352 25576 25576 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: [ElementCall] :2 [MediaDevices VideoInput] [video-input] available devices: {} | 
03-07 03:40:01.353 25576 30402 W cr_media: Requires MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS and RECORD_AUDIO. No audio device will be available for recording
03-07 03:40:01.355 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.355 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.355 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.355 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.360 25576 25576 D org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: Can't start in-call audio mode since the app is already in it. | 
03-07 03:40:01.361 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.361 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.361 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.361 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.365 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.365 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.365 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.365 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.367 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.367 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.367 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.367 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.370 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.370 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.370 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.371 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.374 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.374 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.374 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.374 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.377 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.377 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.377 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.377 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.383 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.383 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.383 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.383 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.386 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.386 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.386 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.387 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.390 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.390 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.391 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.391 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.399 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.399 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.400 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.400 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.404 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.404 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 
03-07 03:40:01.404 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelist"
03-07 03:40:01.404 25576 30432 W libc    : Access denied finding property "vendor.camera.aux.packagelistext"
03-07 03:40:01.407 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: updateCloudCameraControllerInfoAsync: has aleardy start update task.
03-07 03:40:01.407 25576 30432 D CameraInjector: waitForResult: 

Especially this
03-07 03:40:01.323 25576 25576 E org.matrix.rust.sdk: elementx: onReceivedError error: -1 发生了网络错误。 |
Looks like the error might be originated from some custom code. I think all google webview native error codes are translated (in english)