diff --git a/component/host.test.ts b/component/host.test.ts
index c73a034ce..696470cd9 100644
--- a/component/host.test.ts
+++ b/component/host.test.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,21 @@ describe("useComponentHostBridge", () => {
       }),
     ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
     expect(result.current.supportsReactions).toBe(true);
+    // Starting the user unmuted unasked is something a host has to opt into
+    expect(result.current.allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test("lets the host allow joining unmuted on the intent", () => {
+    const { result, rerender } = renderHook(
+      ({ supplied }: { supplied: ElementCallHostBridge }) =>
+        useComponentHostBridge(supplied, undefined, undefined),
+      { initialProps: { supplied: {} } },
+    );
+    expect(result.current.allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent).toBe(false);
+
+    // Read through to whatever the host most recently said
+    rerender({ supplied: { allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: true } });
+    expect(result.current.allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent).toBe(true);
   });
 
   test("only has a close when the host has one, since that is a signal", () => {
diff --git a/component/host.ts b/component/host.ts
index 7e4a0afbb..2a83a5978 100644
--- a/component/host.ts
+++ b/component/host.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,14 @@ export interface ElementCallHostBridge {
    * Defaults to true.
    */
   readonly supportsReactions?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Whether the user may start unmuted when the intent skips the lobby, so
+   * that they never see their devices before joining. Defaults to false: the
+   * user starts muted and unmutes themselves. A host that chose the intent on
+   * the user's behalf, and is sure they expect to be heard and seen at once,
+   * says so here — as a Matrix client hosting Element Call as a widget does.
+   */
+  readonly allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -164,6 +172,9 @@ export function useComponentHostBridge(
       get supportsReactions(): boolean {
         return latest.current.supportsReactions ?? true;
       },
+      get allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent(): boolean {
+        return latest.current.allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent ?? false;
+      },
       // Whatever the host says or does not say, the account is its own: it
       // signed the user in and handed us the client. So Element Call never
       // offers to edit the profile from inside a component.
diff --git a/src/HostBridge.test.ts b/src/HostBridge.test.ts
index 41410ecae..fb3779f41 100644
--- a/src/HostBridge.test.ts
+++ b/src/HostBridge.test.ts
@@ -252,6 +252,11 @@ describe("createWidgetHostBridge", () => {
     expect(bridge.supportsProfileChanges).toBe(false);
   });
 
+  test("allows joining unmuted on the intent, since the host asked for the call", () => {
+    const bridge = createWidgetHostBridge(mockWidget({}));
+    expect(bridge.allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   describe("supportsReactions", () => {
     const capabilities = [
       "org.matrix.msc2762.send.event:m.reaction",
@@ -294,4 +299,8 @@ describe("nullHostBridge", () => {
   test("supports reactions, since nothing is mediating its homeserver access", () => {
     expect(nullHostBridge.supportsReactions).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  test("does not allow joining unmuted on the intent, since nobody vouched for it", () => {
+    expect(nullHostBridge.allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/HostBridge.ts b/src/HostBridge.ts
index 58e541f10..2ba50257c 100644
--- a/src/HostBridge.ts
+++ b/src/HostBridge.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,14 @@ export interface HostBridge {
   readonly supportsProfileChanges: boolean;
   /** Whether the host permits Element Call to send and receive reactions. */
   readonly supportsReactions: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Whether the user may be put into a call unmuted on the strength of the
+   * intent alone, when the lobby is skipped and so they get no chance to check
+   * their devices first. A host that asked for the call on the user's behalf
+   * has that much of their trust; standalone Element Call does not, and starts
+   * them muted instead.
+   */
+  readonly allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: boolean;
   /**
    * Fetches media on Element Call's behalf, for hosts that do not give it
    * direct access to the homeserver. Absent when Element Call should fetch
@@ -136,6 +144,9 @@ export const nullHostBridge: HostBridge = {
   // Standalone Element Call reaches the homeserver itself, so nothing is
   // withholding these from it.
   supportsReactions: true,
+  // Standalone, nobody vouched for the intent: it came from a URL, which is
+  // not enough to switch the user's camera and microphone on unasked.
+  allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: false,
 };
 
 /** Bridges to a host that Element Call is a widget of. */
@@ -190,6 +201,9 @@ export function createWidgetHostBridge(widget: WidgetHelpers): HostBridge {
     // The client we are a widget of signed the user in, so the profile is its
     // to manage
     supportsProfileChanges: false,
+    // The client we are a widget of asked for this call on the user's behalf,
+    // so its intent may be trusted to say whether they start unmuted
+    allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: true,
     // Element Call needs the host's permission to send reactions on its behalf.
     // Read on access rather than up front: the widget API negotiates its
     // capabilities asynchronously, and the bridge is built before that settles.
diff --git a/src/state/initialMuteState.test.ts b/src/state/initialMuteState.test.ts
index abbb52cde..020a80b8c 100644
--- a/src/state/initialMuteState.test.ts
+++ b/src/state/initialMuteState.test.ts
@@ -12,21 +12,21 @@ import { calculateInitialMuteState } from "./initialMuteState";
 
