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57 min readBy Perchi Team

The Perchi Guide: Features, Plans, Settings, and Help

Your complete guide to Perchi: voice rooms, video, screen share, chat, watch together, plans and limits, settings, and fixes for the most common problems.

  • voice-rooms
  • browser-voice-chat
  • no-account-needed
  • friend-groups

1. Product Overview

Perchi is a free voice-rooms web app for small groups. You open a room, share the link, and people drop in. There is no download and no account needed to join as a guest.

Voice is always-on and agenda-free, so people drift in and out without scheduling or formality. Rooms also include video, screen sharing, a shared drawing canvas, watch-together for videos, persistent group chat, a Kanban board, and shared notes. The app works in any browser on desktop or mobile, and a native desktop app is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Perchi is designed for casual, always-on togetherness: friend groups, gamers, study crews, remote teammates, and long-distance families who want to hang out rather than hold a meeting.

The core product is free with no credit card required. A Pro upgrade (Perchi+) is available for groups that need more rooms and more participants.

At a glance:

Thing Detail
What it is Free voice rooms for small groups
Sign-up to join Not required for guests
Works on Any modern browser (desktop and mobile) plus a native desktop app
In-room features Voice, video, screen share, chat, GIFs, reactions, drawing, watch-together, Kanban board, notes
Cost Free core; optional Perchi+ upgrade

2. Quick Start

  1. Go to perchi.net.
  2. On the sign-in screen, click Try a quick room. No account is required. You land immediately in a voice room.
  3. When your browser asks for microphone permission, click Allow.
  4. Share the URL in your browser's address bar with anyone you want to invite. They open the same link and join instantly.
  5. To keep your rooms and access them later, click Sign in and choose Continue with Google or Continue with email.
  6. After signing in you land in the Lobby. Your rooms are organized inside nests. Create a nest, then create a room inside it.
  7. Invite your crew to the nest by sharing an invite link from the nest header.

3. Key Concepts

Plain-language definitions of the terms you will see across Perchi.

  • Room (also called a Perch): The core unit of Perchi. A voice space with a permanent link. Anyone with the link can drop in. Inside a room you can talk, turn on video, share your screen, draw, watch videos together, chat, take notes, and use a Kanban board. Rooms can be public (discoverable) or private.
  • Nest: A shared space that holds one or more rooms. Think of it as a container for a group, for example "Roommates" or "Sunday gamers." A nest has its own invite link so you can bring people in at once. Free accounts get one nest; Perchi+ accounts can have more.
  • Guest: Someone who joins a quick room without signing in. Guest rooms are temporary (not saved) and support up to 2 people.
  • Free account: A signed-in user on the free tier. Includes 1 nest with 1 room and up to 4 participants at a time, plus all in-room features.
  • Perchi+ (Pro): A paid upgrade that raises the room and participant limits and adds a star badge next to your name.
  • BRB (Be Right Back): A status you set while staying in a room. Your avatar fades and your mic mutes so others know you stepped away.
  • Mute / Silence: Mute turns off your microphone. Silence (also called deafen) mutes all incoming audio so you hear nothing. Both can be on at the same time.
  • Push-to-talk (PTT): Available in the desktop app. Hold a key or mouse button to unmute only while you hold it. Works even when the window is minimized.
  • Discover: A section in the Lobby that shows public rooms created by other people.
  • Favorites: Rooms you have starred for quick access from the sidebar.
  • Watch Together: Play a video or audio link in sync for everyone in the room.
  • Drawing Board: A shared canvas everyone in the room can draw on at the same time.
  • Kanban Board: A shared task board with To Do, In Progress, and Done columns.
  • Notes: A shared notepad that persists for the room between sessions.
  • Desktop app: A native application for Windows, macOS, and Linux that adds a tray icon, global push-to-talk, native notifications, and auto-updates.

4. Main Features

Voice Chat

What it does: Lets everyone in a room talk in real time. Audio is live as long as you are joined.

Where to find it: The Join room button on the room's pre-join screen. Once joined, voice controls appear in the top-right corner of the room header.

How to use it:

  1. Open a room page. You will see a pre-join screen showing who is already inside and recent chat.
  2. Click Join room. Your browser will ask for microphone permission. You must allow it.
  3. Use the header controls:
    • Mute / Unmute silences your microphone. Shortcut: M.
    • Silence / Resume audio mutes all incoming audio so you hear nothing. Shortcut: D.
    • BRB signals you stepped away. Shortcut: B.
    • Leave ends your voice session and exits. Shortcut: Esc.
  4. Speaking avatars light up with a green glow that reacts to volume, so you can see who is talking.

Best practices:

  • Use headphones to reduce echo and feedback for other people.
  • Mute yourself when you are not speaking in larger groups.
  • Catch up on recent chat from the pre-join screen before you join.

Common mistakes:

  • Clicking Join room before allowing microphone access. The join fails if the mic is blocked.
  • Confusing Silence (deafen) with Mute. Mute stops others from hearing you; Silence stops you from hearing everyone.

Related settings: Microphone and speaker selection live in Settings > Audio & Devices. Participant limits vary by account type (see below).

Troubleshooting:

  • "Microphone access denied": allow the microphone for perchi.net in your browser permissions, refresh, and try again.
  • "No microphone found": connect a microphone or headset and try again.
  • "Could not start voice. Check your connection and try again.": a temporary network issue. Wait a moment and retry.
  • A pulsing orange dot in the header means the room is reconnecting. Voice resumes automatically.

Limits: Guest rooms up to 2; Free up to 4; Perchi+ up to 25 participants.

Camera / Video (Perch)

What it does: Shows live camera feeds inside a shared video grid called the Perch. Each tile shows live video or the person's avatar if their camera is off.

Where to find it: The Video tab in the room's tab bar (video camera icon).

How to use it:

  1. Join voice first.
  2. Click the Video tab.
  3. Click Share camera and allow camera permission.
  4. Your video appears in the grid, mirrored for you. Tiles with cameras on appear first, then alphabetically.
  5. Click the expand icon on a tile (or double-click in some views) to go full-screen. Press Esc to exit.
  6. Click Stop camera to turn it off.

Best practices:

  • Camera is most useful in small groups. It is only available when the room has 4 or fewer participants.
  • A coffee cup icon on a dimmed tile means that person is in BRB mode.

Common mistakes:

  • Trying to turn on camera in a room with 5 or more people. The button is disabled and shows "Video (4 max)".
  • Forgetting your own view is mirrored. Text over your shoulder looks backwards to you but correct to others.

Related settings: Camera is per-session. There is no setting to always start with camera on.

Troubleshooting:

  • "Camera access denied": allow camera access in browser permissions and try again.
  • "No camera found on this device": plug in a webcam or switch devices.
  • If your tile is black, stop and restart your camera.

Limits: Available only when there are 4 or fewer participants.

Screen Share

What it does: Broadcasts your screen or a specific window to everyone in the room. Multiple people can share at once, shown side by side.

Where to find it: The monitor icon in the top-right action bar (to the right of the tabs). The Screen tab appears automatically when anyone shares.

How to use it:

  1. Click the monitor icon.
    • In a browser: your operating system's share picker opens. Choose a tab, window, or whole screen.
    • In the desktop app: a Perchi picker opens with thumbnail previews. Select one and click Share.
  2. The Screen tab opens automatically and shows all active shares in a grid.
  3. To go full-screen on a share, click the expand button or double-click the video.
  4. To stop sharing, click the monitor icon again (it is solid while active).

