# Make a call

Start a Live call with a bot from any thread, on Machine Desktop or your phone, and allow the microphone the first time.

Canonical page: https://themachine.myapps.ai/docs/desktop/live/make-a-call

Once a bot has a [Glyph key](/docs/desktop/live/set-up-glyph), you can call it
from any of its threads.

## On Machine Desktop

### Open the thread

Open the bot and the thread you want to talk about. The call's transcript
goes back to this thread when you hang up.
### Click Live

Click **Live** at the top of the chat, next to search.

![The Live button in the chat header](/images/docs/desktop/live-header-button.webp)
### Allow the microphone

The first time, your computer may ask to let Machine Desktop use the
microphone. Allow it. See [Microphone access](#microphone-access) if you
said no.
### Start talking

The call fills the window. When the status next to the bot's name says
**Listening**, talk normally. The bot answers out loud.

## On your phone

### Open the thread

Open the bot, then the thread.
### Tap the Live button

With the message box empty, a round button with a sound-wave icon sits at the
right of the box. Tap it. The first time, a tip explains it: *"Tap to start a
voice call. When you hang up, the call lands back in this thread."*

![On a phone, the Live button sits at the end of the message box](/images/docs/desktop/phone-live-tip.webp)
### Allow the microphone

Your phone asks to let Machine use the microphone. Tap **Allow**.

The call opens full screen. See [Live on your phone](/docs/desktop/mobile/live-on-your-phone)
for the phone's call controls.

> **Where's the Live button?**
> On a phone, the button shows only while the message box is empty. Clear the
> box, or send what you typed first. It's also hidden in group chats, which
> don't have calls.

## What happens when a call starts

1. **Connecting…** Machine checks the bot's Glyph key and opens the call. It
   usually takes a couple of seconds.
2. **Listening.** The bot is ready. Say hello.
3. The bot already knows **who it is and what this thread is about**, so you
   can pick up where the chat left off: "So, about those desks. Which one
   would you actually buy?"

If the bot has no Glyph key yet, you'll see **Talk with Writer live** instead.
Paste a key once and the call starts. See [Set up Glyph](/docs/desktop/live/set-up-glyph).

## One call at a time

- You can have **one call per bot** at a time.
- On Machine Desktop, the call covers the window until you hang up. Hang up
  before you move to another bot.
- On a phone you can shrink the call to a bar and keep using the app. See
  [Live on your phone](/docs/desktop/mobile/live-on-your-phone).

## Microphone access

Live calls need the microphone. If Machine can't use it, the call screen
shows a red message and the bot can't hear you.

| Device | Turn the microphone on |
|---|---|
| **Windows** | **Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone**. Turn on **Microphone access** and **Let desktop apps access your microphone**. |
| **Mac** | **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone**. Turn on **Machine Desktop**. |
| **Android** | **Settings → Apps → Machine → Permissions → Microphone → Allow**. |
| **iPhone and iPad** | **Settings → Machine → Microphone**. |

Then end the call and start it again.

> **On iPhone and iPad**
> On iPhone and iPad, Live calls use a simpler connection to Glyph. You can talk
> just the same, but the bot can't use Glyph's tools on the call, such as making
> images. The call screen says so. [Live settings](/docs/desktop/live/live-settings)
> don't apply there yet either: every call is hands-free, with Glyph's default
> voice. Everything works fully on Machine Desktop and Android.