Skip to main content
If your webcam looks grainy, blurry, pixelated, or low quality during your assessment, it can affect face detection, identity verification, and proctoring visibility. Grainy video is typically caused by insufficient lighting, camera sensor limitations, or incorrect camera settings. This guide helps you troubleshoot poor webcam quality and improve video clarity.

​
✅ Common Causes and Fixes

What Might Be WrongWhat You Can Do
Low lighting in the roomSit in a well-lit room, preferably with natural light or a lamp facing you. Avoid backlighting.
Dirty or smudged webcam lensGently clean the webcam lens with a soft cloth before starting the test.
Webcam resolution is set too lowClose all apps using your camera, then restart the test.
Using a low-end or external webcamUse your built-in laptop webcam if possible — they usually offer better quality for proctoring.
Background is too darkSit against a neutral-colored wall in a well-lit space to avoid contrast issues.
Internet speed is unstableGraininess may appear if video is compressed. Run a speed test and ensure stable connection.

​
Additional Tips:

Still facing grainy camera issues?
  • Make sure no other apps (Zoom, Teams, Meet) are using the camera in the background
  • Restart your system and re-open the Talview test session
  • Avoid sitting under harsh overhead lights - soft lighting works best