Best practices:

  • Keep the window you are sharing visible and not minimized so it stays readable.
  • Double-clicking a tile is the quickest way to see a share clearly.

Common mistakes:

  • In the desktop app, closing the window you picked before the share starts. You will see "That window or screen is no longer available. Pick another."
  • Clicking Share when the room is at the maximum. The button is disabled with a tooltip.

Troubleshooting:

  • "Could not start screen sharing.": try again. Make sure your browser has screen recording permission in system settings.
  • "Too many people are sharing screens (max 4). Ask someone to stop, then try again.": a participant must stop their share first.

Limits: Maximum 4 simultaneous screen shares per room.

Text Chat

What it does: A persistent in-room text channel. Messages, images, GIFs, and files are visible to anyone currently in the room. Chat is also visible as a read-only preview before you join voice.

Where to find it: The Chat tab (message bubble icon). An animated dot on the tab indicates unread messages while you are on another tab.

How to use it:

  1. Type a message and press Enter, or click send.
  2. URLs in messages become clickable automatically.
  3. To send an image: paste from clipboard, drag and drop onto the chat, or click the paperclip and select a file. A preview appears; press Enter to confirm.
  4. To send a GIF: click the GIF button, search or browse, and click one to send.
  5. To send a file: click the paperclip and select any file, then press Enter to send.
  6. Click any image or GIF to open it full-screen, where you can download it.
  7. To send a floating emoji reaction, click the smiley face button next to GIF.

Best practices:

  • Paste images directly with Ctrl+V / Cmd+V for the fastest screenshot sharing.
  • Pressing Enter sends a message or confirms a staged file.

Common mistakes:

  • Sending a file over the limit. You will see "File too large (X KB/MB). Max 5 MB."
  • Trying to paste an image with right-click instead of Ctrl+V / Cmd+V. Right-click paste does not stage the image.

Related settings: File size limit is 5 MB for all users.

Troubleshooting:

  • "We couldn't load that image. Try a different file (JPEG, PNG, or GIF).": save it in a different format and resend.
  • "We couldn't read that file. Try uploading a different one.": try a different file or format.
  • If an image in the full-screen view fails to load, a Retry button appears.

Limits: Messages capped at 2000 characters. File attachments capped at 5 MB.

GIF Search

What it does: A searchable GIF browser available from the chat input toolbar.

Where to find it: The GIF button in the chat input bar.

How to use it:

  1. Click GIF. A picker opens showing trending GIFs.
  2. Type in the search field to find specific GIFs. Results update as you type.
  3. Click a GIF to send it immediately. The picker closes.
  4. Click the X or press Esc to close without sending.

Best practices:

  • Trending GIFs load automatically when you open the picker.
  • Use short, descriptive search terms.

Common mistakes:

  • If no results appear, try simpler words.

Troubleshooting:

  • "GIFs are unavailable right now.": the GIF service is temporarily unavailable. Try again shortly.
  • "No results for [query]. Try a different search.": rephrase your search.

Whiteboard / Drawing Board

What it does: A shared canvas where everyone in the room can draw at the same time. Strokes appear in real time, and you can see other people's cursors as they draw.

Where to find it: The Draw tab (pencil icon).

How to use it:

  1. Click the Draw tab.
  2. Choose a color. Black/white adapts to your theme; red, green, blue, purple, and pink are also available.
  3. Draw by clicking and dragging, or with a stylus or finger on touch screens. Stylus pressure adjusts stroke width.
  4. Switch to the eraser to remove strokes.
  5. Use undo and redo in the toolbar. Shortcuts: Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z for undo; Ctrl+Y / Cmd+Y or Ctrl+Shift+Z / Cmd+Shift+Z for redo.
  6. Click the trash icon to clear the entire canvas (you will be asked to confirm).
  7. Click the download icon to save the canvas as an image.

Best practices:

  • Undo only affects your own strokes, not other people's.
  • The canvas holds up to 500 strokes before older ones drop off. Download periodically during long sessions.

Common mistakes:

  • Expecting undo to remove someone else's strokes. It only removes yours.
  • Expecting Clear to remove only your strokes. Clear wipes the entire shared canvas for everyone.

Troubleshooting:

  • A blank canvas after another user clears it is expected. Clear applies to everyone.
  • If your strokes do not appear for others, check the connection indicator in the header.

Limits: 500 strokes retained at one time.

Watch Together

What it does: Lets the room watch or listen to the same video or audio together, with play, pause, and seek staying in sync.

Where to find it: The Watch tab (play icon).

How to use it:

  1. Click the Watch tab.
  2. Paste a link into the URL field. Supported sources include YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, Dailymotion, Kick, SoundCloud, Spotify tracks/albums/playlists, and generic HTTPS embed URLs.
  3. Click Load. Everyone in the room sees the same content.
  4. For YouTube, play, pause, and seek by any participant sync to everyone. The person who loaded the video acts as the implicit leader others follow.
  5. Click the external link icon to open the content in its original platform.
  6. Click the X to remove the current video.

Best practices:

  • YouTube links are the most reliably synced. Other sources display in a frame but may not support sync depending on the platform.
  • On non-YouTube sources you may each need to control playback manually.

Common mistakes:

  • Pasting a link to a platform that does not allow embedding (some private Vimeo videos, certain Twitch clips). The player shows a blank or error frame from that platform.
  • Expecting Spotify to autoplay. Spotify restricts autoplay for non-Premium listeners in embeds.

Troubleshooting:

  • If the video does not load, check the URL is correct and the content is publicly accessible.
  • If your playback drifts from others, it self-corrects within a few seconds. Small differences are intentionally ignored.

Limits: Sync quality depends on network latency.

Kanban Board

What it does: A shared task board with three columns: To Do, In Progress, and Done. Cards can be created, moved, prioritized, dated, and assigned to room members. Changes sync in real time.

Where to find it: The Board tab (grid icon). Available to signed-in users only, not guests.

How to use it:

  1. Click the Board tab.
  2. Click the + under any column to add a card. Type the title and press Enter or click Add.
  3. Click a card to open its detail view, where you can:
    • Edit the title and add a description.
    • Set a priority (Low, Medium, High).
    • Set a due date.
    • Assign it to a room member.
    • Add a color label.
    • Delete the card.
  4. Drag a card to a different column to move it.
  5. Assigning a card sends the assignee an in-room notification and, if enabled, a browser notification.

Best practices:

  • Use the description field for context that does not fit in the title.
  • Assigning cards is handy for quick handoffs during a voice session.

Common mistakes:

  • Expecting the board as a guest. You must be signed in.
  • Deleting a card by accident. Delete asks for confirmation, but once confirmed it cannot be undone.

Troubleshooting:

  • "Couldn't add the card. Your changes weren't saved.": check your connection and try again.
  • "Couldn't delete the card. Try again in a moment.": try again, then refresh if it persists.

Notes

What it does: A shared notepad for the room. One set of notes persists between sessions. Everyone in the room edits the same document, and changes sync in real time.

Where to find it: The Notes tab (file icon). Available to signed-in users only, not guests.

How to use it:

  1. Click the Notes tab.
  2. Type directly in the text area. Notes auto-save about one second after you stop typing.
  3. Use the formatting toolbar for Markdown: Bold, Italic, Heading, List, Code, Link.
  4. The toolbar shows "Saving..." during a save and "Edited by [name]" when idle.

