Android Settings Guide

  • Updated

This article is written for: Zello Work Zello Friends & Family.

Zello Work’s device-specific settings can be managed through the Zello menu, located in the top-right corner of the app’s home screen. To access your settings: 

  1. Tap the Zello menu (three vertical dots) located in the top-right corner of your screen. 
  2. Select Options

There are 9 categories of options available for configuration: 

  • Profile
  • Accounts
  • Appearance
  • Audio
  • Push-to-talk buttons
  • Behavior
  • Notifications
  • History
  • Support 

The available configurations in each of these sections is expanded on below.  

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Profile

From the Profile section, you can view your username and network name. Additionally, you can change the following settings:

Profile Picture (1)*: Profile pictures provide an additional layer of easy identification.

 

Display Name (2)*: Display names are the names visible to users when an individual sends a message on their Zello Work network.

Unlike usernames—which are assigned at user creation and thereafter fixed—display names can be changed at any time. They are often clearer and more intuitive than usernames, making it easier to identify exactly who is communicating.

 

Password (3): Your password can be reset at any point in time from the app’s settings. If you forget your password, contact your network admin.

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*If enabled by the network admin.

Accounts

From the Accounts screen, a user can manage all Zello accounts associated with their device. 

Tap the blue + button (2) to sign in to your Zello Friends & Family account or another Zello Work account. Alternatively, tap the QR code button (1) to scan a QR code for quick, easy sign-in.

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Appearance

From the Appearance section, users can change the look and feel of their Zello app’s interface. Appearance options include the following:

Language
Configure your app’s interface language from this section. Please note that Zello will inherit your device’s language by default; configure this setting if you’d like to exclusively change the language of the Zello app.

 

Theme
Theme–i.e. the backdrop color of your device–options include either black, white, or “system,” which inherits the theme configured on your device. In the screenshot to the right, the theme is set to "Black."

 

Font Size
Increase or decrease the size of Zello’s display font. This will affect all text in the Zello app, including the size of any text messages stored in History

 

Lock Screen Orientation
Turn this setting on if you’d like to prevent your Zello screen from toggling between landscape and portrait mode when you rotate your device.

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Audio

From the Audio section, configure playback and recording parameters that optimize Zello’s audio on your device. Learn more about audio amplification settings. 

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Please note: if any of the below settings appear grayed out with a lock icon, they’ve been administered on a network-wide basis by your admin. They accordingly can’t be configured from your device.

Adjust volume on incoming messages

When this setting is toggled on, incoming messages will be delivered at a higher volume after 10 minutes of inactivity. This helps ensure users don’t inadvertently miss messages that are sent while inactive. Learn more. 

Playback amplifier Slide the toggle to the left to decrease the playback volume on your device, and to the right to increase the playback volume.
Recording amplifier Slide the toggle to the left to make your device’s recording audio softer, and slide the toggle to the right to make your recordings louder.
Noise suppression When toggled on, Zello will automatically reduce background noise.
Apply audio mode only when a message is sent or played When toggled on, this setting will conserve your Bluetooth headset battery. Consider turning it off if you’re experiencing message delays.
Legacy Bluetooth mode

Legacy Bluetooth mode affects the call setup sequence. We recommend keeping this setting configured to “auto”—this will ensure the app automatically checks against a list of known devices and responds appropriately. 

Please note: This setting is only applicable to networks operating on legacy Bluetooth devices utilizing an older Bluetooth Android API than the current supported API. Most networks will not need to alter the default “auto” configuration.

Push-to-talk buttons

Zello’s PTT button can be configured to best suit your communications environment and needs. Configuration options include: screen button settings, PTT headset settings, VOX button, and recent contact overlays. Learn more about mapping a device's PTT button. 

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Tip: Tap the blue + button to quickly map a new headset/device PTT button. 

Screen Button

Screen button settings configure the PTT button that appears on a channel or contact’s talk screen. Tap the arrow associated with Screen button action to administer your preferred configuration. 

Optional configurations include: 

  • Hold-to-Talk: Press and hold the PTT button to record and transmit your message. 

  • Toggle: tap the PTT button once to begin recording your message; tap it again to end your message’s recording and send. 

