# \&relay

General Option! ([`&push`](https://docs.vdo.ninja/advanced-settings/setup-parameters/push), [`&room`](https://docs.vdo.ninja/advanced-settings/setup-parameters/room), [`&view`](https://docs.vdo.ninja/advanced-settings/mixer-scene-parameters/view), [`&scene`](https://docs.vdo.ninja/advanced-settings/mixer-scene-parameters/scene))

## Aliases

* `&private`
* `&privacy`

## Details

Forcing relay mode is provided for testing and emergency purposes. It will typically increase latency; sometimes by a lot.

Alternatives to relay mode include:

* Using wired Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi will also reduce packet loss.
* A VPN service, like Speedify, will likely be better than using a TURN server.

Uses of relay mode include:

* Can potentially reduce packet loss with some guests on bad connections.
* Some peer to peer connections over residential networks struggle, and introducing a relay server can help avoid those issues.
* Has the advantage of hiding your IP address from peers.

You can [deploy your own TURN server](https://github.com/steveseguin/vdo.ninja/blob/master/turnserver.md) if intending to use this feature a lot or needing more bandwidth.

Please feel free to donate to VDO.Ninja to help support the provided TURN servers.

Currently TURN servers are deployed numerous countries around the world.

Ports that a TURN server may use include 443, 3478, and potentially others.

{% hint style="info" %}
More information on what TURN is [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traversal_Using_Relays_around_NAT)
{% endhint %}

### Difference between `&relay` and `&privacy`

If using `&privacy` on the URL (using TURN server), with the intent being to hide your IP address, a page will prompt you if an IFrame tries to load, asking if you wish to continue.

<figure><img src="https://2943598173-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MZHXv1G8N0MDxwotaT9%2Fuploads%2FcFty2GP9QPF8n7wyWY0u%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=182eaeda-64ea-4a00-98bc-3f74c1b24b3d" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Using `&relay` will not do this behavior, despite using the turn server none-the-less; so `&privacy` is evolving to be a bit more strict than `&relay` alone.

It will even show if loaded into OBS, as privacy trumps there. (IFrames can steal IP address, etc.).

You can also just use [`&nowebsite`](https://docs.vdo.ninja/advanced-settings/buttons-and-control-bar-parameters/nowebsite), to disable IFrames from loading at all (always existed as an option).

Certain known sites are excepted; YouTube, Twitch, Vimeo, etc. will not ask for confirmation.

## Related

{% content-ref url="turn" %}
[turn](https://docs.vdo.ninja/advanced-settings/turn-and-stun-parameters/turn)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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