Best practices:

  • Notes use Markdown. The placeholder shows supported shortcuts: **bold**, *italic*, ## headings, - lists, `code`.
  • If two people edit at once, the last save wins. Coordinate in voice for large simultaneous edits.

Common mistakes:

  • Expecting Notes as a guest. You must be signed in.
  • Navigating away mid-edit before auto-save fires. Notes save on a 1-second delay and when you click away, so a quick navigation may lose the last few characters.

Troubleshooting:

  • "Couldn't save notes. Copy your latest edits elsewhere and refresh.": copy your text, refresh, and paste it back.

Reactions

What it does: Sends a floating emoji that flies across the room for everyone to see. A low-friction way to respond without interrupting.

Where to find it: The smiley face button in the chat input toolbar, next to the GIF button.

How to use it:

  1. Click the smiley face icon.
  2. A palette of 8 emojis appears: fire, laugh, heart, clap, skull, party, eyes, and 100.
  3. Click one. It flies across the screen for everyone, including you.
  4. The palette closes after each pick. Click the smiley again to send another. Press Esc to close without sending.

Best practices:

  • Rapid tapping is rate-limited with a brief cooldown, so the room does not get spammed.

Common mistakes:

  • Reactions only send while you are joined to voice. The button is hidden when you are not in a session.

BRB (Be Right Back)

What it does: Tells everyone you stepped away temporarily. Your avatar gets a coffee cup badge, your tile dims, and your microphone mutes automatically. One click restores everything when you return.

Where to find it: The BRB button (clock icon) in the voice controls.

How to use it:

  1. Click BRB (or press B). Your avatar dims and shows a coffee cup. Your mic mutes.
  2. When you are back, click Back (same button) or press B again. Your mic returns to its previous state.

Best practices:

  • BRB is better than just going silent. It actively tells others you are away.
  • If you were already muted before going BRB, you stay muted when you return.

Common mistakes:

  • Leaving the room instead of going BRB. Use Leave only when you are done; BRB keeps your place.

Host / Moderation Controls

What it does: Gives the room owner (and admins they designate) tools to manage who can join and how the room behaves, including banning users, assigning admin roles, locking the room, and transferring ownership.

Where to find it: The room settings gear icon in the top-right action bar. Visible only to the owner and admins.

How to use it:

Banning a user:

  1. Open room settings and go to Members & moderation.
  2. Find the member and click Ban. They are removed immediately and cannot rejoin.
  3. To lift a ban, find the user in the Banned section and click Unban.

Assigning an admin:

  1. Open room settings, Members & moderation.
  2. Click Make admin next to a member. Admins can ban and unban regular members but cannot promote other admins or transfer ownership.
  3. Click Remove admin to remove the role.

Transferring ownership:

  1. Open room settings, Members & moderation.
  2. Click Make owner next to a member, then confirm. This is irreversible; you lose owner privileges immediately.

Locking the room:

  1. In room settings, toggle the room lock. While locked, no new participants can join.

Best practices:

  • Use the admin role for trusted moderators so you do not have to be present every session.
  • Lock the room before a session if you want a closed group.

Common mistakes:

  • An admin trying to ban another admin. This is blocked; only the owner can ban admins.
  • Transferring ownership thinking it can be reversed. It cannot. Confirm carefully.

Troubleshooting:

  • "You have been banned from this room.": contact the room owner to be unbanned.
  • "This room is locked. The owner isn't accepting new joiners right now.": wait for the owner to unlock it.

Limits: Owners can perform all moderation actions. Admins can ban and unban regular members only.

Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Voice Panel

What it does: When you switch to a different browser tab during a voice session, a small floating window appears showing the current speaker and basic controls (mute, silence, leave). This keeps you in the conversation without keeping the Perchi tab in focus.

Where to find it: It opens automatically when the Perchi tab goes into the background while you are in voice. It appears as a small browser-native floating overlay.

How to use it:

  • The panel shows the avatar and name of whoever is speaking. When no one else is speaking, it shows your own avatar.
  • Use mute, silence, and leave just as you would in the main room.
  • Shortcuts M (mute), D (silence), and Esc (leave) work while the PiP window is focused.
  • Click the room name at the top to bring the Perchi tab back into focus.
  • Close the panel with its X button or by returning to the Perchi tab.

Best practices:

  • The window will not reopen automatically if you close it while the tab is still in the background. Return to the Perchi tab and switch away again to get it back.

Common mistakes:

  • Expecting PiP to open on demand. It only opens when the browser tab loses visibility; there is no manual button.

Troubleshooting:

  • If the PiP window does not appear, your browser may not support the required feature. It is available in recent versions of Chrome and Edge but is not universally supported.

Floating Voice Pill

What it does: A compact floating control strip in the bottom-right corner that appears when you navigate away from the current room page while still in a voice session (for example, browsing to another room or the Lobby). It lets you control your session without returning to the room.

Where to find it: Bottom-right corner whenever you are in an active voice session but not on that room's page.

How to use it:

  • The pill shows the avatar of the current speaker, or your own avatar when no one else is speaking.
  • Click the avatar to navigate back to the room.
  • Use mute, silence, and hang-up to control or end the session.
  • Hover over a button to see its keyboard shortcut.

Best practices:

  • Use the pill to quickly check who is speaking and mute yourself without navigating back.

Common mistakes:

  • Confusing the hang-up button (red phone icon) with a back button. Hang-up ends your voice session for that room visit.

5. User Workflows

Workflow: Start a quick hangout with no account

Goal: Get talking with someone in under a minute.

When to use this: You want a fast, throwaway voice room without signing up.

Steps:

  1. Go to perchi.net.
  2. Click Try a quick room.
  3. Allow microphone access when prompted.
  4. Optionally rename the room and pick an icon, color, and wallpaper.
  5. Copy the URL from your browser's address bar and send it to the other person.
  6. They open the link and join.

Expected result: Both of you are in the same voice room talking in real time.

If something goes wrong: If the room is full, note that quick rooms hold up to 2 people. To host more, sign in and create your own room. If your mic does not work, check browser permissions for perchi.net.

Workflow: Set up a persistent space for your crew

Goal: Create a saved home for your group with one or more rooms.

When to use this: You want rooms that stick around and a single link to bring people in.

Steps:

  1. Sign in with Google or email.
  2. In the sidebar, click + New nest.
  3. Name the nest (for example "Roommates"), add an optional description, and pick an icon and color.
  4. Create a room inside the nest using the + next to the nest header or Create room in the sidebar footer.
  5. Open the nest's invite manager (link icon next to the nest name) and click Create invite link.
  6. Copy and share the link with your crew.

Expected result: Your nest and room are saved to your Lobby, and anyone with the invite link can join the nest and see its rooms.

If something goes wrong: If you hit a limit creating nests or rooms, you are on the free plan's caps. See Plans, Limits, and Billing. If the invite link does not work for a recipient, generate a fresh one.

Workflow: Watch a video together

Goal: Watch the same video in sync with everyone in the room.

When to use this: Movie night, reaction sessions, or sharing a clip.

Steps:

  1. Join the room's voice.
  2. Click the Watch tab.
  3. Paste a video link (YouTube is most reliable) and click Load.
  4. Use play, pause, and seek. For YouTube, controls sync to everyone.

