diff --git a/lang/main.json b/lang/main.json
index 43c02f833..2b884abed 100644
--- a/lang/main.json
+++ b/lang/main.json
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
         "appDescription": "Go ahead, video chat with the whole team. In fact, invite everyone you know. __app__ is a fully encrypted, 100% open source video conferencing solution that you can use all day, every day, for free — with no account needed.",
         "audioOnlyLabel": "Voice",
         "go": "GO",
+        "hintText": "Enter a room name you want to join to, or simply create a new room name, eg. MeetingWithJohn",
         "join": "JOIN",
         "privacy": "Privacy",
         "roomname": "Enter room name",
diff --git a/react/features/base/react/components/native/LoadingIndicator.js b/react/features/base/react/components/native/LoadingIndicator.js
index ac2d6e8db..2cd2359e6 100644
--- a/react/features/base/react/components/native/LoadingIndicator.js
+++ b/react/features/base/react/components/native/LoadingIndicator.js
@@ -5,12 +5,21 @@ import { ActivityIndicator } from 'react-native';
 
 import { ColorPalette } from '../../../styles';
 
+type Props = {
+
+    /**
+     * Prop to set the size of the indicator. This is the same as the
+     * prop of the native component.
+     */
+    size: 'large' | 'small'
+};
+
 /**
  * An animated, large react-native {@link ActivityIndicator} which is considered
  * a suitable visualization of long-running processes with indeterminate amounts
  * of work to be done.
  */
-export default class LoadingIndicator extends Component<*> {
+export default class LoadingIndicator extends Component<Props> {
     /**
      * Implements React's {@link Component#render()}.
      *
@@ -22,7 +31,7 @@ export default class LoadingIndicator extends Component<*> {
             <ActivityIndicator
                 animating = { true }
                 color = { ColorPalette.white }
-                size = { 'large' }
+                size = { this.props.size || 'large' }
                 { ...this.props } />
         );
     }
diff --git a/react/features/recent-list/components/AbstractRecentList.js b/react/features/recent-list/components/AbstractRecentList.js
index 2d7d46f5e..181e32dcb 100644
--- a/react/features/recent-list/components/AbstractRecentList.js
+++ b/react/features/recent-list/components/AbstractRecentList.js
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ import { appNavigate } from '../../app';
  */
 type Props = {
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates if the list is disabled or not.
+     */
+    disabled: boolean,
+
     /**
      * The redux store's {@code dispatch} function.
      */
@@ -31,7 +36,9 @@ export default class AbstractRecentList extends Component<Props> {
      * @returns {void}
      */
     _onJoin(room) {
-        room && this.props.dispatch(appNavigate(room));
+        const { disabled, dispatch } = this.props;
+
+        !disabled && room && dispatch(appNavigate(room));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/react/features/recent-list/components/RecentList.native.js b/react/features/recent-list/components/RecentList.native.js
index 11a442a35..627b9a83c 100644
--- a/react/features/recent-list/components/RecentList.native.js
+++ b/react/features/recent-list/components/RecentList.native.js
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ class RecentList extends AbstractRecentList {
      *
      * @inheritdoc
      */
-    constructor() {
-        super();
+    constructor(props) {
+        super(props);
 
         // Bind event handlers so they are only bound once per instance.
         this._getAvatarStyle = this._getAvatarStyle.bind(this);
@@ -47,16 +47,22 @@ class RecentList extends AbstractRecentList {
      * @returns {ReactElement}
      */
     render() {
-        if (!this.props || !this.props._recentList) {
+        const { _recentList, disabled } = this.props;
+
+        if (!_recentList) {
             return null;
         }
 
         const listViewDataSource
             = this.dataSource.cloneWithRows(
-                getRecentRooms(this.props._recentList));
+                getRecentRooms(_recentList));
 
         return (
-            <View style = { styles.container }>
+            <View
+                style = { [
+                    styles.container,
+                    disabled ? styles.containerDisabled : null
+                ] }>
                 <ListView
                     dataSource = { listViewDataSource }
                     enableEmptySections = { true }
diff --git a/react/features/recent-list/components/styles.js b/react/features/recent-list/components/styles.js
index 36ab08749..3130cc813 100644
--- a/react/features/recent-list/components/styles.js
+++ b/react/features/recent-list/components/styles.js
@@ -87,6 +87,13 @@ export default createStyleSheet({
         flex: 1
     },
 
