diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/amethyst/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index f5e39a3883..7bf548fead 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -205,6 +205,17 @@
             tools:replace="screenOrientation"
             tools:ignore="DiscouragedApi" />
 
+        <activity
+            android:name=".ui.call.CallActivity"
+            android:autoRemoveFromRecents="true"
+            android:configChanges="orientation|screenLayout|screenSize|smallestScreenSize|keyboardHidden|keyboard|uiMode"
+            android:supportsPictureInPicture="true"
+            android:launchMode="singleTop"
+            android:exported="false"
+            android:resizeableActivity="true"
+            android:theme="@style/Theme.Amethyst"
+        />
+
         <activity
             android:name=".service.playback.pip.PipVideoActivity"
             android:autoRemoveFromRecents="true"
diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/ActiveCallHolder.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/ActiveCallHolder.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9ea9ccfc87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/ActiveCallHolder.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2025 Vitor Pamplona
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
+ * this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in
+ * the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+ * copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the
+ * Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
+ * subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+ * copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
+ * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR
+ * COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+ * AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
+ * WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+package com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.call
+
+import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.commons.call.CallManager
+import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.service.call.CallController
+import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.screen.loggedIn.AccountViewModel
+
+/**
+ * Holds references to the active call state so that [CallActivity] can access
+ * the same [CallManager] and [CallController] owned by [AccountViewModel] in
+ * the main activity. Both activities run in the same process.
+ */
+object ActiveCallHolder {
+    var callManager: CallManager? = null
+        private set
+    var callController: CallController? = null
+        private set
+    var accountViewModel: AccountViewModel? = null
+        private set
+
+    fun set(
+        callManager: CallManager,
+        callController: CallController?,
+        accountViewModel: AccountViewModel,
+    ) {
+        this.callManager = callManager
+        this.callController = callController
+        this.accountViewModel = accountViewModel
+    }
+
+    fun clear() {
+        callManager = null
+        callController = null
+        accountViewModel = null
+    }
+}
diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/CallActivity.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/CallActivity.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..67374441e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/CallActivity.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2025 Vitor Pamplona
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
+ * this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in
+ * the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+ * copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the
+ * Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
+ * subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+ * copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
+ * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR
+ * COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+ * AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
+ * WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+package com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.call
+
+import android.app.PictureInPictureParams
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.os.Build
+import android.os.Bundle
+import android.util.Rational
+import androidx.activity.compose.setContent
+import androidx.activity.enableEdgeToEdge
+import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity
+import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.commons.call.CallState
+import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.theme.AmethystTheme
+
+class CallActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
+    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
+        enableEdgeToEdge()
+        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
+
+        val callManager = ActiveCallHolder.callManager
+        val callController = ActiveCallHolder.callController
+        val accountViewModel = ActiveCallHolder.accountViewModel
+
+        if (callManager == null || accountViewModel == null) {
+            finish()
+            return
+        }
+
+        setContent {
+            AmethystTheme {
+                CallScreen(
+                    callManager = callManager,
+                    callController = callController,
+                    accountViewModel = accountViewModel,
+                    onCallEnded = { finish() },
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    override fun onUserLeaveHint() {
+        super.onUserLeaveHint()
+        enterPipIfActive()
+    }
+
+    override fun onPictureInPictureModeChanged(isInPictureInPictureMode: Boolean) {
+        super.onPictureInPictureModeChanged(isInPictureInPictureMode)
+        if (!isInPictureInPictureMode) {
+            // User expanded from PiP — bring the full call UI back
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun enterPipIfActive() {
+        val callManager = ActiveCallHolder.callManager ?: return
+        val state = callManager.state.value
+        val isActive =
+            state is CallState.Connected ||
+                state is CallState.Connecting ||
+                state is CallState.Offering
+
+        if (isActive && Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+            try {
+                val params =
+                    PictureInPictureParams
+                        .Builder()
+                        .setAspectRatio(Rational(9, 16))
+                        .build()
+                enterPictureInPictureMode(params)
+            } catch (_: Exception) {
+                // PiP not supported or activity not in correct state
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    companion object {
+        fun launch(context: Context) {
+            context.startActivity(
+                Intent(context, CallActivity::class.java).apply {
+                    addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
+                },
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/CallScreen.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/CallScreen.kt
index 01398aa04d..f7d4c9338b 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/CallScreen.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/call/CallScreen.kt
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ fun CallScreen(
     }
 
     KeepScreenOn()
-    EnterPipOnLeave(callState)
 