Expected result: Everyone sees the same content, kept roughly in sync.

If something goes wrong: If the video shows a blank frame, the platform may block embedding. Try a different link. If playback drifts, it self-corrects within a few seconds.

Workflow: Run a quick planning session

Goal: Track tasks and take shared notes during a call.

When to use this: Study sessions, project planning, or splitting up work.

Steps:

  1. Sign in (the board and notes require an account).
  2. Join the room.
  3. Open the Board tab and add cards under To Do.
  4. Assign cards to members and set priorities or due dates.
  5. Open the Notes tab for shared write-ups.

Expected result: A shared board and notes everyone can see and edit live.

If something goes wrong: If a card or note fails to save, check your connection and try again. Copy important note text before refreshing.

Workflow: Moderate your room

Goal: Keep your room to the right people.

When to use this: You want a closed group or need to remove a disruptive person.

Steps:

  1. Open the room settings gear (owner or admin only).
  2. To close the room, toggle Lock room.
  3. To remove someone, go to Members & moderation and click Ban.
  4. To share moderation duties, click Make admin next to a trusted member.

Expected result: New joiners are blocked while locked, and banned users cannot return.

If something goes wrong: If you cannot ban someone, they may be an admin. Only the owner can ban admins.

6. Account, Login, and Onboarding

Sign-in options

Perchi offers three ways to get started.

Guest / quick room (no account)

  • Click Try a quick room on the sign-in screen.
  • No email or sign-up required.
  • The room is temporary and not saved.
  • You can rename it and choose an icon, color, and wallpaper. These are stored in the URL, so a refresh keeps them and anyone who opens the same link sees the same room identity.
  • Quick rooms have a participant cap.

Continue with Google

  • One click, no password.
  • In the desktop app, this opens your default browser to complete sign-in, then hands the session back to the app automatically.

Continue with email (magic link)

  • Click Continue with email, enter your address, then click Send magic link.
  • An email arrives with a sign-in link. Open it in any browser; it expires in 10 minutes.
  • No password needed.
  • If the email does not arrive, check spam or return to the sign-in screen and click Send another link.
  • In the desktop app, clicking the link in your email opens sign-in in your default browser and hands the session back automatically.

What is required vs skippable

Step Required?
Email address or Google account Required to create a signed-in account
Password Never. Perchi uses magic links and Google
Profile setup Optional. Set a display name and avatar anytime in Settings

After signing in

You land in the Lobby, your home screen showing all your nests and rooms.

Signing out

Go to Settings and click Sign out to end your session on this device.

7. Dashboard Guide (the Lobby)

The Lobby is your home screen and dashboard. It shows everything you can jump into.

The sidebar

The left sidebar is the main navigation. It contains:

  • Lobby: a link back to your home screen at any time.
  • Favorites: rooms you have starred, for quick access. This section only shows when you have at least one favorite.
  • Nests: each nest you belong to, as a collapsible section with its rooms listed inside.
  • Create room button: in the footer, opens the room creation form.
  • Your profile: in the footer, showing your name and avatar. Click it to go to Settings.

On mobile, the sidebar is hidden behind a hamburger button in the top-left corner.

The Lobby page sections

  • Your nests: each nest appears as a named section with a grid of room cards. Nests you own appear at the top.
  • Recently visited: rooms you opened recently, shown below your nests. This uses your browser history and is specific to the device you are on.
  • Discover: public rooms created by other people, shown below your recent rooms.

Reading a room card

Each room card shows:

  • Room name and description (if set)
  • A live participant count and capacity (for example "2/8")
  • A pulsing green dot when someone is currently inside
  • A red "Locked" badge if the room is not accepting new participants
  • A tag (Gaming, Study, Music, Work, Social, or Creative) if set
  • A scheduled time countdown if the room has a future start time
  • The owner's name and avatar
  • A star button to add or remove the room from Favorites

Click any room card to enter the room.

Empty states and what to do next

Where What it says What to do
A nest with no rooms (Lobby) "No rooms yet" / "This nest is empty. Add a room to start hanging out." Create a room with the + button.
A nest with no rooms (sidebar) "No rooms in this nest yet." (or "No rooms yet. Use the + button above." for owners) Use the + above the room list.
Friends panel (sidebar) "No friends yet. Add someone." Click Add someone and search by email.
A brand-new account No nests or rooms yet Create your first nest, then a room inside it.

8. Settings Guide

Reach settings by clicking your name or the Settings link in the sidebar. There are four sections: Profile, Audio & Devices, Friends, and Subscription. Guests see only Profile and Audio & Devices.

Profile

  • Display name: the name others see in rooms. Type a new name and click Save changes.
  • Profile photo: click your avatar or Change photo to upload. Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, or WebP, up to 5 MB. If you uploaded your own photo, a Remove button appears to fall back to your sign-in provider's picture or your initials.
  • Email: shown for reference only; it cannot be changed here.

Guest profile: Without signing in you can still set a display name. It is stored in your browser only and does not carry to other devices. Sign in for a persistent profile.

Account

  • Sign out: ends your session on this device.
  • Delete account: permanently deletes your profile, avatar, sign-in data, all rooms you own (members lose access), your favorites, friendships, and notification subscriptions. Your name is removed from activity in other people's rooms. To confirm, type delete my account in the confirmation box. This cannot be undone.

Audio & Devices

Configure your microphone and speaker.

Microphone

  • Input device: choose which microphone Perchi uses. Perchi needs browser microphone permission to list your devices; click Allow access if prompted.
  • Input level meter: a live bar showing your mic loudness. Green is normal; amber is very loud.
  • Test microphone: starts a short recording test. Toggle Hear myself to route your mic to your speakers so you hear what others hear. A warning reminds you to use headphones to avoid feedback.

Speaker

  • Output device: choose which speaker or headphones Perchi uses. If your browser does not support speaker selection, audio plays through your system default.
  • Test speaker: plays a short tone through the selected output.

Audio processing (affects what others hear from you, not what you hear; changes apply immediately, even during a call)

Toggle What it does
Echo cancellation Reduces feedback when you use speakers instead of headphones
Noise suppression Cuts steady background noise such as fans, keyboards, or traffic
Auto gain control Keeps your mic volume at a consistent level automatically

Desktop app settings

Visible only in the Perchi desktop app, not the browser.

  • Push-to-talk hotkey: a global shortcut that works even when Perchi is minimized. Click Set hotkey, press any key combination within 5 seconds, and it is saved. Change or clear it at any time.
  • Hold to talk / Toggle mode: when Hold to talk is on, you must hold the hotkey to speak and releasing it mutes you. Turn it off to make the hotkey toggle your mic with each press.

Appearance

A light/dark mode toggle (sun/moon icon) is in the main app navigation. Click it to switch modes. Your choice is remembered for your current browser or device.

Subscription

Go to Settings > Subscription to view or upgrade your plan, see your plan type and renewal date, and manage billing. See Plans, Limits, and Billing.

9. Roles and Permissions

Perchi uses roles in two places: nests and rooms.

Nest roles

Role Best for Can do Cannot do
Owner The person who created the nest Rename, change icon/color, invite members, add admins, delete the nest (only when it has no rooms) Delete the nest while it still has rooms; delete their last remaining nest
Admin Trusted members who help run the group Create and manage rooms, generate and revoke invite links, move rooms between nests Delete the nest; remove the owner
Member Everyone who joined via an invite link Enter any room inside the nest Change nest settings; create rooms

Nests are invite-only. Members join using a link shared by an admin or the owner.