+    /**
+     * Shows the container disabled.
+     */
+    containerDisabled: {
+        opacity: 0.2
+    },
+
     /**
      * Second line of the list (date). May be extended with server name later.
      */
diff --git a/react/features/welcome/components/AbstractWelcomePage.js b/react/features/welcome/components/AbstractWelcomePage.js
index 5c9aa6ee3..3989ed713 100644
--- a/react/features/welcome/components/AbstractWelcomePage.js
+++ b/react/features/welcome/components/AbstractWelcomePage.js
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ import { generateRoomWithoutSeparator } from '../functions';
  */
 type Props = {
 
+    /**
+     * Boolean to indicate if the room field is focused or not.
+     */
+    _fieldFocused: boolean,
+
     /**
      * The user's profile.
      */
diff --git a/react/features/welcome/components/WelcomePage.native.js b/react/features/welcome/components/WelcomePage.native.js
index 0e4c618ab..8a7023420 100644
--- a/react/features/welcome/components/WelcomePage.native.js
+++ b/react/features/welcome/components/WelcomePage.native.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import {
+    Animated,
     Keyboard,
     SafeAreaView,
     Switch,
@@ -59,8 +60,13 @@ class WelcomePage extends AbstractWelcomePage {
     constructor(props) {
         super(props);
 
+        this.state.hintBoxAnimation = new Animated.Value(0);
+
+        this._getHintBoxStyle = this._getHintBoxStyle.bind(this);
+        this._onFieldFocusChange = this._onFieldFocusChange.bind(this);
         this._onShowSideBar = this._onShowSideBar.bind(this);
         this._onStartAudioOnlyChange = this._onStartAudioOnlyChange.bind(this);
+        this._renderHintBox = this._renderHintBox.bind(this);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -124,7 +130,9 @@ class WelcomePage extends AbstractWelcomePage {
                             autoComplete = { false }
                             autoCorrect = { false }
                             autoFocus = { false }
+                            onBlur = { this._onFieldFocusChange(false) }
                             onChangeText = { this._onRoomChange }
+                            onFocus = { this._onFieldFocusChange(true) }
                             onSubmitEditing = { this._onJoin }
                             placeholder = { t('welcomepage.roomname') }
                             placeholderTextColor = { PLACEHOLDER_TEXT_COLOR }
@@ -133,9 +141,9 @@ class WelcomePage extends AbstractWelcomePage {
                             underlineColorAndroid = 'transparent'
                             value = { this.state.room } />
                         {
-                            this._renderJoinButton()
+                            this._renderHintBox()
                         }
-                        <RecentList />
+                        <RecentList disabled = { this.state._fieldFocused } />
                     </SafeAreaView>
                     <AppSettings />
                 </View>
@@ -144,6 +152,50 @@ class WelcomePage extends AbstractWelcomePage {
         );
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Constructs a style array to handle the hint box animation.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @returns {Array<Object>}
+     */
+    _getHintBoxStyle() {
+        return [
+            styles.hintContainer,
+            {
+                opacity: this.state.hintBoxAnimation
+            }
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Callback for when the room field's focus changes so the hint box
+     * must be rendered or removed.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {boolean} focused - The focused state of the field.
+     * @returns {Function}
+     */
+    _onFieldFocusChange(focused) {
+        return () => {
+            if (focused) {
+                this.setState({
+                    _fieldFocused: true
+                });
+            }
+
+            Animated.timing(this.state.hintBoxAnimation, {
+                duration: 300,
+                toValue: focused ? 1 : 0
+            }).start(animationState => {
+                if (animationState.finished && !focused) {
+                    this.setState({
+                        _fieldFocused: false
+                    });
+                }
+            });
+        };
+    }
+
     /**
      * Toggles the side bar.
      *
@@ -171,6 +223,36 @@ class WelcomePage extends AbstractWelcomePage {
         }));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Renders the hint box if necessary.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @returns {React$Node}
+     */
+    _renderHintBox() {
+        if (this.state._fieldFocused) {
+            const { t } = this.props;
+
+            return (
+                <Animated.View
+                    style = { this._getHintBoxStyle() }>
+                    <View style = { styles.hintTextContainer } >
+                        <Text>
+                            { t('welcomepage.hintText') }
+                        </Text>
+                    </View>
+                    <View style = { styles.hintButtonContainer } >
+                        {
+                            this._renderJoinButton()
+                        }
+                    </View>
+                </Animated.View>
+            );
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Renders the join button.
      *
@@ -188,7 +270,9 @@ class WelcomePage extends AbstractWelcomePage {
             // modify non-native children.
             children = (
                 <View>
-                    <LoadingIndicator color = { styles.buttonText.color } />
+                    <LoadingIndicator
+                        color = { styles.buttonText.color }
+                        size = 'small' />
                 </View>
             );
         } else {
@@ -201,12 +285,17 @@ class WelcomePage extends AbstractWelcomePage {
 
