continuwuity/docs/calls/livekit.mdx

import { Tab, Tabs} from '@rspress/core/theme';

# MatrixRTC/Element Call Setup

This guide assumes that you are using docker compose for deployment.

:::tip
You can find help setting up MatrixRTC in our dedicated room - [#matrixrtc:continuwuity.org](https://matrix.to/#/%23matrixrtc%3Acontinuwuity.org)
:::

## Instructions

### 1. Set up your domain

LiveKit should live on its own domain or subdomain. In this guide we use `livekit.example.com` - this should be replaced with a domain you control.

Make sure the DNS record for the (sub)domain you plan to use is pointed to your server.

### 2. Set up the LiveKit services

Using LiveKit with Matrix requires two services - LiveKit itself, and a brokering service (`lk-jwt-service`) that grants Matrix users permission to connect to it.

You must generate a key and secret to allow the Matrix service to authenticate with LiveKit. `LK_MATRIX_KEY` should be around 20 random characters, and `LK_MATRIX_SECRET` should be around 64. Remember to replace these with the actual values!

:::tip Generating the secrets
LiveKit provides a utility to generate secure random keys
```bash
docker run --rm livekit/livekit-server:latest generate-keys
# API Key:  APIUxUnMnSkuFWV
# API Secret:  t93ZVjPeoEdyx7Wbet3kG4L3NGZIZVEFvqe0UuiVc22A
```
:::

Create a `docker-compose.yml` file as following:

```yaml
services:
  lk-jwt-service:
    image: ghcr.io/element-hq/lk-jwt-service:latest
    container_name: lk-jwt-service
    environment:
      - LIVEKIT_JWT_BIND=:8081
      - LIVEKIT_URL=wss://livekit.example.com # your LiveKit domain
      - LIVEKIT_FULL_ACCESS_HOMESERVERS=example.com # your server_name
      # Replace these with the generated values as above
      - LIVEKIT_KEY=LK_MATRIX_KEY # APIUxUnMnSkuFWV
      - LIVEKIT_SECRET=LK_MATRIX_SECRET # t93ZVjPeoEdyx7Wbet3kG4L3NGZIZVEFvqe0UuiVc22A
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "8081:8081"

  livekit:
    image: livekit/livekit-server:latest
    container_name: livekit
    command: --config /etc/livekit.yaml
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - ./livekit.yaml:/etc/livekit.yaml:ro
    network_mode: "host" # /!\ LiveKit binds to all addresses by default.
    # Make sure port 7880 is blocked by your firewall to prevent access bypassing your reverse proxy
    # Alternatively, uncomment the lines below and comment `network_mode: "host"` above to specify port mappings.
#    ports:
#      - "127.0.0.1:7880:7880/tcp"
#      - "7881:7881/tcp"
#      - "50100-50200:50100-50200/udp"
```

Next, we need to configure LiveKit. In the same directory, create `livekit.yaml` with the following content - remembering to replace `LK_MATRIX_KEY` and `LK_MATRIX_SECRET` with the values you generated:

```yaml
port: 7880
bind_addresses:
  - ""
rtc:
  tcp_port: 7881
  port_range_start: 50100
  port_range_end: 50200
  use_external_ip: true
  enable_loopback_candidate: false
keys:
  LK_MATRIX_KEY: LK_MATRIX_SECRET
  # replace these with your key-secret pair. Example:
  # APIUxUnMnSkuFWV: t93ZVjPeoEdyx7Wbet3kG4L3NGZIZVEFvqe0UuiVc22A

# do not create rooms by default
room:
  auto_create: false
```

Consult [`config-sample.yaml`][livekit-config-sample-yaml] for all LiveKit options.

[livekit-config-sample-yaml]: https://github.com/livekit/livekit/blob/master/config-sample.yaml

#### Firewall hints

You will need to allow ports `7881/tcp` and `50100:50200/udp` through your firewall. If you use UFW, the commands are: `ufw allow 7881/tcp` and `ufw allow 50100:50200/udp`.

### 3. Telling clients where to find LiveKit

To tell clients where to find LiveKit, you need to add your `lk-jwt-service`'s address to the `foci` field of the `[global.matrix_rtc]` section of your Continuwuity config file.

The variable should be a list of servers serving as MatrixRTC endpoints. Replace the URL with the address you are deploying your instance of lk-jwt-service to:

```toml
[global.matrix_rtc]
foci = [
    { type = "livekit", livekit_service_url = "https://livekit.example.com" },
]
```

If you configure Continuwuity via environment variables, use the following:

```bash
CONTINUWUITY_MATRIX_RTC__FOCI=[{ type = "livekit", livekit_service_url = "https://livekit.example.com" }]
```

This will expose LiveKit information on the following endpoints for clients to discover:

- `/_matrix/client/unstable/org.matrix.msc4143/rtc/transports` (MSC4143 unstable, behind auth)
- `/.well-known/matrix/client` (fallback, not behind auth. Only enabled if `[global.well_known].client` is set)

### 4. Configure your Reverse Proxy

Reverse proxies can be configured in many different ways - so we can't provide a step by step for this.