     Box(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
         when (val state = callState) {
@@ -569,36 +568,3 @@ private fun KeepScreenOn() {
         }
     }
 }
-
-@Composable
-private fun EnterPipOnLeave(callState: CallState) {
-    val context = LocalContext.current
-    val activity = context as? android.app.Activity ?: return
-    val isActiveCall =
-        callState is CallState.Connected ||
-            callState is CallState.Connecting ||
-            callState is CallState.Offering
-
-    if (isActiveCall && android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
-        val lifecycleOwner = androidx.lifecycle.compose.LocalLifecycleOwner.current
-        DisposableEffect(lifecycleOwner) {
-            val observer =
-                object : androidx.lifecycle.DefaultLifecycleObserver {
-                    override fun onStop(owner: androidx.lifecycle.LifecycleOwner) {
-                        try {
-                            val params =
-                                android.app.PictureInPictureParams
-                                    .Builder()
-                                    .setAspectRatio(android.util.Rational(9, 16))
-                                    .build()
-                            activity.enterPictureInPictureMode(params)
-                        } catch (_: Exception) {
-                            // PiP not supported or activity not in correct state
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-            lifecycleOwner.lifecycle.addObserver(observer)
-            onDispose { lifecycleOwner.lifecycle.removeObserver(observer) }
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/navigation/AppNavigation.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/navigation/AppNavigation.kt
index aafcb4a216..832f628087 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/navigation/AppNavigation.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/navigation/AppNavigation.kt
@@ -46,11 +46,11 @@ import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.service.relayClient.notifyCommand.compose.Disp
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.actions.NewUserMetadataScreen
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.actions.mediaServers.AllMediaServersScreen
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.broadcast.DisplayBroadcastProgress
-import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.call.CallScreen
+import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.call.ActiveCallHolder
+import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.call.CallActivity
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.components.getActivity
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.components.toasts.DisplayErrorMessages
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.navigation.composableFromEnd
-import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.navigation.navs.INav
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.navigation.navs.Nav
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.navigation.navs.rememberNav
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.navigation.routes.Route
@@ -167,20 +167,19 @@ fun AppNavigation(
     DisplayCrashMessages(accountViewModel, nav)
     DisplayBroadcastProgress(accountViewModel)
 
-    ObserveIncomingCalls(accountViewModel, nav)
+    ObserveIncomingCalls(accountViewModel)
 }
 
 @Composable
-private fun ObserveIncomingCalls(
-    accountViewModel: AccountViewModel,
-    nav: INav,
-) {
+private fun ObserveIncomingCalls(accountViewModel: AccountViewModel) {
+    val context = LocalContext.current
     val callState by accountViewModel.callManager.state.collectAsState()
 
     LaunchedEffect(callState) {
         val state = callState
         if (state is CallState.IncomingCall) {
-            nav.nav(Route.ActiveCall(state.callId, state.callerPubKey))
+            ActiveCallHolder.set(accountViewModel.callManager, accountViewModel.callController, accountViewModel)
+            CallActivity.launch(context)
         }
     }
 }
@@ -281,15 +280,6 @@ fun BuildNavigation(
         composableFromEndArgs<Route.Room> { ChatroomScreen(it.toKey(), it.message, it.replyId, it.draftId, it.expiresDays, accountViewModel, nav) }
         composableFromEndArgs<Route.RoomByAuthor> { ChatroomByAuthorScreen(it.id, null, accountViewModel, nav) }
 
-        composableFromEndArgs<Route.ActiveCall> {
-            CallScreen(
-                callManager = accountViewModel.callManager,
-                callController = accountViewModel.callController,
-                accountViewModel = accountViewModel,
-                onCallEnded = { nav.popBack() },
-            )
-        }
-
         composableFromEndArgs<Route.PublicChatChannel> {
             PublicChatChannelScreen(it.id, it.draftId, it.replyTo, accountViewModel, nav)
         }
diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/chats/privateDM/ChatroomScreen.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/chats/privateDM/ChatroomScreen.kt
index 221519c7f7..a833ae21ef 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/chats/privateDM/ChatroomScreen.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/chats/privateDM/ChatroomScreen.kt
@@ -27,10 +27,11 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.statusBarsPadding
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
+import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.call.ActiveCallHolder
+import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.call.CallActivity
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.call.rememberCallWithPermission
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.layouts.DisappearingScaffold
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.navigation.navs.INav
-import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.navigation.routes.Route
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.screen.loggedIn.AccountViewModel
 import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.screen.loggedIn.chats.privateDM.header.RenderRoomTopBar
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.core.HexKey
@@ -51,16 +52,16 @@ fun ChatroomScreen(
     val startVoiceCall =
         rememberCallWithPermission(context) {
             val peerPubKey = roomId.users.firstOrNull() ?: return@rememberCallWithPermission
+            ActiveCallHolder.set(accountViewModel.callManager, accountViewModel.callController, accountViewModel)
             accountViewModel.callController?.initiateCall(peerPubKey, CallType.VOICE)
-            val callId = accountViewModel.callManager.currentCallId() ?: ""
-            nav.nav(Route.ActiveCall(callId = callId, peerPubKey = peerPubKey))
+            CallActivity.launch(context)
         }
     val startVideoCall =
         rememberCallWithPermission(context, isVideo = true) {
             val peerPubKey = roomId.users.firstOrNull() ?: return@rememberCallWithPermission
+            ActiveCallHolder.set(accountViewModel.callManager, accountViewModel.callController, accountViewModel)
             accountViewModel.callController?.initiateCall(peerPubKey, CallType.VIDEO)
-            val callId = accountViewModel.callManager.currentCallId() ?: ""
-            nav.nav(Route.ActiveCall(callId = callId, peerPubKey = peerPubKey))
+            CallActivity.launch(context)
         }
 
     DisappearingScaffold(