         /* eslint-enable no-extra-parens */
 
+        const buttonDisabled = this._isJoinDisabled();
+
         return (
             <TouchableHighlight
                 accessibilityLabel = { 'Tap to Join.' }
-                disabled = { this._isJoinDisabled() }
+                disabled = { buttonDisabled }
                 onPress = { this._onJoin }
-                style = { styles.button }
+                style = { [
+                    styles.button,
+                    buttonDisabled ? styles.buttonDisabled : null
+                ] }
                 underlayColor = { ColorPalette.white }>
                 {
                     children
diff --git a/react/features/welcome/components/styles.js b/react/features/welcome/components/styles.js
index 915e81830..c6f2c78dd 100644
--- a/react/features/welcome/components/styles.js
+++ b/react/features/welcome/components/styles.js
@@ -54,10 +54,17 @@ export default createStyleSheet({
         borderColor: ColorPalette.blue,
         borderRadius: 4,
         borderWidth: 1,
-        height: 40,
+        height: 30,
         justifyContent: 'center',
-        marginBottom: BoxModel.margin,
-        marginTop: BoxModel.margin
+        paddingHorizontal: 20
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Renders the button visually disabled.
+     */
+    buttonDisabled: {
+        backgroundColor: '#cccccc',
+        borderColor: '#999999'
     },
 
     /**
@@ -66,7 +73,7 @@ export default createStyleSheet({
     buttonText: {
         alignSelf: 'center',
         color: ColorPalette.white,
-        fontSize: 18
+        fontSize: 14
     },
 
     /**
@@ -86,6 +93,36 @@ export default createStyleSheet({
         justifyContent: 'space-between'
     },
 
+    /**
+     * Container for the button on the hint box.
+     */
+    hintButtonContainer: {
+        flexDirection: 'row',
+        justifyContent: 'flex-end'
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Container for the text on the hint box.
+     */
+    hintTextContainer: {
+        marginBottom: 2 * BoxModel.margin
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Container for the hint box.
+     */
+    hintContainer: {
+        backgroundColor: ColorPalette.white,
+        borderColor: ColorPalette.white,
+        borderRadius: 4,
+        borderWidth: 1,
+        flexDirection: 'column',
+        marginVertical: 5,
+        overflow: 'hidden',
+        paddingHorizontal: BoxModel.padding,
+        paddingVertical: 2 * BoxModel.padding
+    },
+
     /**
      * Container for the items in the side bar.
      */