✅ Common Causes and Fixes
| What might be wrong | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| You’re sitting too close or too far from camera | Sit 18-24 inches (arm’s length) from your webcam. Move closer if you appear tiny in the preview, or move back if your face is cropped. The system needs to see your full face from hairline to chin with some space around the edges. |
| Lighting is behind you causing silhouette effect | Position yourself facing a window or light source, never sit with a bright window or lamp behind you. Backlighting creates a dark silhouette where the camera can’t detect facial features. Use natural light from windows in front of you, or position desk lamps on either side of your monitor to illuminate your face evenly from the front. |
| Wearing hat, sunglasses, or face coverings | Remove hats, sunglasses, headphones, masks, or anything partially covering your face. Pull hair back from your forehead so it doesn’t cover your eyes or eyebrows. The system needs to see your entire face clearly from forehead to chin. Religious head coverings are permitted if your full face remains unobstructed. |
| Background is too busy or has other faces | Sit in front of a plain, solid-colored wall or background. Avoid sitting in front of windows, mirrors, posters with faces, or busy patterned backgrounds. Other faces in the background (photos, posters, other people) can confuse the detection system. Choose a simple, uncluttered background where you’re the only face visible. |
| Camera lens is dirty or obstructed | Clean your camera lens with a soft, dry cloth to remove smudges, fingerprints, or dust. Check that nothing is physically blocking the lens (tape, stickers, privacy covers). A dirty or obstructed lens significantly reduces image clarity and can prevent face detection. |
| Browser doesn’t have camera permissions | Grant camera access to your browser. Chrome/Edge: Click lock icon in address bar > Site settings > Camera > Allow. Firefox: Click lock icon > More information > Permissions > Camera > Allow. Safari: Safari > Settings for This Website > Camera > Allow. Refresh the page after granting permissions and try detection again. |
| Using virtual background or camera filters | Disable all virtual backgrounds, filters, beauty modes, or AR effects in your camera software. These features interfere with face detection by altering or obscuring your actual facial features. Use your camera’s natural, unfiltered view. Check your camera app settings and webcam software to ensure all effects are turned off. |
| Head is turned to the side or tilted | Face the camera directly with your head straight, don’t tilt your head to the side, look down, or turn away from the camera. Your face should be in a neutral, front-facing position as if taking a passport photo. Profile views or angled faces may not be detected properly. |
Additional tips:
- Test your webcam positioning and face detection using your device’s built-in camera app before starting your assessment to ensure the setup works
- Sit in a stationary chair at a desk or table, avoid couches or beds where you might slouch or move around, affecting your camera position
- Keep your face centered in the camera preview throughout the test—avoid leaning to the side or forward during your session
- Adjust your monitor brightness to 70-80% so you can comfortably see the screen without harsh light reflecting on your face
- Close other applications that might be using your camera (video chat apps, recording software) as they can conflict with face detection