  • Disabled: When disabled, the screen’s PTT button cannot be used
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Headset

Configure settings for your headset, including the PTT button’s foreground behavior, mapped contact, and background behavior.

  • Push-to-talk button action
    Select if you’d like your headset’s PTT button to operate in either toggle mode (press once to start recording a message, and once to end the recording) or hold-to-talk mode (press and hold the PTT button for the duration of your message).

  • Handle button in the background when possible
    When enabled, this setting allows you to utilize headset keys in your interactions with Zello, even if Zello is running in the background or your device’s screen is locked. Learn more about compatible devices. 

  • Button Contact
    Map a specific contact or channel to your device’s PTT button. Learn more. 

  • Remove Button
    Tap "Remove Button" if you'd like to un-map a headset's PTT button. 
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VOX Button

VOX allows you to use Zello hands-free through voice-activated message transmission. Use this menu to configure the expected behavior of VOX mode on your device. Learn more. 

Please note: Admins can disable VOX mode from the console. If you're unable to configure VOX for your device, contact your network admin. 

 

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Show button on the talk screen Toggling this setting on is step one of using VOX mode on your device. It’ll ensure the VOX icon displays in the bottom-left corner of Zello’s talk screen. Learn more about setting up VOX mode. 
Keep VOX enabled when screen is locked Toggle this setting on if you’d like to send messages via VOX when your device’s screen is locked.
Activation sensitivity

Use the slider to establish the sensitivity level (low, moderate, high, extreme) required to activate transmissions. 

Low activation sensitivity allows faint noises to trigger a transmission, while extreme requires very loud noises to trigger  transmissions.
Tailor activation to the human voice

This setting is used to distinguish a human voice from other noises (e.g. a mouse click, wind, a cat’s meow, etc.), adding a layer of protection to ensure VOX mode is intentionally activated. 

Use the slider to establish the sensitivity level (low, moderate, high, extreme) required to activate the algorithm that distinguishes other noises from the human voice.

Activation time (ms)*

Activation time is the period after which VOX will begin transmitting a message once an activating noise is picked up. It is measured in milliseconds (ms).

Please note that reducing the threshold increases the chance of picking up random noises.

Deactivation time* Once the configured time period has passed, VOX will stop message transmission. This is measured in milliseconds; please note that reducing the threshold too much may lead to premature ending of messages.

*reminder that 1 second = 1000 milliseconds

Behavior

This section allows users to customize the behavior of their Zello app. 
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Start Zello when phone powers on If enabled, Zello will automatically run when you turn on your device.
Automatically activate a contact This setting will automatically open a contact’s talk screen when a message is received. Configuration options include when a message is received in the background, when a message is received, or never.  
Show on incoming message When toggled on, this setting will bring Zello to the foreground (if it is not already) when a new audio message is received.
And turn on the screen If enabled, Zello will unlock the device and bring the app to the foreground when a new audio message is received.
Set Zello Status to Bust when phone is in silent mode When your device’s volume is silenced, Zello will automatically set your status to Busy and store incoming messages in your Recents. Learn more. 
Set Zello status to Available when PTT button is pressed Statuses configured to either Busy or Solo will automatically change to Available once you send a message if this setting is enabled.

Save photos taken with the camera

Toggle on to access photos taken with Zello’s camera in your device’s camera roll.
Use system camera to take photos  Toggle on to use your device’s camera app instead of the Zello camera.
PUSH NOTIFICATIONS
Enable push notifications Push notifications ensure you’re notified of new messages, even if Zello is running in the background or your device is locked.
Start on incoming voice message Toggle on to automatically start the Zello app when receiving a voice message. 
WORKING IN BACKGROUND 
Wake up the device to keep Zello connected  Toggling this setting on ensures Zello continues running in the background until force quit.

Notifications

Users can customize when and how alerts are received, including the alert tone, vibration, and more.
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Alert volume This configuration determines the volume level messages will be delivered with.

Push-to-talk alerts

Ready to send Your device will beep when you press the PTT button to send a message.
Talk button-up

You’ve released the PTT button

Incoming message Plays at the beginning of an incoming voice message when the recipient’s status is Available.
End of incoming message Plays at the end of an incoming voice message.
Delivery delayed

Plays when delivery of your message is delayed. Learn more

Chat Alerts

New chat message Alert played when you receive either an image, location, text, or voice message.
Text Alert You’ve received an alert (call or channel).

