Before a video call
Testing your microphone, camera and speakers a couple of minutes before a Zoom, Teams or Google Meet call saves you the classic “can you hear me?”. If they work here, the device isn't the problem: check which microphone, camera and speaker the video call app has selected, because it often uses a different one (the laptop's instead of your headset's, for example).
My browser won't let me use the microphone or the camera
The first time, the browser asks for your permission. If you said no, you have to change it by hand:
- Chrome and Edge: click the icon to the left of the page address and allow the microphone and the camera.
- Firefox: click the crossed-out microphone or camera icon in the address bar and remove the block.
- Safari: in the Safari menu, “Settings for This Website”, choose “Allow” for the camera and the microphone.
If the browser allows it but it still doesn't work, your system may be blocking it:
- Windows: Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone (and Camera). Turn on access and let desktop apps use it.
- macOS: System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone (and Camera), and turn on your browser.
- iPhone and Android: in your phone's settings, find your browser and turn on the microphone and the camera.
Common problems
- “It's busy”: another app or tab is using the microphone or the camera. Close any video call you have open and try again.
- The level bar doesn't move: check that the microphone isn't muted (many headsets and laptops have a button for it) and that the right one is selected in the list.
- You hear an echo or it's very quiet: record the 5 seconds wearing headphones and speak about a hand's width from the microphone. If it's still quiet, turn up the input gain in your system's sound settings.
- The picture is back to front: that's normal. The preview is shown like a mirror, as in video calls, but other people see you the right way round.
- Sound only comes out of one side: check the balance in your sound settings, or that your headphone cable is plugged in properly.