How To Enable Video Call On Samsung | Two Paths, Both Work

Enabling video calls on a Samsung Galaxy phone takes about ten seconds: open the Phone app, enter a number, and tap the camera icon left of the call button, or use the Google Meet (formerly Duo) icon next to any contact.

That quick tap is all most people need. But which icon shows up — the native Samsung camera or Google’s purple camera — depends on your carrier, your OS version, and whether Google Meet is installed. And half the confusion people hit is that one app silently hides the other. Here is exactly how both routes work, which one appears on your phone, and the one-sentence fix if the wrong icon is staring at you.

The Two Video Call Options On Samsung Phones

Samsung Galaxy phones running Android 10 or newer ship with two overlapping video-call systems. The native Samsung Video Call (ViLTE) uses your carrier’s network and shows up as a camera icon on the Phone app’s keypad. Google Meet — which replaced Google Duo in 2022 — adds a second purple camera icon next to contacts and inside the same keypad. If Google Meet is installed, Samsung’s software hides the native ViLTE icon by default, which is where most of the “where did the button go?” frustration comes from.

The right method depends on what your carrier supports and what the person on the other end is using.

What Changes If Google Meet Is Installed

Google Meet quietly overrides the native Samsung video call option. Install Meet, and the carrier ViLTE icon disappears from the Phone app. Uninstall or disable Meet, and Samsung’s own icon returns. Google’s support forum confirms this behavior — it isn’t a setting you toggle; it is a system-level override that happens automatically.

If you prefer the carrier-based video call and want the native icon back, go to Settings > Apps, find Google Meet, and tap Uninstall or Disable. The Samsung camera icon reappears in the Phone app immediately.

Method 1: Native Samsung Video Call (ViLTE)

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the Keypad tab at the bottom.
3. Enter the phone number.
4. Tap the Video call icon — a camera symbol sitting between the Add call and Bluetooth icons, just left of the green voice-call button.
5. If the other person answers from a compatible device on a compatible carrier, the call connects as a live video feed right through the Phone app.

If the camera icon is missing: Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot Menu in the top-right, then Settings. Scroll to Video Calling under Call Settings and toggle it On. On older Galaxy models like the S10 running Android Pie 9.0, this path is the only way to find the switch — it never appears in the general Wireless settings.

• Limits: Native ViLTE requires both callers to use compatible devices on the same or interoperating carriers. Rogers Canada users, for example, can only ViLTE-call other Rogers customers. T-Mobile and Verizon support varies by region.
• No iOS: This method is Android-to-Android only. iPhone users need Google Meet, WhatsApp, or Skype.
• Data: ViLTE uses your cellular data plan. Some carriers charge extra; check your plan before using it heavily.

Method 2: Google Meet (The Default On Most Modern Galaxy Phones)

Google Meet is pre-installed on Galaxy phones running Android 10 or higher, and it is the video caller that works across Android and iOS. The icon looks like a purple or blue camera.

From the Phone app keypad:

1. Open the Phone app and tap the Keypad tab.
2. Enter the number, then tap the Duo/Meet icon (purple camera) to the left of the phone icon.

From a contact:

1. Open the Contacts app and select the person.
2. Tap the Duo/Meet icon next to their name.

If Meet isn’t showing up: Open the Apps screen, look inside the Google folder. If it is not there, download Google Meet from the Play Store, sign in with your Google account, and verify your number via the code sent by SMS.

Video Call Effects: Backgrounds And Filters

Samsung added native video-call effects starting with models like the Galaxy S22 and S25. These let you blur your background, swap in a color block, or use a custom image from your gallery.

1. Go to Settings > Advanced Features.
2. Scroll to Video Call Effects and toggle it On.
3. During a call, tap the effect icon that appears on screen to choose a preset or your own photo.

This works with both the native ViLTE call and Google Meet calls, though the available effects may differ slightly between the two.

Comparison: Native ViLTE vs. Google Meet

Why The Camera Icon Isn’t Showing Up

Most missing-icon problems boil down to one of three things, and each is fixable in under a minute.

• Google Meet is installed and hiding the native icon. Uninstall or disable Meet (Settings > Apps > Google Meet > Uninstall) and the Samsung camera icon returns.
• Video Calling is toggled off in the Phone app’s settings. Open Phone > three-dot Menu > Settings > find the Video Calling switch and turn it on. This is the most common fix on older devices like the S10 or A20.
• The carrier doesn’t support ViLTE. Some smaller carriers or MVNOs never enabled the feature. In that case, Google Meet is your only built-in option, and the native icon simply won’t appear no matter what you toggle. Check your carrier’s website or call support to confirm.

Quick test: If dialing a number and tapping the camera icon does nothing or disconnects, the Samsung Canada official video-call guide confirms the call requires both parties to be on Android and the carrier to support ViLTE. In that case, switch to Google Meet.

The One Setting That Controls Everything

Keeping your phone updated helps too — go to Settings > Software Update > Download and install before troubleshooting any video-call issue, since compatibility patches often ship with system updates.