All paths should be forwarded to LiveKit by default, with the exception of the following path prefixes, which should be forwarded to the JWT/Authentication service:

- `/sfu/get`
- `/healthz`
- `/get_token`

<Tabs groupId="reverse-proxy">
<Tab label="Caddy (on host)">

```ini
livekit.example.com {

    # for lk-jwt-service
    @lk-jwt-service path /sfu/get* /healthz* /get_token*
    route @lk-jwt-service {
        reverse_proxy 127.0.0.1:8081
    }

    # for livekit
    reverse_proxy 127.0.0.1:7880
}
```

</Tab>
<Tab label="Caddy (in container)">

Requires `livekit` and `lk-jwt-service` to be on the same Docker bridge network as Caddy.

```ini
livekit.example.com {

    # for lk-jwt-service
    @lk-jwt-service path /sfu/get* /healthz* /get_token*
    route @lk-jwt-service {
        reverse_proxy lk-jwt-service:8081
    }

    # for livekit
    reverse_proxy livekit:7880
}
```
</Tab>
<Tab label="Caddy (via Docker labels)">

This setup assumes all containers share the same bridge network.


```yaml title="docker-compose.yml" fold height="200" file="../public/calls/livekit.docker-compose.with-caddy-labels.yml"

```

([view raw](/calls/livekit.docker-compose.with-caddy-labels.yml))

</Tab>
<Tab label="Traefik (via Docker labels)">

Requires `livekit` and `lk-jwt-service` to be on the same Docker bridge network as Traefik.

```
# on LiveKit itself
traefik.http.routers.livekit.rule=Host(`livekit.example.com`)
# on the JWT service
traefik.http.routers.livekit-jwt.rule=Host(`livekit.example.com`) && (PathPrefix(`/sfu/get`) || PathPrefix(`/healthz`) || PathPrefix(`/get_token`))
```

</Tab>
<Tab label="nginx">

```nginx title="nginx.conf" file="../public/calls/livekit.nginx.conf"

```

([view raw](/calls/livekit.nginx.conf))

Note: To enable WebSockets proxying functionality, include the following snippet somewhere outside your server block:
```nginx
map $http_upgrade $connection_upgrade {
    default upgrade;
    ''      close;
}
```

See nginx's [WebSocket proxying documentation][nginx-websockets] for further details.

[nginx-websockets]: https://nginx.org/en/docs/http/websocket.html

</Tab>
</Tabs>

### 6. Start Everything

Start up the services using your usual method - for example `docker compose up -d`.

## Testing

To test that LiveKit is successfully integrated with Continuwuity, you will need to replicate its [Token Exchange Flow](https://github.com/element-hq/lk-jwt-service#%EF%B8%8F-how-it-works--token-exchange-flow). Follow the steps below while checking Docker logs (`docker compose logs --follow`), in order to help [troubleshooting](#troubleshooting) any issues.

First, you will need an access token for your current login session. These can be found in your client's settings or obtained via [this website][starstruck-mxtoken2].

[starstruck-mxtoken2]: https://starstruck.systems/matrix/tools/mxtoken2

Then, using that token, fetch the discovery endpoints for MatrixRTC services:

```bash
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer <session-access-token>" \
  https://matrix.example.com/_matrix/client/unstable/org.matrix.msc4143/rtc/transports
```

In the output, you should see the LiveKit URL matching the one [configured above](#3-telling-clients-where-to-find-livekit).

With the same token, request another OpenID token for use with the lk-jwt-service:

```bash
curl -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer <session-access-token>" \
  https://matrix.example.com/_matrix/client/v3/user/@user:example.com/openid/request_token
```

You will see a response as below:

```json
{"access_token":"<openid_access_token>","token_type":"Bearer","matrix_server_name":"example.com","expires_in":3600}
```

Next, create a `payload.json` file with the following content:

<details>

<summary>`payload.json`</summary>

```json
{
    "room_id": "abc",
    "slot_id": "xyz",
    "openid_token": {
        "matrix_server_name": "example.com",
        "access_token": "<openid_access_token>",
        "token_type": "Bearer"
    },
    "member": {
        "id": "xyz",
        "claimed_device_id": "DEVICEID",
        "claimed_user_id": "@user:example.com"
    }
}
```

Replace `matrix_server_name` and `claimed_user_id` with your information, and `<openid_access_token>` with the one you got from the previous step. Other values can be left as-is.