Other Alerts

Default Contact Selected You’ll be notified when Zello’s talk screen switches back to your default contact. Learn more about default contacts.
Error

An error has occurred. These may include, but aren’t limited to, the following: 

    • Your microphone has been disabled
    • You’re unable to connect with the contact you’re attempting to message
Connection Lost

You’ve lost internet connection. 

Connection Restored Your internet connection has been restored.
Bluetooth disconnect vibration When enabled, you’ll receive an audio notification when your Bluetooth accessory or headset disconnects.

New Conversations

Enable new conversation notifications

When enabled, you’ll be notified via a visual, audio, and vibrate alert when someone starts a new conversation with you. You can add additional configurations such as sound and vibration to the alert if desired.

New conversation notifications are defined as incoming messages sent after a configureable timeout period. For example, let's say I've been messaging Andrew for a while, but we stopped messaging each other for 5 minutes (the default timeout period). If he sent me a new message after that timeout period lapsed, I'd receive a new conversation notification. 

Sound Configure your audio alerts for new conversation notifications. 
Vibration Configure the behavior of the vibration (rapid, short, staccato, or disabled) for your new conversation alert.

Visual Notifications

Show toasts while in the background If toasts are enabled, text notifications will appear when you receive a message and Zello is running in the background. For example, if a user sends you a text message, the full message will be displayed in the notification. If disabled, you’d be notified of the message via an audible beep, but you won’t see the message.
System notifications Select the types of messages that result in notifications.

History

History is locally saved on user's device. The parameters for this—i.e. how long messages are saved and their available storage space—can be configured on a user-by-user basis from the app.

Please note: Admins may administer network-wide history settings from the management console. These will override device-specific settings. 

Automatically delete messages
Use this dropdown if you’d like to set messages to automatically delete from your device after a particular time period. If you’d like all messages to be retained indefinitely—meaning a message will only be deleted if you manually do so—select
Never

Voice storage size
Amount of phone storage in Bytes available for voice message storage (16MB to 1GB). Once storage capacity is reached, the oldest messages will be deleted to make room for new messages. 

Image Storage Size
Number of images sent via Zello that you’d like to be stored on your device (100-10,000 images). Once storage capacity is reached, the oldest messages are deleted first. 

Clear all
Instantly deletes all message history currently stored on your device from the Zello app. 

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Support

The Support section hosts links to Zello's support site, the ability to send Zello a log identifying any issues you're experiencing, and the ability to configure advanced settings.

Additionally, this page provides the following important information: 

  • Network name
  • Version of Zello currently installed on your device
  • Zello's privacy policy
  • Third party information
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Help Tap Help to be automatically redirected to Zello's support site. 
Report a Problem If you're experiencing an issue with Zello, tap Report a Problem to send a log of device activity to our support team. Then, reach out to paidsupport@zello.com for assistance; we're not automatically notified when a report is submitted, so this step is crucial to receiving support. 
Adjust Permissions Update the permissions you've granted Zello to your device (e.g. microphone permissions, location permissions, phone call permissions, draw over other apps, etc.). This will redirect you to your device's settings page for Zello. 
Advanced Settings
  • Enable Asynchronous message delivery: Queues messages missed while you're in Standby status, and autoplays messages once the Internet connection is restored and your status restored to Available. 

  • Enable Call pre-setup: Enabling this feature minimizes delay for repeat calls to the same contact by sending frequent keep-alive packets during one-on-one conversations. Disabling this setting may improve battery life at the expense of less predictable delays.

  • Keep alive interval: A keep alive interval is the polling time between the app and the service. A longer polling time uses less bandwidth and improves battery life; a shorter polling time ensures the user status remains current and may improve connectivity. For most, the default value should work fine. Options are “s” for seconds and “m” for minutes. Learn More 

  • Use TCP only: Using TCP instead of UDP speeds up sign in and improves connection reliability, but it may cause a delay in real-time message receiving. 

  • Enable TLS: TLS is a security protocol. This is enabled by default and disabling is not recommended. Learn more 

  • Disable Analytics: Collected analytics typically include app usage and events.
Third Party Info:  Contains legal information related to the Zello application.