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Two-Device Mode

Updated June 2026

Two-Device mode lets the provider and patient each use their own device during a session. Both parties see live translated text and hear speech played back in their own language — without passing a single phone back and forth.

How It Works

  1. Provider creates a session in the MediMic app and selects Two-Device.
  2. An invite is generated — a 6-character code and a matching link.
  3. Provider shares the invite via SMS, email, WhatsApp, Telegram, QR code, or the share sheet.
  4. Patient opens the link in the MediMic app on their own phone — no account required, but the app must be installed.
  5. Both parties select their language on their respective screens.
  6. The conversation begins — each person speaks naturally; the other party sees and hears the translation in real time.

The patient needs the MediMic app installed. There is no browser-based patient client. See Guest & Patient Access for what to do when a patient cannot install it.

Provider Setup Steps

1. Start a Two-Device Session

  1. Tap Start Session in the MediMic app.
  2. Enter a session name.
  3. Tap the Two-Device card.

2. Share the Invite

After the session is created, a share sheet appears with the invite code and link:

  • Invite Code — a 6-character code the patient types into the MediMic app, or that you read out over the phone
  • Invite Link — a URL the patient taps to open the session directly in the app
  • QR Code — shown on your screen for the patient to scan with the app

Share options include:

  • Copy code / Copy link
  • SMS
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • More (iOS/Android native share sheet)

Tap Done when you're finished sharing. You'll be taken to the Two-Device waiting screen.

3. Wait for the Patient to Join

The waiting screen shows a live participant count. When the patient connects, their name appears and the Open Conversation button activates.

4. Start the Conversation

Tap Open Conversation to enter the live translation interface. Both devices will be in conversation mode simultaneously.

Patient Join Steps

  1. Make sure the MediMic app is installed.
  2. Open the SMS, email, or message containing the invite link.
  3. Tap the link — it opens the MediMic app.
  4. Select your language.
  5. Grant microphone permission — you're connected.

Option B: Enter the Code or Scan the QR

  1. Open the MediMic app and choose Join a Session.
  2. Type the 6-character invite code, or paste the invite link.
  3. Or scan the QR code shown on the provider's screen.
  4. Select your language and grant microphone permission.

The invite link carries an invite token only — …/join?token=…. The token authenticates the join; it is not the encryption key.

The session encryption key is never put in the link at all. Instead, once both devices are connected they perform an ephemeral ECDH key agreement (P-256), and each side derives the same AES-256-GCM key locally via HKDF-SHA256. Only public keys cross the network. The server relays the handshake but cannot compute the shared secret from what it sees, so it cannot decrypt session content.

Earlier versions of MediMic put the key in the link's URL fragment (#secret=…). That design has been replaced by the ECDH exchange described above. If you have older documentation or saved links that reference a #secret= fragment, they are out of date.

Full detail is in Security Overview and HIPAA Compliance.

Invite links expire after 24 hours. After that the patient sees an "Invite expired" message. The provider can issue a fresh one with Reinvite Patient on the session screen.

During the Conversation

Provider Side

  • Tap the mic to speak, tap again when finished
  • Translation of the patient's speech appears on screen and is read aloud
  • The status bar shows connection state — Connecting, Waiting for partner, or connected
  • Reinvite Patient reissues the invite if the patient never arrives or drops out

Patient Side

  • The same tap-to-speak interface, in the app
  • The provider's translated speech appears as text and is read aloud
  • If the provider's device disconnects, the patient sees Partner Unavailable

Participants

Two-Device mode is a two-party conversation: one provider and one patient. The session screen refers to the other side as your "partner", and there is no option to add a third participant.

If a patient does not connect, or drops out and needs a new link, use Reinvite Patient on the session screen. This issues a fresh invite for the same session — it replaces the outstanding invite rather than adding a second person.

Multi-participant sessions — a supervising clinician, a second interpreter, or an observer — are not currently supported. If you need this, tell us at [email protected].

Ending the Session

When the provider taps End Session:

  • All participants are disconnected.
  • The patient's browser shows a "Session ended" message.
  • The transcript is preserved in the Provider Portal.

Troubleshooting Two-Device Mode

Patient tapped the link and got a download page

  • The MediMic app is not installed on their phone. It has to be installed before they can join.

Patient can't open the link

  • Confirm the invite hasn't expired (24-hour window).
  • Some messaging apps rewrite links. Read the 6-character code out to the patient instead, or have them scan the QR code on your screen.

Patient can join but no audio

  • Microphone permission was denied. On iOS: Settings → MediMic → Microphone. On Android: Settings → Apps → MediMic → Permissions → Microphone.
  • If the app shows Mic In Use by Another App, close whatever else is holding the microphone — another call, a recorder, or a video app.

Provider sees "Waiting for partner" indefinitely

  • Confirm the patient received and opened the correct invite.
  • Use Reinvite Patient to issue a fresh one.
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