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Webex defaults to video on outbound PSTN call

When an end user places an outbound PSTN call from webex desktop application by hitting the keyboard ENTER key, the call is initiated as Video call by default.

We have found no way to define audio call as a default option. Often the video call is not a problem, but for some office like the one working for domestic violence / sexual abuse foundation, this is a huge concern.

Can we please add a menu option under webex application setting to define audio or video call as a default option ?

  • Guest
  • Jan 31 2022
  • Shipped
  • Aaron Gardner commented
    June 27, 2023 10:41

    When starting a call using the Enter key, it defaults to Video. When clicking with the mouse on Audio call, we can have an Audio call without video being turned on.

    This difference in behaviour is unintuitive and when Webex calls are made through CRM's and other applications, it is not always possible to ensure the call is treated as Audio only because Webex defaults to using Video.

    We also suspected that behaviour can differ depending on which Windows protocol passes the instruction to Webex ("clicktocall:" vs "tel:" etc.) even if the EXE is the same.

    When this issue is addressed, please ensure that the default Video on/off setting for outgoing calls can be changed by users in the *** application settings ***, rather than by administrators in the Control Hub, as some users / licences won't have access to this.

    We saw this issue when using Webex through hosted VOIP systems - no access to a Control Hub and as per other comments, may not have made a difference anyway.

    When calls started as Video were switched to Audio by doing the "Stop Video" option, the video codec had already been sent out and the call would fail if a recipient couldn't complete the handshake with the right codec. This led to some severe telephony problems that remain unsolved. Perhaps this could be changed so that even if Video is on, a failure to connect with the right codec would drop the call to Audio and retry?



  • Markus Wendt commented
    April 26, 2023 09:31

    In Europe we have the problem that video codec negotiation between providers is not specified yet. This can lead to severe problems in setting up and maintaining PSTN calls. Even complete mid call interruptions do occur because video is enabled as default on Webex.

  • Marco commented
    September 13, 2022 04:40

    The default should have been audio call from the start. Please give us the option to choose our default! I've tried disabling video calling through Control Hub for myself, but as I'm an admin I think it's still allowing me to do so... Very frustrating!

  • Ben commented
    July 22, 2022 05:26

    This is a major privacy issue for multi-tenanted environments where clients call each other and video is forced through.

  • Guest commented
    June 21, 2022 23:31

    Default calling behavior needs to be a setting in Control Hub. This current behavior brings up some major privacy concerns and needs to be addressed.

  • Erick Flores commented
    June 10, 2022 19:24

    Has this feature been added to the Webex desktop app?

  • Eros Fornari commented
    March 15, 2022 12:45

    To clarify for the Product team, this refers to on-net calls in particular where calls will be established in Video

  • Guest commented
    March 15, 2022 11:24

    This has privacy concerns if the user unknowing turns on video. Please add this feature.

  • Lauren Nobbs commented
    February 15, 2022 00:25

    Please add this feature!

  • Guest commented
    February 14, 2022 22:09

    please add this!


  • Shelley Swainson commented
    February 14, 2022 03:33

    Thanks for submitting, hope it gets enough votes to pass.

  • Nick Grant commented
    February 07, 2022 15:09

    Would like to see an option for setting organizational default calling in the Control Hub as well.

  • Tha'er Imseeh commented
    February 04, 2022 17:55

    Great feature!

  • Muhammad Danish Moosa commented
    February 02, 2022 00:42

    That would be an amazing feature

  • Guest commented
    January 31, 2022 00:55

    This would be a great feature!