Room roles

Role Best for Can do Cannot do
Owner The account that created the room Edit name/description/icon, set a background, lock the room, ban and unban, assign admins, transfer ownership, delete the room, move it to another nest (Full control)
Admin A trusted moderator designated by the owner Ban and unban regular members Ban another admin; promote admins; transfer ownership
Member Anyone who has visited the room Return to the room; if locked, existing members can still enter Join when the room is locked (new joiners only); change room settings

Locked rooms: When an owner locks a room, a "Locked" badge appears on the card and new people cannot join. Anyone who was already a member can still enter.

10. Plans, Limits, and Billing

Free plan

Free includes everything in Perchi except higher caps. Free accounts get:

  • 1 nest (your default space)
  • 1 room inside that nest
  • Up to 4 participants per room at the same time
  • All features: custom room icons, custom backgrounds, Kanban board, notes, drawing, screen share, and file uploads up to 5 MB

There is no separate guest account. To try Perchi without signing up, use a quick room. Quick rooms are temporary and fit up to 2 people.

Perchi+ (Pro plan)

Perchi+ raises the caps and adds a visible star badge. Both pricing options unlock the same features.

Monthly Lifetime
Price $2.99 / month $99 once
Billing Recurring One-time
Expiry Renews each month Never expires

What Perchi+ unlocks:

  • Up to 10 nests
  • Up to 10 rooms total across all your nests
  • Up to 25 participants per room
  • A Pro badge (star icon) next to your name and on your rooms

Perchi+ does not unlock additional in-room features beyond bigger and more numerous rooms. Everything on free (backgrounds, Kanban, drawing, uploads, screen share) stays available on free.

Managing your subscription

  • View your current plan, type (Monthly or Lifetime), and renewal date at Settings > Subscription.
  • To cancel, update your payment method, or download an invoice, use the billing portal linked on the Settings > Subscription page.

Refunds are governed by the payment processor's refund policy.

11. Integrations

Perchi does not connect to outside accounts to import or export your data. There are no third-party data integrations such as calendars, file storage, or chat platforms. The user-facing connections that do exist are described below.

Desktop app

Perchi has a native desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It loads the same Perchi web app but adds features a browser tab cannot:

  • System tray: Perchi sits in your tray so you can get back to it without hunting for a browser tab.
  • Global push-to-talk: set a keyboard shortcut that works even when Perchi is minimized or in the background. Choose hold-to-talk (mic is live only while the key is held) or toggle mode (press once to unmute, press again to mute). Configure under Settings > Desktop app.
  • Native notifications: OS-level notifications and an unread badge on the taskbar.
  • Deep links: links like perchi://rooms/your-room open directly in the desktop app.
  • Auto-updates: the app checks for updates on launch and every few hours. When an update is ready you will see a prompt to restart.

Download notes by platform:

  • Windows: .exe installer, about 82 MB. Windows may show a SmartScreen prompt on first run because the build is currently unsigned.
  • macOS: .dmg universal binary (Intel and Apple Silicon). On first run, right-click the app and choose Open to bypass the Gatekeeper warning for unsigned builds.
  • Linux: .AppImage 64-bit. Make the file executable (chmod +x) before running it.

There is no offline mode. If Perchi's servers are unreachable, the desktop app shows a connection error.

Sign-in connections

You can sign in with Google or with an email magic link. These are used only to identify you; Perchi does not pull in your contacts or other data from them.

Content sources used inside rooms

  • GIF search: browse and send GIFs in chat.
  • Watch Together: paste links from YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, Dailymotion, Kick, SoundCloud, Spotify, and generic embeds to watch or listen together. These play inside the room but are not account integrations.

Mobile (PWA)

Perchi works in a mobile browser. On Android, your browser may offer an "Add to home screen" prompt that installs Perchi as a progressive web app. There is no dedicated iOS or Android app in the app stores at this time.

12. Notifications and Emails

In-room notifications (browser)

When you are in a room and a new chat message arrives while the browser tab is in the background, Perchi sends a browser notification if you have granted permission. The first time you join a room you may be asked to allow notifications. You can also turn room notifications on or off using the bell icon in the room toolbar.

If your browser has blocked notifications, the bell icon shows as crossed out, and you will need to update your browser's site permissions to re-enable them.

Push notifications (web and PWA)

When you join a room for the first time, Perchi requests push notification permission and registers your device. Push notifications can reach you even when the browser tab is closed, as long as your browser supports it. Not all browsers support push notifications.

Desktop app notifications

In the desktop app, notifications are always enabled and appear in your system notification area. No permission prompt is shown.

Emails

The main email you will receive is the magic link sign-in email when you choose to sign in with email. It contains a link that expires in 10 minutes. If it does not arrive, check your spam folder or request another link.

13. Search, Filters, and Organization

Perchi keeps organization simple. The tools that exist:

  • Nests: group your rooms into named spaces (for example one nest for friends, another for a study crew). This is the primary way to organize rooms.
  • Favorites: star any room card to pin it to the Favorites section of the sidebar for quick access.
  • Recently visited: the Lobby surfaces rooms you opened recently, based on your browser history on the current device.
  • Discover: browse public rooms created by other people from the Lobby.
  • Friends: keep a list of people you connect with and jump straight into a friend's room when they are online (see Settings > Friends).
  • Topic tags: label a room with one of Gaming, Study, Music, Work, Social, or Creative. Tags appear on the room card.

There is no global keyword search across rooms or messages, and there is no folder system beyond nests. Friends can be searched by email when adding them.

14. Data Import, Export, and Deletion

Perchi focuses on live hangouts, so the user-facing data actions are limited.

Import

There is no data import feature. Quick room customization (name, icon, color, wallpaper) is carried in the room link, so opening a shared link reproduces that room's look.

Export and saving content

  • Drawing Board: click the download icon to save the current canvas as an image.
  • Chat images and GIFs: click any image or GIF to open it full-screen, then download it.
  • Notes: notes live in the room. You can select and copy the text manually. There is no one-click export.

Deletion

  • Delete a room: the room owner can permanently delete a room from room settings (a second confirmation is required). Members lose access.
  • Delete a nest: the nest owner can delete a nest, but only after all rooms inside it are moved or deleted, and you cannot delete your last nest.
  • Delete your account: from Settings, Delete account permanently removes your profile, avatar, sign-in data, all rooms you own, favorites, friendships, and notification subscriptions, and removes your name from activity in other people's rooms. You must type delete my account to confirm. This cannot be undone.

15. Troubleshooting Guide

Problem: I cannot sign in

Likely cause: A temporary issue on Perchi's side, a blocked account, or using a different sign-in method than last time.

What to try:

  1. Refresh the page and try again.
  2. If you see "This email is already linked to another sign-in method," use the method you originally signed up with (Google or email link).
  3. If you see "You don't have permission to sign in," try a different account.
  4. For the email link, check spam and request another link if needed.

When to contact support: If you see "Sign-in is temporarily broken on our end" or "Sign-in hit a snag" repeatedly, email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: My rooms or nests are missing

Likely cause: You are not signed in, you are on a different device, or you are looking at guest data.

What to try:

  1. Confirm you are signed in (your name and avatar show in the sidebar footer).
  2. Sign in with the same method you used originally.
  3. Remember that quick (guest) rooms are never saved, and "Recently visited" is specific to each device.

