diff --git a/mobile/plugins/native-call/ios/Sources/NativeCallPlugin/NativeCallPlugin.swift b/mobile/plugins/native-call/ios/Sources/NativeCallPlugin/NativeCallPlugin.swift
index 6efce5c..7b2d1ab 100644
--- a/mobile/plugins/native-call/ios/Sources/NativeCallPlugin/NativeCallPlugin.swift
+++ b/mobile/plugins/native-call/ios/Sources/NativeCallPlugin/NativeCallPlugin.swift
@@ -66,7 +66,10 @@ public class NativeCallPlugin: CAPPlugin, CAPBridgedPlugin, PKPushRegistryDelega
             await old?.disconnect() // drop any previous/stale connection so we never leave DUPLICATE participants
             do {
                 try await r.connect(url: url, token: token)
-                try await r.localParticipant.setMicrophone(enabled: true)
+                // House rule: answer MUTED. Not enabling the mic here means nothing is captured/published
+                // until the user taps Mic in the meeting UI (→ setMuted(false) → setMicrophone(true)), which
+                // is also when iOS asks for mic permission. Playback (hearing others) is unaffected.
+                try await r.localParticipant.setMicrophone(enabled: false)
                 self?.notifyListeners("callConnected", data: ["ok": true])
             } catch {
                 self?.notifyListeners("callError", data: ["error": String(describing: error)])
diff --git a/server/public/home.html b/server/public/home.html
index bc8d4c8..b832262 100644
--- a/server/public/home.html
+++ b/server/public/home.html
@@ -3810,7 +3810,9 @@ async function setupNativeCall(){
     meetReturn = isGroup ? { kind:'group', id:d.groupId } : { kind:'dm', id:d.callerId };
     switchTab('meeting'); enterMeeting(d.room, false, { native:true, uuid:d.callUUID });
   }catch(e){ pdbg('nc-answer-err', { err:String((e&&e.message)||e) }); } });
-  NC.addListener('callConnected', ()=>{ pdbg('nc-connected'); });
+  // Enforce the muted-by-default rule against the plugin's actual mic once the room connects (belt-and-braces
+  // for builds whose plugin still connects the mic live). meetMic is the source of truth for the mic button.
+  NC.addListener('callConnected', ()=>{ pdbg('nc-connected'); if(meetNative){ try{ NC.setMuted({ muted:!meetMic }); }catch(_){} } });
   NC.addListener('callError', (e)=>{ pdbg('nc-error', { err:(e&&e.error)||'' }); });
   // Muted from the CallKit system UI → reflect it in the meeting window's mic button.
   NC.addListener('setMuted', (e)=>{ if(!e||meetState!=='call'||!meetNative) return; meetMic=!e.muted; try{ updateMicBtn(); setTileMute('__local', !meetMic); meetSend({type:'meeting-state', muted:!meetMic, camOff:!meetCam}); }catch(_){} });
@@ -5307,7 +5309,7 @@ async function enterMeeting(code, audioOnly, opts){
   // Start with NO media — mic & cam OFF by default (no permission prompt until the user
   // turns one on). Tracks are acquired on demand by toggleMic / toggleCam.
   meetLocalStream=new MediaStream();
-  meetMic=meetNative; meetCam=false; meetIsHost=false; meetHostId=null; // native: the plugin connects with the mic LIVE → show unmuted
+  meetMic=false; meetCam=false; meetIsHost=false; meetHostId=null; // answer MUTED by default (house rule) — tap Mic to speak
   meetScreen=false; meetScreenStream=null; meetSharers.clear(); meetMultiShare=false;
   meetRec=null; meetTranscribe=false; meetRoomTx=false; meetSR=null; _addPool=null; meetStageId=null;
   try{ const c=await fetch('/api/ice').then(r=>r.json()); if(c&&c.iceServers) MEET_ICE=c; }catch(_){}