{"id":147751,"date":"2019-09-09T15:35:42","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T13:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=147751"},"modified":"2025-07-01T21:31:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:31:44","slug":"video-chat-with-marco-polo-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/video-chat-with-marco-polo-app\/","title":{"rendered":"Video chat with Marco Polo App"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marco Polo<\/a> is a video messaging app that works with Android and iPhone.<\/p>\n

We’ve seen a lot of mentions of the app calling it a digital “walkie-talkie,” others have dubbed it “Snapchat for old people.”<\/p>\n

Essentially, Marco Polo is a call-and-response app that allows you to record a video then send it to a friend. When someone receives a message, they can watch it on the spot or save it for later.<\/p>\n

All video messages are pre-recorded, so it’s not a live video chat like Facetime or Skype. Messages won’t disappear or expire, as is the case with popular alternatives like Instagram Stories and Snapchat.<\/p>\n

The website states that you can react in real-time, but that comment is a bit misleading, and the experience is more akin to texting back and forth versus video chatting live.<\/p>\n

How Marco Polo works<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Marco Polo allows you to import your contacts using their phone numbers, and once set up, you can add them to a “Polo” or chat.<\/p>\n

When you first download the app, you’ll have the option to either import all of your contacts at one or add friends manually.<\/p>\n

You can only add people you already have in your phone’s contact list, and no one has access to your account unless they know your phone number, making it easy to stay safe online.<\/p>\n

Though the app asks users for permission first, gains access to your entire contact base, which may make some people uncomfortable. And, as you’ll see in this Reddit thread, some users have accidentally spammed everyone in their contacts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And much like LinkedIn, you’ll also have the option to automatically invite everyone in your address book to join the app by sending them a text message link.<\/p>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

Here’s a quick look at how to add contacts:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Tap on the People<\/strong> tab found at the bottom of the screen.<\/li>\n
  2. Check “Friends on Marco Polo” <\/strong>list to see if anyone you know already has a Marco Polo account.<\/li>\n
  3. Then, hit Add+<\/strong> to start a Marco Polo with one contact or you can select Create Group<\/strong> from the top of your screen to start a group chat.<\/li>\n
  4. If you’d like to connect with a friend that isn’t showing up on your Friends list, you can send them a message using their phone number. Your friend will get an invitation to join Marco Polo.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to send a video message<\/h2>\n

    To send a Marco Polo video, you can start from either the Chats or People tabs inside the app.<\/p>\n

    The Chats <\/strong>menu displays your most recent posts, making it your best bet for responding to message threads. The People menu is best-suited for starting a new conversation.<\/p>\n

    \"marco<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Head over to your Chats<\/strong> menu, found at the bottom of the screen.<\/li>\n
    2. Click on a group or individual contact to record your message.<\/li>\n
    3. This will open up the camera and you can start recording.<\/li>\n
    4. You’ll also see a few options for adding effects to your video.<\/li>\n
    5. Tap Start<\/strong> to begin recording your message.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"marco<\/p>\n

      If you’d like to make things a bit more interesting, you can add the following elements to your video, as well.<\/p>\n