When to contact support: If saved rooms are still missing after signing in correctly, email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: File or image upload fails

Likely cause: The file is too large, in an unsupported format, or a connection issue.

What to try:

  1. Keep files at or under 5 MB.
  2. For images, use JPEG, PNG, or GIF.
  3. Check your internet connection and try again.

When to contact support: If valid, small files repeatedly fail to upload, email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: Microphone is not working

Likely cause: The browser is blocking the mic, no mic is detected, or a connection issue.

What to try:

  1. Allow the microphone for perchi.net in your browser's site permissions, then refresh.
  2. Confirm a microphone or headset is connected.
  3. In Settings > Audio & Devices, pick the correct input device and run Test microphone.

When to contact support: If the mic works in other apps but never in Perchi after allowing permissions, email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: Camera will not turn on

Likely cause: The browser is blocking the camera, no camera is detected, the room has too many people, or another app is using the camera.

What to try:

  1. Allow camera access for perchi.net in your browser permissions.
  2. Confirm the room has 4 or fewer participants (video is disabled at 5 or more).
  3. Close other apps that might be using the camera, then refresh.

When to contact support: If the camera works elsewhere but never in Perchi in a small room, email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: Screen share will not start

Likely cause: Screen recording permission is off, the room is at the share limit, or (desktop) the window closed.

What to try:

  1. Allow screen recording for your browser in your system settings.
  2. If you see "Too many people are sharing screens (max 4)," ask someone to stop.
  3. In the desktop app, keep the window open and pick the source again if it closed.

When to contact support: If screen share fails with permissions granted and the room under the limit, email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: An invite link is not working

Likely cause: The link was revoked or replaced with a newer one, or it was already used.

What to try:

  1. Ask whoever invited you to send a fresh invite link.
  2. If you see "You're already in this nest," you are a member already; click Open Perchi.
  3. If you are not signed in, click Sign in to join; you return to the invite automatically.

When to contact support: If fresh links still fail, the inviter can email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: I cannot join a room

Likely cause: The room is full, locked, or you are banned.

What to try:

  1. If it is full, wait for someone to leave. Signing in lets you create your own room.
  2. If it is locked, wait for the owner to unlock it.
  3. If you are banned, contact the room owner.

When to contact support: Joining issues are owner-managed; contact the room owner first.

Problem: Billing or upgrade confusion

Likely cause: Checkout could not load, or you are unsure about plan limits.

What to try:

  1. On Settings > Subscription, click Retry if subscription info fails to load.
  2. If checkout fails, wait a moment and try again.
  3. Review the limits in Plans, Limits, and Billing.

When to contact support: If you see "Couldn't reach checkout" repeatedly, email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: The app is slow or a page failed to load

Likely cause: A temporary network or app error.

What to try:

  1. On a "Something went wrong" page, click Try again.
  2. Refresh the browser.
  3. On a "Perchi hit a snag" page, click Try again or Go home and note any reference code.

When to contact support: If a reference code keeps appearing, email admin@perchi.net with the code.

Problem: Permission errors (moderation)

Likely cause: You are trying an action your role does not allow.

What to try:

  1. Confirm you are the room owner for actions like deleting the room or transferring ownership.
  2. Remember admins can ban only regular members, not other admins.

When to contact support: Ask the room or nest owner to perform owner-only actions.

Problem: Display looks wrong on mobile or my browser

Likely cause: An unsupported or outdated browser, or a missing feature.

What to try:

  1. Use a modern browser such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
  2. On mobile, open the sidebar with the hamburger button in the top-left.
  3. Update your browser to the latest version.

When to contact support: If layout problems persist on a current browser, email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: Notifications are not appearing

Likely cause: Notifications are blocked or unsupported in your browser.

What to try:

  1. If you see "Notifications are blocked," change perchi.net from Blocked to Allow in your browser's site settings.
  2. If you see "Notifications are not supported on this browser," use Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, or use the desktop app.
  3. Check the bell icon in the room toolbar is enabled.

When to contact support: If notifications are allowed but never arrive on a supported browser, email admin@perchi.net.

Problem: A feature is not appearing

Likely cause: You are a guest, or a limit applies.

What to try:

  1. The Board and Notes tabs require signing in. Sign in to use them.
  2. Video appears only with 4 or fewer participants.
  3. Reactions appear only while you are joined to voice.

When to contact support: If a feature is missing while signed in and within limits, email admin@perchi.net.

