Setup · troubleshooting
Camera and Microphone Not Working? Fix It in Order
Nearly every camera problem is one of three things, and they have a fixing order. Start with the test below — if the preview appears, your hardware is fine and the problem is elsewhere.
The preview never leaves your device. It is here so you can see what a match would see before anyone does.
What the test tells you
- Preview appears — hardware and permission are fine.
- Browser never asks — permission was denied before. See the address-bar fix below.
- Black rectangle — another app is holding the camera. Close video call software and reload.
- "Cannot do it" — the browser is too old or it is an in-app webview. Open the page in a real browser.
The preview runs locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is stored.
Step 1 · The browser permission
A blocked permission is silent: the site simply never gets a camera, and the prompt does not reappear. Fix it per browser:
| Browser | Where to fix it |
|---|---|
| Chrome / Edge (desktop) | Click the icon at the left of the address bar → Site settings → set Camera and Microphone to Allow → reload. |
| Safari (Mac) | Safari menu → Settings for this website → set Camera and Microphone to Allow. Then check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera. |
| Firefox | Click the padlock → Connection settings → clear the blocked permission, then reload and answer the prompt again. |
| iPhone (Safari) | Settings → Safari → Camera & Microphone → Ask or Allow. Also Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → Safari. |
| Android (Chrome) | Chrome ⋮ → Settings → Site settings → Camera / Microphone → allow this site. Then Android Settings → Apps → Chrome → Permissions. |
Step 2 · The system permission
Above the browser sits the operating system, which can block camera access for the whole application. macOS keeps this in Privacy & Security, Windows in Privacy → Camera, iOS and Android per app. If the browser says allowed and nothing happens, this is where the block is.
Step 3 · Something else is holding the camera
Only one application can own a camera at a time on most systems. Video call software running in the background, a recorder, or another tab with a live preview will all take it. Close them, then reload the page — not the other way round.
Sound problems, separately
- Wrong input selected — headset microphones usually need to be picked by hand
- Muted at system level, which the browser cannot override
- Echo — that is speakers feeding the microphone; headphones end it instantly
- Robotic audio is bandwidth, not hardware. Move closer to the router
Working now? Take it for a run on cam chat, or read the first-chat tips first.
Troubleshooting questions
Why is my camera not working in the browser?
In order of likelihood: you denied the permission earlier, another app is holding the camera, or the operating system is blocking browser camera access entirely. Work through those three before anything else.
How do I undo a blocked camera permission?
Click the padlock or camera icon in the address bar, set camera and microphone to Allow, then reload the page. The prompt does not come back on its own.
Why can nobody hear me?
Usually the wrong input device is selected, or the microphone is muted at system level. Headphone microphones in particular need to be picked explicitly.
Does a video chat site keep my camera on afterwards?
No. Closing the tab ends the stream. You can confirm it: the camera indicator light on your device goes out.
Can I use this without a microphone?
You can be seen but not heard, which makes for a short conversation. A cheap pair of wired earphones fixes it.
Read next
Camera ready?
Then there is nothing left to set up.
Adults 18 and over. Skip, block or leave at any point.