</details>

You can then send this payload to the lk-jwt-service:

```bash
curl -X POST -d @payload.json https://livekit.example.com/get_token
```

The lk-jwt-service will, after checking against Continuwuity, answer with a `jwt` token to create a LiveKit media room:

```json
{"url":"wss://livekit.example.com","jwt":"a_really_really_long_string"}
```

Use this token to test at the [LiveKit Connection Tester][livekit-connection-test]. If everything works there, then you have set up LiveKit successfully!

[livekit-connection-test]: https://livekit.com/webrtc/connection-test

## Troubleshooting

To debug any issues, you can place a call or redo the Testing instructions, and check the container logs for any specific errors. Use `docker compose logs --follow` to follow these logs in real-time.

### Common errors in Element Call UI

- `MISSING_MATRIX_RTC_FOCUS`/`MISSING_MATRIX_RTC_TRANSPORT`: LiveKit is missing from Continuwuity's config file
- "Waiting for media" popup always showing for yourself: a LiveKit URL has been configured in Continuwuity, but your client cannot connect to it for some reason
- `OPEN_ID_ERROR`: Your client can reach out to `lk-jwt-service`, but has problems authenticating with it. In this case, check `lk-jwt-service` logs for more details

For browser-based clients, you can also inspect connections using DevTools' Networking tab, to see which requests are erroring out.

### Docker loopback networking issues

Some distros do not allow Docker containers in bridge networks to connect to their host's public IP by default. This makes `lk-jwt-service` fail connecting to `livekit` or `continuwuity` on the same host, causing refused and timed out connections to appear in the log entries of the JWT service, even when `LIVEKIT_URL` has been configured correctly.

You can also test that this is the case by cURLing from a sidecar container:

```bash
docker run --rm --net container:lk-jwt-service docker.io/curlimages/curl https://livekit.example.com
# --- some errors ---
```

To resolve this, configure an `extra_hosts` file mapping LiveKit's and Continuwuity's domain names to Docker's custom host loopback address, represented here by `host-gateway`:

```diff
# in docker-compose.yaml
services:
  lk-jwt-service:
    ...
+    extra_hosts:
+     - "livekit.example.com:host-gateway"
+     - "matrix.example.com:host-gateway"
```

After implementing the changes and restarting your compose, `lk-jwt-service` should now connect to your other services. The sidecar container test above should now return an `OK` from LiveKit.

For more information about the `host-gateway` parameter, kindly refer to the `--add-host` documentation for [Docker][docker-add-host] and [Podman][podman-add-host]. Should you have further difficulties, feel free to enquire in the support rooms.

[docker-add-host]: https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/docker/container/run/#add-host
[podman-add-host]: https://docs.podman.io/en/latest/markdown/podman-run.1.html#add-host-hostname-hostname-ip

### Incorrect IP address for LiveKit

By default, LiveKit automatically finds its public IP address(es), which can be seen in the "Establishing WebRTC connection" section of the connection test page. If these IPs are incorrect, you may want to hardcode your own IP by doing the following:

```diff
### in your livekit.yaml ###
rtc:
  # ... other configs here ...
- use_external_ip: true
+ use_external_ip: false
+ node_ip: "1.2.3.4"
```

### Workaround for non-federating servers

When deploying on servers with federation disabled (`allow_federation = false`), LiveKit will fail as it can't fetch the required [OpenID endpoint](https://spec.matrix.org/v1.17/server-server-api/#get_matrixfederationv1openiduserinfo) via federation paths.

As a workaround, you can enable federation, but forbid all remote servers via the following config parameters:

```toml
### in your continuwuity.toml file ###
allow_federation = true
forbidden_remote_server_names = [".*"]
```

Subscribe to issue [!1440](https://forgejo.ellis.link/continuwuation/continuwuity/issues/1440) for future updates on this matter.

## Related Documentation

Guides:

- [Element Call self-hosting documentation from element-hq][element-call-selfhosting]
- [Community guide with overview of LiveKit's mechanisms][tom-livekit-guide]
- [Community guide using systemd][kimiblock-livekit-guide]

[element-call-selfhosting]: https://github.com/element-hq/element-call/blob/livekit/docs/self-hosting.md
[tom-livekit-guide]: https://tomfos.tr/matrix/livekit/
[kimiblock-livekit-guide]: https://blog.kimiblock.top/2024/12/24/hosting-element-call/

Configurations:

- [Livekit's `config-sample.yaml`][livekit-config-sample-yaml] - LiveKit configuration file with full options

Specifications:

- [MSC4143: MatrixRTC \- Real-time communication over Matrix][MSC4143]
- [MSC4195: MatrixRTC Transport using LiveKit Backend][MSC4195]

