If you want a completely private alternative to WhatsApp or iMessage for your family, Nextcloud Talk provides secure chat and video calling that never touches a corporate server.
Overview
Nextcloud Talk is an official plugin for Nextcloud. It allows users on your LocalNode to send text messages, share files directly from their Nextcloud storage, and initiate high-quality video calls. All data is end-to-end encrypted and routed exclusively through your home network.
Step 1: Installing Nextcloud Talk
Log into Nextcloud with your Admin account.
Click your profile picture in the top right and select Apps.
In the left sidebar, click on the search icon (magnifying glass) and type "Talk".
Find the official Talk app published by Nextcloud and click Download and enable.
Refresh the page. You will now see a new chat bubble icon in your top navigation bar.
Step 2: Starting a conversation
Click the Talk icon in the top navigation bar.
Click the + button in the left sidebar to create a new conversation.
Give the conversation a name (e.g., "Family Chat").
Search for the names of the family members you want to add.
Click Create conversation.
You can now chat just like you would in WhatsApp. If you type / in the chat box, you can access commands to attach files directly from your Nextcloud drive, share your location, or create polls.
Nextcloud documentation screenshot (nextcloud/documentation, AGPL / CC BY-SA depending on section).
Step 3: Making a video call
Video calling works flawlessly within the browser or the mobile app.
Open any 1-on-1 or group conversation.
Click the Start Call video camera icon in the top right corner.
Your browser will ask for permission to use your camera and microphone. Click Allow.
Other participants will receive a ring notification on their devices and can click Join.
💡 Tip: For the best experience, have your family download the dedicated "Nextcloud Talk" app from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. It handles push notifications for incoming calls much better than the standard Nextcloud Files app.
⚠️ Warning: Video calls between 2-4 people work perfectly because they use peer-to-peer connections. If you try to host a video call with 5 or more people, your LocalNode will require a separate "High Performance Backend" server, which requires advanced command-line configuration.
