🔎 Troubleshooting Common Issues
| What Might Be Wrong | How to Fix It |
|---|---|
| Browser doesn’t have camera permissions | Grant camera access to your browser.Chrome/Edge: Click the lock icon in the address bar > Site settings > Camera > Allow. Safari: Safari > Settings for This Website > Camera > Allow. Refresh the page completely after granting permissions. |
| Another app is using the camera | Close all apps that might be accessing your camera: Zoom, Teams, Skype, FaceTime, Slack, Discord, or any camera/video apps. Windows: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) > Processes tab > find and end video conferencing apps. Mac: Open Activity Monitor > search for these apps > click X to quit. Restart your browser after closing conflicting apps. |
| Browser page has cached old permission settings | Do a hard reload to refresh permission settings. Windows: Press Ctrl+Shift+R or Shift+F5. Mac: Press Cmd+Shift+R. If the camera is still not detected, close all browser tabs and restart the browser completely. |
| OS hasn’t granted camera access to the browser | Windows: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera > ensure “Camera access” is ON and your browser is in the allowed list. Mac: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera > check the box next to your browser (Chrome, Safari, or Edge). |
| Camera is disabled in Device Manager (Windows) | Open Device Manager > expand “Cameras” or “Imaging Devices” > if your camera shows a down arrow or yellow triangle, right-click it > Enable device or Update driver. Restart your computer after making changes. |
| Physical privacy shutter is blocking the camera | Check if your laptop has a physical privacy shutter near the webcam and slide it to the open position. Remove any tape, stickers, or privacy covers from the camera lens. |
| USB port isn’t providing enough power | Try connecting your external webcam to a different USB port, plugging directly into your computer rather than through a USB hub. For laptops, ensure you’re plugged into AC power as battery mode can sometimes limit USB power output. |
| Multiple cameras are confusing the system | In your browser’s site settings, explicitly select the camera you want to use. Disconnect any cameras you’re not using, leaving only the one intended for your assessment. |
| Antivirus or security software is blocking the camera | Add your browser to the antivirus exceptions list. Windows Defender: Go to Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings > Add Exclusions > add your browser. For third-party antivirus, check its documentation for allowing camera access. |
| Camera drivers are outdated or corrupted | Windows: Open Device Manager > expand “Cameras” or “Imaging Devices” > right-click your camera > Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. If that doesn’t work, select Uninstall device and restart your computer to reinstall. Mac: Go to System Settings > Software Update and install any available updates. |
Additional Tips:
- Restart your device before your assessment after making any driver or permission changes to ensure all settings take effect.
- Test your camera using your system’s built-in camera app (Windows Camera or Mac Photo Booth) before starting your assessment to confirm it’s working.
- If you’re using an external USB webcam, ensure it’s a modern model (2018 or newer) with up-to-date drivers, as older webcams may have compatibility issues with modern systems.
- Keep your USB webcam cable as short as possible and avoid extension cables, which can cause connection instability.