[MSC4143]: https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/4143
[MSC4195]: https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/4195

Source code:

- [Element Call][element-call-github]
- [lk-jwt-service][lk-jwt-service-github]
- [LiveKit server][livekit-server-github]

[element-call-github]: https://github.com/element-hq/element-call
[lk-jwt-service-github]: https://github.com/element-hq/lk-jwt-service
[livekit-server-github]: https://github.com/livekit/livekit

Other:

- [Matrix VOIP and LiveKit][sspaeth-matrix-voip] - Community member deep dive on current VOIP solutions on Matrix

[sspaeth-matrix-voip]: https://sspaeth.de/2026/04/matrix-voip-and-livekit/

## Appendix

### Additional TURN-over-TLS on 443 configuration

Most of the time, LiveKit [**does not need TURN**][sspaeth-matrix-voip-turn] to function. However, there are situations where clients may be unable to use nonstandard ports or UDP connections, such as in highly restrictive networks. In such cases, a TURN-over-TLS server on port 443 could relay traffic for the clients.

[sspaeth-matrix-voip-turn]: https://sspaeth.de/2026/04/matrix-voip-and-livekit/#turn

You can either use LiveKit's built-in TURN server, or integrate LiveKit with [coturn](./turn).

<details>

<summary>Using LiveKit's built-in TURN server</summary>

First, set up LiveKit's built-in TURN server with its own domain - this example will use `livekit-turn.example.com` in our example.

```yaml
## add this to `livekit.yaml` ##
turn:
  enabled: true

  # Note: LiveKit will always advertise its TURN-over-TLS port on 443,
  # so further load balancing is needed to route back from port 443
  # on the host to the port being configured here
  tls_port: 5349

  # Optional: configure an extra UDP port
  # udp_port: 3478

  relay_range_start: 50300
  relay_range_end: 50400

  domain: livekit-turn.example.com

  # replace these with your actual certificate and key files
  cert_file: /path/to/livekit-turn.example.com.crt
  key_file: /path/to/livekit-turn.example.com.key
```

```yaml
### add these ports to livekit's docker-compose.yml ###
### if you're using `network_mode: host`, you can skip this part
ports:
  - "127.0.0.1:5349:5349/tcp"
  - "50300-50400:50300-50400/udp"
  # "3478:3478/udp" # (optional UDP port)
```

Recreate the LiveKit container (with `docker compose up -d livekit`) to apply these changes. Remember to allow the new `50300:50400/udp` ports through your firewall.

Then, configure a route from port 443 on the host back to the `livekit-turn.example.com` service on port 5349. To multiplex the service and LiveKit's WebSocket on the same port, use a layer 4 reverse proxy with SNI routing capabilities, such as [Caddy-L4][caddy-l4], on the host system.

```
## in your Caddyfile ##
{
    servers {
        listener_wrappers {

            # intercept packets meant for the TURN domain first
            # before forwarding other packets to "normal" HTTP listeners
            layer4 {
                @turn tls sni livekit-turn.example.com
                route @turn {
                    # forward packages to LiveKit's TURN-over-TLS port
                    proxy 127.0.0.1:5349
                    }
                }
            }
            tls
        }
    }
}

# Configuration for the LiveKit modules
livekit.example.com {
    @lk-jwt-service path /healthz /get_token /sfu/get
    route @lk-jwt-service {
        reverse_proxy 127.0.0.1:8081
    }
    reverse_proxy http://127.0.0.1:7880
}
```

[caddy-l4]: https://github.com/mholt/caddy-l4

</details>

<details>
<summary>Using an external TURN server (coturn)</summary>

First, make sure coturn's `min-port` and `max-port` do not overlap with LiveKit's port range:

```ini
# in your coturn.conf
min-port=50201
max-port=65535
```

Then, generate a long random TURN secret for LiveKit, and add it to your coturn config under the `static-auth-secret` option. coturn allows multiple secrets in its configuration, so set a different one for LiveKit to use.

After that, refer to the following [TURN-over-TLS on 443 instructions](./turn#turn-over-tls-on-443) to set up coturn with TLS, as well as multiplexing with LiveKit's WebSocket on port 443.

Then configure LiveKit, making sure to replace `COTURN_SECRET` with the one you generated:

```yaml
### in your livekit.yaml ###
rtc:
  # ... other configs here ...
  turn_servers:
    - host: coturn.example.com
      port: 443
      protocol: tls
      secret: "COTURN_SECRET"
```

Restart LiveKit, coturn, and Caddy-L4 to apply these changes.

</details>

Once the services are configured, run the Testing steps again to check that TURN-over-TLS on 443 is working. There should now be a green tick in the [LiveKit connection test page][livekit-connection-test] showing "Can connect to TURN" to confirm this is set up successfully.