16. Error Messages

Error / Message What it means What the user should do
Sign-in is temporarily broken on our end. Refresh, or email admin@perchi.net if it keeps happening. A temporary issue is preventing sign-in. Refresh and try again; email admin@perchi.net if it persists.
You don't have permission to sign in. Try a different account or contact admin@perchi.net. The account used is not allowed to sign in. Try a different account, or contact admin@perchi.net.
This email is already linked to another sign-in method. Try signing in with your original method. The email is registered under a different method (Google vs email link). Use the method you first signed up with.
Sign-in hit a snag. Refresh and try again, or email admin@perchi.net if it keeps happening. An unexpected error during sign-in. Refresh and try again; email admin@perchi.net if it persists.
Please enter your email address. The email field was empty. Enter your email and try again.
We couldn't send the magic link. Please check your connection and try again. The sign-in email could not be sent. Check your connection and try again.
Finish signing in in your browser. We'll pick it up automatically. Sign-in opened in your system browser (desktop app). Complete sign-in in your browser; Perchi continues automatically.
Couldn't finish sign-in. Something went wrong on our end. Head back and try signing in again. The desktop sign-in handoff failed. Click Back to sign-in and try again.
Microphone access denied. Allow mic permissions in your browser settings and try again. The browser is blocking the microphone. Allow the mic for perchi.net, refresh, and rejoin.
No microphone found. Connect a mic and try again. No microphone is detected. Plug in a mic or headset and try again.
Could not start voice. Check your connection and try again. A network or device error stopped voice. Check your connection and try again.
Couldn't apply audio settings, keeping previous mic. A settings change could not be applied during a call. Leave the room, change settings, then rejoin.
Voice connection lost with a participant. This may be a network compatibility issue. Your connection to one participant dropped. Wait for it to recover; if not, leave and rejoin.
Camera access denied. Check your browser permissions. The browser is blocking the camera. Allow the camera for perchi.net.
No camera found on this device. No camera is detected. Connect a camera or use a device with one.
Could not start camera. An unexpected camera error. Refresh and try again; close other apps using the camera.
Video is available in rooms with 4 or fewer people. The room has more than 4 participants. Wait until participants drop to 4 or fewer, or use screen share.
Could not start screen sharing. The browser could not start screen capture. Try again; ensure screen recording permission is on.
That window or screen is no longer available. Pick another. The selected window closed before sharing started. Open screen sharing and pick an active source.
Too many people are sharing screens (max 4). Ask someone to stop, then try again. The room is at 4 simultaneous shares. Ask a sharer to stop, then try again.
You have been banned from this room. The owner banned your account. Contact the room owner.
This room is locked. The owner isn't accepting new joiners right now. The room is locked to new participants. Wait for the owner to unlock it.
Room is full / This room has reached its participant limit. The room is at its participant cap. Wait for someone to leave and try again.
This room is full. Sign in to create your own room. The room is full and you are a guest. Sign in to create your own room.
Could not load this room. Please try again in a moment. A temporary error loading the room. Refresh the page.
File too large (X KB/MB). Max 5 MB. The file exceeds the 5 MB limit. Compress or choose a smaller file.
We couldn't load that image. Try a different file (JPEG, PNG, or GIF). The image could not be processed. Save as JPEG, PNG, or GIF and retry.
We couldn't read that file. Try uploading a different one. The file could not be read. Try a different file or format.
GIFs are unavailable right now. The GIF service is temporarily unavailable. Try again shortly.
No results for [query]. Try a different search. No GIFs matched your search. Rephrase your search.
Couldn't save notes. Copy your latest edits elsewhere and refresh. Notes failed to save (connection lost). Copy your text, refresh, and paste it back.
Couldn't add the card. Your changes weren't saved. A new board card could not be saved. Check your connection and try again.
Couldn't delete the card. Try again in a moment. A board card could not be deleted. Wait a moment and try again.
Couldn't update the card. Try again. A board card edit could not be saved. Try again.
Couldn't update favorite. Try again. The favorite toggle failed. Try again, then refresh if needed.
Couldn't copy link. Try selecting the URL from the address bar. The browser blocked clipboard access. Copy the URL manually from the address bar.
Couldn't save your profile. Check your connection and try again. A profile change did not save. Check your connection and save again.
Only JPEG, PNG, and WebP images are allowed. An unsupported avatar format. Use JPEG, PNG, or WebP.
Image must be under 5MB. The image is too large. Resize or compress under 5 MB.
Couldn't remove your avatar. Try again in a moment. A temporary error removing your photo. Try again in a moment.
Couldn't delete your account. Check your connection and try again. Account deletion failed. Check your connection and try again; confirm you typed the phrase exactly.
Couldn't accept the request. Try again. A friend request could not be accepted. Refresh and try again.
Couldn't remove friend. Please try again. A friend could not be removed. Try again.
Couldn't send the friend request. Try again. A friend request failed to send. Check your connection and try again.
Failed to send request. A friend request could not be sent (for example, invalid email or already added). Check the email and try again.
No one matches "[query]". They need a Perchi account. Share a room link to invite them. The searched email has no Perchi account. Check spelling, or share a room link to invite them.
You've reached the max of [N] nests. You hit your nest limit. Remove an unused nest to make room.
Free accounts get [N] nest. Upgrade to create more. Free accounts are limited to one nest. Upgrade to Perchi+ to create more.
Couldn't create nest. Check your connection and try again. A nest could not be created. Check your connection and try again.
Couldn't save the nest. Try again. Nest settings did not save. Try again, then reload if needed.
Move or delete the [N] room(s) in "[nest name]" first. You tried to delete a nest that still has rooms. Move or delete its rooms first.
Make another nest before deleting your last one. You cannot delete your only nest. Create a new nest, then delete the old one.
Free accounts are limited to [N] rooms. You hit the free room limit. Delete a room or upgrade.
You've reached the max of [N] rooms. You hit your room limit. Delete a room you no longer need.
Invite link revoked The current invite link was disabled. Create a new link to invite more people.
Couldn't join the nest. Try again. The invite was revoked, used, or a connection error occurred. Ask for a fresh invite link and try again.
Couldn't create the link. Try again. An invite link could not be generated. Check your connection and try again.
Couldn't revoke the link. Try again. An invite link could not be revoked. Try again.
Couldn't copy. Select the link and copy it manually. The browser blocked clipboard access. Select the link and copy it manually.
You're already in this nest. You already belong to the nest. No action needed; click Open Perchi.
Couldn't save changes. Check your connection and retry. Room settings did not save. Check your connection and save again.
Couldn't delete this room. Try again in a moment. Room deletion failed. Wait a moment and try again.
Couldn't move room. Try again. Moving a room to another nest failed. Try again.
Upload failed. Please try again. A room image upload failed. Check your connection and try again.
Couldn't load subscription info. Check your connection and try again. Subscription details could not load. Click Retry, then refresh if needed.
Couldn't reach checkout. Try again in a moment, or email admin@perchi.net. Checkout could not start. Try again; email admin@perchi.net if it persists.
Notifications are not supported on this browser The browser lacks notification support. Use Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, or the desktop app.
Notifications are blocked. Enable them in your browser settings. Notification permission was denied. Change perchi.net from Blocked to Allow in site settings.
Couldn't bind [key], it may be in use by another app. The push-to-talk hotkey is taken by another app. Choose a different key combination.
Hotkey capture cancelled (timeout) The 5-second window to press a hotkey closed. Click Set hotkey and press a key within 5 seconds.
Something went wrong An unexpected app error. Click Try again; refresh if it persists.
Perchi hit a snag. Something broke badly enough that we couldn't recover the page. A serious error stopped the page loading. Click Try again or Go home; note any reference code and email admin@perchi.net.
You've sent a few already. Try again in an hour. Feedback submissions are rate-limited. Wait an hour and submit again.
Couldn't send your feedback. Check your connection and try again. The feedback form failed to submit. Check your connection and try again.

17. FAQ

Getting Started

Q: Do I need an account to use Perchi? A: No. Click Try a quick room to start talking with no sign-up. Sign in only if you want to save rooms and use the full feature set.

Q: How do I start a room? A: Go to perchi.net and click Try a quick room, or sign in and use Create room in the sidebar.

Q: How do I invite people? A: For a quick room, share the URL in your address bar. For a saved nest, open the invite manager (link icon by the nest name) and share the generated link.

Q: What is the difference between a room and a nest? A: A room is a voice space. A nest is a container that holds one or more rooms for a group.

Q: Is there anything to download? A: No download is required to use Perchi in a browser. A native desktop app is optional for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Q: How many people can join my room? A: Quick (guest) rooms hold up to 2, free accounts up to 4, and Perchi+ up to 25.

Account

Q: Do I need a password? A: No. Perchi uses Google sign-in or an email magic link, so there is no password to remember.

Q: My magic link email did not arrive. What now? A: Check your spam folder and request another link from the sign-in screen. Links expire after 10 minutes.

Q: I signed in before but it says my email is linked to another method. Why? A: You first signed up with a different method. Use the same one you used originally (Google or email link).

Q: How do I change my display name or photo? A: Go to Settings > Profile, update the name or upload a photo (JPEG, PNG, or WebP, up to 5 MB), and save.

Q: How do I delete my account? A: In Settings, choose Delete account and type delete my account to confirm. This permanently removes your profile, rooms you own, favorites, and friendships, and cannot be undone.

Q: Can I use Perchi without signing in? A: Yes, as a guest in a quick room. You can set a display name stored in your browser, but rooms are not saved and some features (Board, Notes) require an account.

Features

Q: How do I mute myself? A: Click the mute control in the room header or press M. To stop hearing everyone, use Silence (press D).

Q: What is the difference between Mute and Silence? A: Mute stops others from hearing you. Silence (deafen) stops you from hearing everyone. Both can be on at once.

Q: How do I turn on my camera? A: Join voice, open the Video tab, and click Share camera. Video is available only when the room has 4 or fewer people.

Q: Can more than one person share their screen? A: Yes, up to 4 people can share at the same time, shown side by side.

Q: How do I watch a video together? A: Open the Watch tab, paste a link (YouTube is most reliable), and click Load. Everyone sees the same content in sync.

