The following sections introduce you to the Amazon Chime desktop client and web app. Amazon Chime tries to provide the same features and tools in both clients. However, they have the following differences:
Only the desktop client provides headset call controls. The controls allow you to interact with the Amazon Chime application during meetings using physical buttons on supported headsets and speakerphones For more about supported headsets, see Supported headset brands.
The desktop client and web app use different keyboard shortcuts. To view the keyboard shortcuts on Windows devices, press Ctrl+/. To view the shortcuts on macOS devices, press Command+/.
The web app does not support undocking video, and you can't message an attendee directly from the meeting roster. The app doesn't support a floating control bar, selected content being shared is not highlighted, and some settings are not available. For example, you can't mirror your video self view or choose to show your self view uncropped, you cannot prevent keyboard focus for incoming calls, you cannot suppress notifications during screen share, and the app doesn't provide a top level menu.
The desktop client and web app have slightly different user screens. We note any differences in the following topics. Expand them to learn more.
Note
These topics only introduce the desktop client and web app. For information about the Amazon Chime mobile app, see Using the Amazon Chime mobile app, later in this guide.
When you start either of the Amazon Chime clients, you see the Home section of the Main window. This image shows the window in the desktop client.
Starting from the upper-left corner, the Home window displays the following items:
- Menu bar (desktop client only)
Use these menu options to change program settings, edit text, change the size of the Amazon Chime program window, and get help.
- Your name and status
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Both clients display your name, along with an icon that shows your status, such as Available or Busy. You can also add a custom status message.
In either client, choose your name to open the following menu:
The following list describes the menu commands:
Automatic – (default setting) Choose the command to set your availability status. The text in the menu matches your choice.
Add a custom status message – Create a custom status message with an optional emoji.
View all my chat rooms – Lists all the chat rooms that you belong to.
View all messages – Lists all the messages that you've sent and received. Data retention policies may control how many messages you see.
View my contacts – Opens your Contacts list.
Settings – Opens the Settings window, where you change global program settings.
Help Center – Takes you to the Amazon Chime Help Center.
Send diagnostic logs – If something goes wrong with Amazon Chime you can send diagnostic logs that help troubleshoot the problem. A reference ID is created and you can send that to your administrator when you are troubleshooting a problem.
About Amazon Chime – Displays the client's version and build number. Support technicians often ask for that information.
Sign out – Signs you out of Amazon Chime
- The navigation bar (desktop client only)
The navigation bar in the desktop client provides icons for returning to Home, opening your contacts list, creating a 1:1 or group message, opening your list of chat rooms, joining a meeting, starting an instant meeting, scheduling a meeting, and seeing your meeting bridge information.
- The sidebar
Both clients display the left navigation on the Main window. The sidebar lists your call history, chat rooms, favorites, and the people you've messaged recently.
- Quick actions links
These links provide the same functionality as the navigation bar in the desktop client. The desktop client displays these links in the Main window. The web app displays these links all the time.
When you start either of the Amazon Chime clients, you see the Home section of the Main window. This image shows the window in the desktop client.
Starting from the upper-left corner, the Home window displays the following items:
- Menu bar (desktop client only)
Use these menu options to change program settings, edit text, change the size of the Amazon Chime program window, and get help.
- Your name and status
-
Both clients display your name, along with an icon that shows your status, such as Available or Busy. You can also add a custom status message.
In either client, choose your name to open the following menu:
The following list describes the menu commands:
Automatic – (default setting) Choose the command to set your availability status. The text in the menu matches your choice.
Add a custom status message – Create a custom status message with an optional emoji.
View all my chat rooms – Lists all the chat rooms that you belong to.
View all messages – Lists all the messages that you've sent and received. Data retention policies may control how many messages you see.
View my contacts – Opens your Contacts list.
Settings – Opens the Settings window, where you change global program settings.
Help Center – Takes you to the Amazon Chime Help Center.
Send diagnostic logs – If something goes wrong with Amazon Chime you can send diagnostic logs that help troubleshoot the problem. A reference ID is created and you can send that to your administrator when you are troubleshooting a problem.
About Amazon Chime – Displays the client's version and build number. Support technicians often ask for that information.
Sign out – Signs you out of Amazon Chime
- The navigation bar (desktop client only)
The navigation bar in the desktop client provides icons for returning to Home, opening your contacts list, creating a 1:1 or group message, opening your list of chat rooms, joining a meeting, starting an instant meeting, scheduling a meeting, and seeing your meeting bridge information.
- The sidebar
Both clients display the left navigation on the Main window. The sidebar lists your call history, chat rooms, favorites, and the people you've messaged recently.
- Quick actions links
These links provide the same functionality as the navigation bar in the desktop client. The desktop client displays these links in the Main window. The web app displays these links all the time.
You use the chat window to chat with other Amazon Chime users. In the desktop client, the window appears when you do any of the following:
Select Messages on the navigation bar.
Select Message a contact next to the Recent Messages header.
Select a 1:1 message or group conversation under Favorites or Recent Messages in the sidebar.
In the web app, the window appears when you do any of the following:
Select a 1:1 message or group chat under Favorites or Recent Messages in the sidebar.
Select the plus sign (+) next to the Recent Messages header.
select Start a new message under Quick actions.
For more information about using chat, see Collaborating using Amazon Chime chat, later in this guide.
The meetings window appears when you join a meeting, answer a call, or start an instant meeting. When you and other attendees turn on webcams, those feeds appear in a set of video tiles. Meetings can display up to 25 tiles, and they appear on a first come, first served basis.
Amazon Chime also makes some content, such as screen shares, more prominent during meetings. We refer to that content as featured content. As needed, you can promote two video tiles to featured status, and demote any tile from featured status. What's more, you can hide attendee video tiles that you don't want to see, and display attendee video tiles above or below the featured content. For more information about using video, tiles, and sharing your screen during meetings, see Using video during meetings.
These topics explain how to use the meetings window, and how to participate in meetings and calls.
