How WomChat works: your first video chat, step by step

Your first chat in eight steps

Here is the whole journey, from opening the page to your first conversation. Each step is explained in more detail below.

1. Scroll to the top of this page, where the chat window is already loaded.
2. Tap the start button. Your browser asks for permission to use your camera and microphone: allow both.
3. Check your own preview: face in the frame, light in front of you, sound working.
4. Start the free trial. You don't need to fill in a sign-up form to begin.
5. Wait a moment while the chat matches you, one-to-one and at random, with a woman who is online.
6. Say hello on camera or type a message; written messages are translated into her language automatically.
7. Tap next to move on to someone else, or use Report if a person breaks the rules.
8. When the trial ends and you want to keep chatting, create an account and look at the paid options.

Step 1–2: opening the chat and the permission prompt

Every WomChat page shows the live chat at the top, so there is nothing to install. On a phone, the chat opens inside your browser; on a computer, any recent browser with a webcam works.

The first time you start, your browser shows its own pop-up asking whether this site may use your camera and microphone. This prompt comes from the browser, not from WomChat, and it only grants access to this site. Choose Allow for both. If you tap Block by mistake, the chat can't see or hear you until you change the setting; camera and microphone permissions shows how to undo it on iPhone, Android and desktop, and Google's Chrome help page covers Chrome specifically.

Step 3–5: starting the free trial and getting matched

Before your first match, take ten seconds to check your preview. Your face must be visible on camera, so sit facing a window or lamp rather than with the light behind you. Not sure your devices work? The webcam and mic test checks both in your browser.

Then start the free trial. Matching is one-to-one and random: you can't choose a country or a specific person in advance, and each new match is a surprise. Men are matched with women's profiles that went through the partner's verification, which asks women for passport details when they register. That reduces fake profiles, but no service can guarantee that every conversation goes well, so the skip and report tools are always there.

If you wait and nobody appears, it usually depends on the time of day or your connection. Nobody available lists what to try.

Step 6: talking, with automatic translation

Once you're connected, you see and hear each other live. You can talk out loud, type in the text chat, or both. Anything you write is translated automatically into your partner's language, and her replies arrive in yours.

Voice is not translated or subtitled. When you don't share a language, the best chats mix short written messages with smiles, gestures and a few simple words on camera. Here is how a first exchange can look:

• Write short, complete sentences; slang and abbreviations translate badly.
• Ask open questions about her city, food or plans for the weekend.
• If something gets lost in translation, rephrase rather than repeat. See how translation works.

Step 7: skip with next, or report

Not every match will click, and that's normal on a random chat. Tap next to move on; the other person can do the same. A polite "nice to meet you, have a good day" before skipping costs two seconds.

If someone is rude, shows something inappropriate, seems underage or uses a fake or recorded video, use the Report tool in the chat. Reports go to the partner's moderation team, which works around the clock alongside automated checks.

Step 8: when you need an account and when a paid option appears

You can start without a sign-up form. An account becomes necessary when you want to keep chatting after the free trial or buy something, because purchased minutes and Premium are stored on it. When you create one, the partner's system takes a photo from your camera to use as your profile picture, as described in its terms.

A paid option appears when the trial runs out or when you choose Premium. You'll see two kinds of purchase, minute packages and Premium packages, with the price in US dollars shown before you confirm. They are sold and billed by the video chat partner, not by WomChat. Our pricing guide explains each option, auto-renewal and refunds.

Rules that matter before you start

The chat is moderated, and these rules from the partner's chat rules apply to everyone:

• Adults only: you must be 18 or older. In the UK, the partner asks for age assurance by facial age estimation or a selfie video with a passport.
• Keep your webcam on and your face visible. Face visibility only becomes optional with an active Premium account.
• No pre-recorded video, freeze-frames or screenshots in place of a live camera. Moderators may join a chat and ask for a gesture to check that video is live.
• Don't record other users. Be respectful; abusive behaviour gets accounts removed.

Privacy: what happens to your data

WomChat itself doesn't ask for your name. The person you talk to sees your video and what you write, so share personal details only if and when you want to.

Accounts, matching and moderation run on the video chat partner's platform. The partner processes data such as your IP address, and may record chats and take moderation screenshots, as described in the partner's privacy policy. Don't assume a random chat is anonymous; our privacy policy and safety guide explain the rest.

If something doesn't work, and what to say first

Most first-time problems are permissions or the browser. Start here:

• Black screen or no video: camera not working.
• You blocked the prompt or it never appeared: camera and microphone permissions.
• Searching forever: nobody available.
• Opened from an app: in-app browser video chat.