Q: Can I send images and GIFs in chat? A: Yes. Paste or drag an image, use the paperclip for files, or the GIF button to search GIFs. Files are capped at 5 MB.

Q: What is BRB? A: A "Be Right Back" status. It dims your avatar, shows a coffee cup, and mutes your mic so others know you stepped away. Click Back when you return.

Q: Do the Board and Notes save between sessions? A: Notes persist for the room between sessions. Board cards sync in real time. Both require signing in.

Q: Why can I not see the Board or Notes tabs? A: They are available to signed-in users only, not guests.

Teams

Q: What is a nest used for? A: A nest groups rooms for a particular circle, for example friends in one nest and a study crew in another.

Q: Who can invite people to a nest? A: Nest admins and the owner can create and manage invite links.

Q: How do I add a moderator to my room? A: Open room settings, go to Members & moderation, and click Make admin next to a member. Admins can ban and unban regular members.

Q: Can an admin remove the owner or another admin? A: No. Only the owner can ban admins or transfer ownership.

Q: How do I keep my room private? A: Turn off Show in Discover in room settings, and lock the room to stop new joiners.

Q: How do I transfer ownership of a room? A: In room settings, Members & moderation, click Make owner and confirm. This is irreversible.

Billing

Q: How much does Perchi cost? A: The core product is free. Perchi+ is listed at $2.99 per month or $99 once for lifetime. (Some in-app copy lists $5/month and "coming soon"; see Plans, Limits, and Billing.)

Q: What do I get with Perchi+? A: Up to 10 nests, up to 10 rooms total, up to 25 participants per room, and a Pro star badge. It does not add new in-room features.

Q: How do I cancel or update my billing? A: Use the billing portal linked on Settings > Subscription.

Q: Is there a free trial? A: You do not really need one. Perchi's core features are free with no time limit and no credit card, so you can use it fully before deciding on Perchi+. A separate timed trial of Perchi+ is not offered.

Q: What happens to my rooms if I downgrade or my subscription lapses? A: Your account, rooms, nests, and saved content stay with you. Plan changes adjust the limits on your account (how many rooms, nests, and participants you can have) rather than deleting anything. For the exact effect on your rooms, check Settings > Subscription or contact support.

Integrations

Q: Does Perchi connect to my calendar or cloud storage? A: No. Perchi has no third-party data integrations.

Q: Is there a desktop app? A: Yes, for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It adds a tray icon, global push-to-talk, native notifications, deep links, and auto-updates.

Q: Is there an iOS or Android app? A: There is no app-store app at this time. Perchi works in mobile browsers, and Android may offer "Add to home screen."

Q: What is push-to-talk and where do I set it? A: In the desktop app, hold a key to speak only while held. Set it under Settings > Desktop app.

Troubleshooting

Q: People cannot hear me. What should I check? A: Confirm you allowed the microphone, you are not muted (or in BRB), and the correct input device is selected in Settings > Audio & Devices.

Q: The room says it is full. What can I do? A: Wait for someone to leave. If you are a guest, sign in to create your own room with a higher limit.

Q: My screen share will not start. A: Make sure your browser has screen recording permission, the room is under 4 active shares, and (on desktop) the window you picked is still open.

Q: My invite link does not work. A: It may have been revoked or replaced. Ask the inviter for a fresh link.

Q: A page failed to load. A: Click Try again or refresh. If a reference code appears repeatedly, email admin@perchi.net with the code.

Privacy & Data

Q: Are quick rooms saved anywhere? A: No. Quick (guest) rooms are temporary and are not saved to any account.

Q: Can I make my room undiscoverable? A: Yes. Turn off Show in Discover in room settings to keep it private.

Q: Can I download what I create? A: You can download the drawing canvas as an image and download images or GIFs from chat. Notes can be copied manually.

Q: How long is my content kept? A: Your messages, notes, and shared content stay available in a room for as long as that room exists. Perchi does not publish a fixed retention period. If you want something removed, delete it in the app or contact support.

Mobile/Desktop Usage

Q: Does Perchi work on my phone? A: Yes, in a mobile browser. The sidebar is behind the hamburger button in the top-left.

Q: How do I install Perchi on Android? A: Use your browser's "Add to home screen" prompt to install it as a web app.

Q: Why does the desktop app warn me on first launch? A: The current builds are unsigned. On Windows, allow it through SmartScreen; on macOS, right-click the app and choose Open.

Q: Does the desktop app work offline? A: No. It needs a connection to Perchi's servers and will show a connection error if they are unreachable.

18. Best Practices

  • Use headphones. They prevent echo and feedback for everyone else, especially in larger rooms.
  • Mute when not speaking. In groups of more than a couple of people, mute (M) keeps background noise down.
  • Use BRB instead of going quiet. It tells your crew you stepped away so they do not wait for you.
  • Organize with nests. Keep separate circles in separate nests (friends, study, work) so rooms stay tidy.
  • Star your go-to rooms. Favorites put your most-used rooms one click away in the sidebar.
  • Lock the room for closed sessions. Lock before you start if you do not want unexpected joiners, and turn off Show in Discover for privacy.
  • Hand off moderation. Promote trusted members to admin so the room runs smoothly when you are away.
  • Prefer YouTube for Watch Together. It is the most reliably synced source.
  • Download long drawings. The canvas keeps up to 500 strokes, so save a copy during long sessions.
  • Copy important notes before refreshing. Notes save on a short delay; protect long edits by copying them first.
  • Test your audio first. Use Settings > Audio & Devices and Test microphone with "Hear myself" before an important call.
  • On desktop, set push-to-talk. It keeps you muted by default and lets you talk only when you hold the key, even in full-screen games.

19. Glossary

Term Meaning
Room (Perch) A voice space with a permanent link that people drop into.
Nest A container that holds one or more rooms for a group.
Guest Someone using a quick room without signing in.
Quick room A temporary, no-sign-in voice room for up to 2 people.
Free account A signed-in user on the free tier (1 nest, 1 room, up to 4 people).
Perchi+ (Pro) The paid upgrade with more nests, more rooms, up to 25 people, and a star badge.
Lobby Your home screen showing your nests, recent rooms, and Discover.
Favorites Rooms you have starred for quick access in the sidebar.
Discover A Lobby section showing public rooms made by other people.
Recently visited Lobby list of rooms you opened recently on this device.
Mute Turns off your microphone so others cannot hear you.
Silence (Deafen) Mutes all incoming audio so you hear nothing.
BRB A "Be Right Back" status that dims your avatar and mutes your mic.
Push-to-talk (PTT) Desktop feature to unmute only while holding a key.
Magic link A one-time email sign-in link that expires in 10 minutes.
Owner The creator of a nest or room, with full control.
Admin A member promoted to help manage a nest or moderate a room.
Member Someone who joined a nest or has visited a room.
Locked room A room that blocks new joiners; existing members can still enter.
Watch Together Playing a video or audio link in sync for the whole room.
Drawing Board A shared canvas everyone can draw on at once.
Kanban Board A shared task board with To Do, In Progress, and Done columns.
Notes A shared notepad that persists for the room between sessions.
Reactions Floating emojis that fly across the room for everyone.
Topic tag A label on a room: Gaming, Study, Music, Work, Social, or Creative.
PiP voice panel A small floating window with voice controls when you switch tabs.
Floating voice pill A bottom-right control strip when you leave a room's page during a call.
Desktop app The native Windows, macOS, and Linux application.