Frequently asked questions
Everything you might want to know about using Omingle: how matching works, what happens to your data, and how we keep chats safe. New here? Start with our step-by-step guide.
Getting started
What is Omingle?
Omingle is a free website for random one-on-one text and video chat with strangers. You open the site, confirm you are 18 or older, and you are paired with someone at random. There is no account, profile or friend list.
Do I need to sign up or download anything?
No. Omingle runs in your web browser on desktop and mobile. There is nothing to install and no email, phone number or password. You can optionally type a display name so your chat partner sees something friendlier than "Stranger".
Is Omingle really free?
Yes. Text chat, video chat, interest matching and Omingle Companions are all free, and there are no paid filters or premium tiers. The site is supported by advertising on its static pages, such as the blog. There are no ads inside live chats.
Why do I have to be 18?
Omingle connects strangers in live, unmoderated conversations, which is not appropriate for children. The service is for adults only, and anyone reported as appearing to be a minor is removed straight away.
Which devices and browsers work?
Any modern browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge, on Windows, Mac, Android or iPhone. Video chat needs camera and microphone permission. If you opened Omingle inside an app like Instagram or TikTok, open it in your normal browser instead, because those built-in browsers often block the camera.
Matching and chatting
How does matching work?
If you add interest tags, Omingle first tries to pair you with someone who shares at least one of them. If nobody with a shared interest shows up within about 10 seconds, you can be matched with anyone who is waiting, starting with whoever has waited longest.
How many interests can I add?
Up to five tags, each up to 20 characters. Tags are not case-sensitive, so "Music" and "music" match. Language or country tags such as "hindi", "urdu" or "uk" work too and help you meet people who speak your language.
What do the Stop, Next and Report buttons do?
Stop ends the current chat. Next ends it and immediately looks for a new partner. Report flags the person for review and ends the chat. On mobile video chat you can also swipe left for Next and right to go back home.
Can I text while on a video call?
Yes. Open the Chat panel during a video call to send text messages, which helps when audio is bad or you are somewhere quiet.
Why is nobody connecting?
Usually it just means few people are online at that moment, especially if you are using very specific interest tags. Try removing a tag or two, or try again at a busier time of day.
Omingle Companions
What is an Omingle Companion?
An Omingle Companion is an AI chat partner. You can choose a named companion yourself in the Companion tab, and in text chat you may be connected to one if no real person is available after about 15 seconds. Companion chats are always labeled, and the ⓘ next to the label explains that it is AI.
Can I switch from a Companion to a real person?
Yes. While you chat with a Companion in text mode, Omingle keeps looking for a real person. When someone becomes available, you will see a "real stranger is available" prompt and can switch with one tap or stay in your current chat.
Are Companion chats private?
Messages in a Companion chat are sent to our AI provider to generate replies. We do not store the conversation ourselves. Treat a Companion like any stranger and do not share personal information.
Safety and privacy
Does Omingle record or store my chats?
No. Text messages between people are relayed in real time and not stored. Video and audio travel peer-to-peer through WebRTC, so the video never passes through our servers. We keep only basic session data, such as when a chat started and ended, for 30 days.
Can the other person see my IP address?
Because video is peer-to-peer, your IP address may be visible to the person you are matched with on video. When a direct connection is not possible, a relay server is used instead and your IP is not shared with them. An IP address usually reveals only a rough area, not your home.
Can someone record me?
Omingle does not record chats, but no website can stop someone from screen-recording or filming their screen. Assume anything you show on camera could be saved, and never do anything you would not want shared.
What happens when I report someone?
Reports are recorded with the reason you choose. If several different people report the same user within 24 hours, that user is banned automatically for 24 hours, and repeated reports within a week lead to a 7-day ban. A report that someone appears to be a minor triggers an immediate 72-hour ban while it is reviewed.
How do bans work?
Bans apply to both the IP address and the browser of the banned user, so simply reopening the site does not get around them. Most automatic bans expire after a set time. Serious violations can lead to permanent removal.
Is text chat filtered?
Yes. Text messages pass through a profanity filter. Messages are also rate-limited, so nobody can flood a chat or blast the same message to many people.
Troubleshooting
My camera or microphone is not working.
Check that you allowed camera and microphone access when the browser asked. If you blocked it, re-enable it in your browser's site settings and reload. Also close other apps that might be using the camera, like Zoom or WhatsApp.
The other person's video is black or keeps freezing.
This is almost always the network. Some school, office and mobile networks make direct video connections difficult. Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and use the text panel if video will not cooperate.
Didn't find your answer? Read our safety guide, the community guidelines, or get in touch.