Idle Timeout

The idle timeout feature automatically ends a call session when a participant is alone for a specified period. This prevents abandoned calls from running indefinitely.

Configure Idle Timeout

Set the idle timeout period when creating call settings:

import { CometChatCalls } from '@cometchat/calls-sdk-react-native';

const callSettings = new CometChatCalls.CallSettingsBuilder()
  .setIdleTimeoutPeriod(180) // 180 seconds (3 minutes)
  .build();

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
idleTimeoutPeriod	number	180	Seconds before auto-ending when alone

How It Works

1. When all other participants leave the call, the idle timeout timer starts
2. A prompt appears 60 seconds before the timeout, allowing the user to extend the session
3. If the user doesn’t respond, the session ends automatically
4. If another participant joins, the timer is cancelled

Listen for Timeout Events

Session Timeout Event

Listen for when the session times out:

CometChatCalls.addEventListener('onSessionTimedOut', () => {
  console.log('Session timed out due to inactivity');
  // Navigate away from call screen
});

Using OngoingCallListener

const callListener = new CometChatCalls.OngoingCallListener({
  onSessionTimeout: () => {
    console.log('Session timed out');
    // Handle timeout
  },
  onCallEnded: () => {
    console.log('Call ended');
  },
});

const callSettings = new CometChatCalls.CallSettingsBuilder()
  .setIdleTimeoutPeriod(180)
  .setCallEventListener(callListener)
  .build();

Disable Idle Timeout

Set a very high value to effectively disable the timeout:

const callSettings = new CometChatCalls.CallSettingsBuilder()
  .setIdleTimeoutPeriod(86400) // 24 hours
  .build();

Complete Example

import React, { useEffect, useCallback } from 'react';
import { Alert } from 'react-native';
import { CometChatCalls } from '@cometchat/calls-sdk-react-native';

interface CallScreenProps {
  sessionId: string;
  onCallEnd: () => void;
}

function CallScreen({ sessionId, onCallEnd }: CallScreenProps) {
  const handleSessionTimeout = useCallback(() => {
    Alert.alert(
      'Session Ended',
      'The call has ended due to inactivity.',
      [
        {
          text: 'OK',
          onPress: onCallEnd,
        },
      ]
    );
  }, [onCallEnd]);

  useEffect(() => {
    const unsubscribe = CometChatCalls.addEventListener(
      'onSessionTimedOut',
      handleSessionTimeout
    );

    return () => unsubscribe();
  }, [handleSessionTimeout]);

  useEffect(() => {
    async function initializeCall() {
      try {
        const { token } = await CometChatCalls.generateToken(sessionId);

        const listener = new CometChatCalls.OngoingCallListener({
          onSessionTimeout: handleSessionTimeout,
          onCallEnded: onCallEnd,
        });

        const settings = new CometChatCalls.CallSettingsBuilder()
          .setIdleTimeoutPeriod(180) // 3 minutes
          .setCallEventListener(listener)
          .build();

        // Render call component with token and settings
      } catch (error) {
        console.error('Failed to initialize call:', error);
      }
    }

    initializeCall();
  }, [sessionId, handleSessionTimeout, onCallEnd]);

  // ... render call UI
  return null;
}

export default CallScreen;

Timeout Behavior

Scenario	Behavior
User is alone	Timer starts counting down
Another participant joins	Timer is cancelled
User extends session	Timer resets
Timer expires	Session ends, onSessionTimedOut fires

Related Documentation

• Session Settings - Configure call settings
• Events - Handle timeout events
• Join Session - Start a call session