Your phone already has everything a video chat needs: a front camera, a microphone and a screen that fits in one hand. That makes it the easiest way to try random video chat, from the sofa or during a break. On PEE.CHAT, the Talk to Stranger page opens straight in the browser of an iPhone or an Android phone. There is no app to install and no account to create, and it is free: tap to start, allow the camera and microphone, and a random person appears on your screen. Skip whenever you want to meet someone else. Phones come with their own small problems, though: a dark face in front of a bright window, an echo from the loudspeaker, a shaky picture, a call that cuts in. Here is how to get started on mobile, then how to look and sound good in every chat.

Start a random video chat on iPhone or Android

On an iPhone, open Safari. On an Android phone, open Chrome. Tap the button on this page, or go to PEE.CHAT and open Talk to Stranger.

Tap to start. The first time, your browser asks whether the site may use your camera and microphone: tap Allow, otherwise the other person cannot see or hear you. You are then matched with a random person who is also looking for a chat. Skip to meet someone new, or leave the page to stop.

One trap is typical of phones: a link tapped inside a messaging or social app often opens in that app's built-in browser, which may not be allowed to use your camera. If nothing happens, open the page in Safari or Chrome instead.

Good light starts with where you sit

A classic mistake on a phone is sitting with a bright window or lamp behind you. The camera adjusts to that brightness and your face turns into a dark silhouette. Turn around so the light falls on your face, and the picture clears up at once.

Daylight from a window in front of you is the easiest light there is. In the evening, put a lamp behind the phone, a little above eye level, rather than relying on a single ceiling light that leaves shadows under your eyes. LED strips in red or purple are fun, but they make skin look strange.

Two quick fixes help too: wipe the front camera lens with a soft cloth, because one fingerprint makes everything look hazy, and in a dim room, turn up the screen brightness, which also lights your face.

Clear sound: earphones and a quiet corner

On a phone, the loudspeaker sits close to the microphone. When the other person's voice comes out of the speaker, your microphone can pick it up again, and they hear an echo of themselves. Earphones fix that, wired or Bluetooth, and their microphone sits closer to your mouth, so your voice comes through more clearly. Connect Bluetooth earbuds before you start the chat.

Without earphones, lower the volume a little and keep your fingers and your phone case away from the microphone openings.

Then choose a quiet spot: turn off the TV, close the window if the street is busy and keep out of the wind outdoors. A room with curtains, a sofa or a rug sounds warmer than a bare kitchen or bathroom, where every word bounces off the walls.

Keep the phone steady and the connection stable

Hold the phone upright at eye level, about an arm's length away, so the other person sees your face rather than your chin or the ceiling. For a longer chat, lean it against a few books or a mug, or use a stand: the picture stops shaking and your arm can rest. Sit down to chat, and never video chat while driving.

Live video needs a steady connection. Where the signal is weak, Wi-Fi is usually more stable than mobile data, and it spares your data plan. Pause big downloads while you chat.

Last, turn on Do Not Disturb so a call or a notification does not cut in, stay on the page during the chat, as switching apps can pause your camera, and keep a charger nearby: video drains the battery.