diff --git a/conference.js b/conference.js
index 25252db96..ef1099acc 100644
--- a/conference.js
+++ b/conference.js
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
     conferenceFailed,
     conferenceJoined,
     conferenceLeft,
+    toggleAudioOnly,
     EMAIL_COMMAND,
     lockStateChanged
 } from './react/features/base/conference';
@@ -459,11 +460,14 @@ export default {
      * Creates local media tracks and connects to a room. Will show error
      * dialogs in case accessing the local microphone and/or camera failed. Will
      * show guidance overlay for users on how to give access to camera and/or
-     * microphone,
+     * microphone.
      * @param {string} roomName
      * @param {object} options
-     * @param {boolean} options.startScreenSharing - if <tt>true</tt> should
-     * start with screensharing instead of camera video.
+     * @param {boolean} options.startAudioOnly=false - if <tt>true</tt> then
+     * only audio track will be created and the audio only mode will be turned
+     * on.
+     * @param {boolean} options.startScreenSharing=false - if <tt>true</tt>
+     * should start with screensharing instead of camera video.
      * @returns {Promise.<JitsiLocalTrack[], JitsiConnection>}
      */
     createInitialLocalTracksAndConnect(roomName, options = {}) {
@@ -482,8 +486,18 @@ export default {
         // First try to retrieve both audio and video.
         let tryCreateLocalTracks;
 
+        // FIXME there is no video muted indication visible on the remote side,
+        // after starting in audio only (there's no video track)
         // FIXME the logic about trying to go audio only on error is duplicated
-        if (options.startScreenSharing) {
+        if (options.startAudioOnly) {
+            tryCreateLocalTracks
+                = createLocalTracks({ devices: ['audio'] }, true)
+                    .catch(err => {
+                        audioOnlyError = err;
+
+                        return [];
+                    });
+        } else if (options.startScreenSharing) {
             tryCreateLocalTracks = this._createDesktopTrack()
                 .then(desktopStream => {
                     return createLocalTracks({ devices: ['audio'] }, true)
@@ -591,6 +605,7 @@ export default {
                 analytics.init();
                 return this.createInitialLocalTracksAndConnect(
                     options.roomName, {
+                        startAudioOnly: config.startAudioOnly,
                         startScreenSharing: config.startScreenSharing
                     });
             }).then(([tracks, con]) => {
@@ -649,6 +664,15 @@ export default {
                     this.updateVideoIconEnabled();
                 }
 
+                // Enable audio only mode
+                if (config.startAudioOnly) {
+                    // It is important to have that toggled after video muted
+                    // state is adjusted by the code about lack of video tracks
+                    // above. That's because audio only will store muted state
+                    // on toggle action.
+                    APP.store.dispatch(toggleAudioOnly());
+                }
+
                 this._initDeviceList();
 
                 if (config.iAmRecorder)
@@ -2035,7 +2059,7 @@ export default {
                     JitsiMeetJS.mediaDevices.enumerateDevices(devices => {
                         // Ugly way to synchronize real device IDs with local
                         // storage and settings menu. This is a workaround until
-                        // getConstraints() method will be implemented 
+                        // getConstraints() method will be implemented
                         // in browsers.
                         if (localAudio) {
                             APP.settings.setMicDeviceId(
diff --git a/config.js b/config.js
index 38a7942d5..011e2a2b2 100644
--- a/config.js
+++ b/config.js
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ var config = { // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
                               // page redirection when call is hangup
     disableSimulcast: false,
 //    requireDisplayName: true, // Forces the participants that doesn't have display name to enter it when they enter the room.
+    startAudioOnly: false, // Will start the conference in the audio only mode (no video is being received nor sent)
     startScreenSharing: false, // Will try to start with screensharing instead of camera
 //    startAudioMuted: 10, // every participant after the Nth will start audio muted
 //    startVideoMuted: 10, // every participant after the Nth will start video muted
diff --git a/react/features/base/conference/middleware.js b/react/features/base/conference/middleware.js
index bd61aaae4..fbec4c46a 100644
--- a/react/features/base/conference/middleware.js
+++ b/react/features/base/conference/middleware.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import {
     _setAudioOnlyVideoMuted,
     setLastN
 } from './actions';
-import { SET_AUDIO_ONLY, SET_LASTN } from './actionTypes';
+import { CONFERENCE_JOINED, SET_AUDIO_ONLY, SET_LASTN } from './actionTypes';
 import {
     _addLocalTracksToConference,
     _handleParticipantError,
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ MiddlewareRegistry.register(store => next => action => {
     case CONNECTION_ESTABLISHED:
         return _connectionEstablished(store, next, action);
 
+    case CONFERENCE_JOINED:
+        return _conferenceJoined(store, next, action);
+
     case PIN_PARTICIPANT:
         return _pinParticipant(store, next, action);
 
@@ -76,6 +79,35 @@ function _connectionEstablished(store, next, action) {
     return result;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Does extra sync up on properties that may need to be updated, after
+ * the conference was joined.
+ *
+ * @param {Store} store - The Redux store in which the specified action is being
+ * dispatched.
+ * @param {Dispatch} next - The Redux dispatch function to dispatch the
+ * specified action to the specified store.
+ * @param {Action} action - The Redux action CONFERENCE_JOINED which is being
+ * dispatched in the specified store.
+ * @private
+ * @returns {Object} The new state that is the result of the reduction of the
+ * specified action.
+ */
+function _conferenceJoined(store, next, action) {
+    const result = next(action);
+    const { audioOnly, conference }
+        = store.getState()['features/base/conference'];
+
+    // FIXME On Web the audio only mode for "start audio only" is toggled before
+    // conference is added to the redux store ("on conference joined" action)
+    // and the LastN value needs to be synchronized here.
+    if (audioOnly && conference.getLastN() !== 0) {
+        store.dispatch(setLastN(0));
+    }
+
+    return result;
+}
+
 /**
  * Notifies the feature base/conference that the action PIN_PARTICIPANT is being
  * dispatched within a specific Redux store. Pins the specified remote