 test.each<{
   callIntent: RTCCallIntent;
-  isWidgetMode: boolean;
+  allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: boolean;
 }>([
-  { callIntent: "audio", isWidgetMode: false },
-  { callIntent: "audio", isWidgetMode: true },
-  { callIntent: "video", isWidgetMode: false },
-  { callIntent: "video", isWidgetMode: true },
-  { callIntent: "unknown", isWidgetMode: false },
-  { callIntent: "unknown", isWidgetMode: true },
+  { callIntent: "audio", allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: false },
+  { callIntent: "audio", allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: true },
+  { callIntent: "video", allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: false },
+  { callIntent: "video", allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: true },
+  { callIntent: "unknown", allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: false },
+  { callIntent: "unknown", allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: true },
 ])(
-  "Should allow to unmute on start if not skipping lobby (callIntent: $callIntent, packageType: $packageType)",
-  ({ callIntent, isWidgetMode }) => {
+  "Should allow to unmute on start if not skipping lobby (callIntent: $callIntent, allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: $allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent)",
+  ({ callIntent, allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent }) => {
     const { audioEnabled, videoEnabled } = calculateInitialMuteState(
       false,
       callIntent,
-      isWidgetMode,
+      allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent,
     );
     expect(audioEnabled).toBe(true);
     expect(videoEnabled).toBe(callIntent !== "audio");
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ test.each<{
   { callIntent: "video" },
   { callIntent: "unknown" },
 ])(
-  "Should always mute on start if skipping lobby on non widget mode (callIntent: $callIntent)",
+  "Should always mute on start if skipping lobby and the host does not vouch for the intent (callIntent: $callIntent)",
   ({ callIntent }) => {
     const { audioEnabled, videoEnabled } = calculateInitialMuteState(
       true,
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ test.each<{
   { callIntent: "video" },
   { callIntent: "unknown" },
 ])(
-  "Can start unmuted if skipping lobby on widget mode (callIntent: $callIntent)",
+  "Can start unmuted if skipping lobby and the host vouches for the intent (callIntent: $callIntent)",
   ({ callIntent }) => {
     const { audioEnabled, videoEnabled } = calculateInitialMuteState(
       true,
diff --git a/src/state/initialMuteState.ts b/src/state/initialMuteState.ts
index 4d27cddad..51342e895 100644
--- a/src/state/initialMuteState.ts
+++ b/src/state/initialMuteState.ts
@@ -11,30 +11,37 @@ import { type RTCCallIntent } from "matrix-js-sdk/lib/matrixrtc";
 /**
  * Calculates the initial mute state for media devices based on configuration.
  *
- * It is not always possible to start the widget with audio/video unmuted due to privacy concerns.
- * This function encapsulates the logic to determine the appropriate initial state.
+ * It is not always possible to start the call with audio/video unmuted due to
+ * privacy concerns. This function encapsulates the logic to determine the
+ * appropriate initial state.
+ *
+ * @param allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent Whether the host vouches for the intent
+ *   enough to start the user unmuted without a lobby (see
+ *   `HostBridge.allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent`).
  */
 export function calculateInitialMuteState(
   skipLobby: boolean,
   callIntent: RTCCallIntent | undefined,
-  isWidgetMode: boolean,
+  allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent: boolean,
 ): { audioEnabled: boolean; videoEnabled: boolean } {
   logger.debug(
-    `calculateInitialMuteState: skipLobby=${skipLobby}, callIntent=${callIntent} isWidgetMode=${isWidgetMode}`,
+    `calculateInitialMuteState: skipLobby=${skipLobby}, callIntent=${callIntent} allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent=${allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent}`,
   );
 
-  if (skipLobby && !isWidgetMode) {
-    // If not in widget mode and lobby is skipped, default to muted to protect user privacy.
-    // In the SPA context we don't want to unmute users without giving them a chance to adjust their settings first.
+  if (skipLobby && !allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent) {
+    // The lobby is skipped, so the user gets no chance to adjust their devices
+    // before joining, and nobody has vouched for the intent: default to muted
+    // to protect their privacy.
     return {
       audioEnabled: false,
       videoEnabled: false,
     };
   }
 
-  // Embedded contexts are trusted environments, so they allow unmuted by default.
-  // Same for when showing a lobby, as users can adjust their settings there.
-  // Additionally, if the call intent is "audio", we disable video by default.
+  // A host that vouches for the intent is a trusted environment, so it allows
+  // unmuted by default. Same for when showing a lobby, as users can adjust
+  // their settings there. Additionally, if the call intent is "audio", we
+  // disable video by default.
   return {
     audioEnabled: true,
     videoEnabled: callIntent != "audio",
diff --git a/src/state/useMuteStates.ts b/src/state/useMuteStates.ts
index ab35169f0..908a6b182 100644
--- a/src/state/useMuteStates.ts
+++ b/src/state/useMuteStates.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export function useMuteStates(): MuteStates | null {
         calculateInitialMuteState(
           urlParams.skipLobby,
           urlParams.callIntent,
-          urlParams.isWidget,
+          hostBridge.allowJoinUnmutedViaIntent,
         ),
         hostBridge,
       ),