Advanced Mic/Webcam Troubleshooting

Webcam or Microphone Unavailable: Overview


The Webcam Unavailable pop-up displays if your devices are unavailable due to:
  1. Your browser is blocking access to your webcam and/or microphone
  2. Another app is currently using your webcam and/or microphone
  3. Your operating system is blocking access to your webcam and/or microphone
  4. An installed security suite is blocking access to your devices

Browser Is Blocking Access To Your Webcam/Mic

You must allow the virtual classroom to access your devices  to join the live session with your webcam/mic. To allow access your webcam or microphone:

Via Chrome

  1. In the address bar on the right, you will see a camera icon with a red x. Click the camera icon to display device permissions.
  2. Select the circle corresponding to Always Allow.
  3. Click Done.
  4. Refresh your window.

Via Firefox

We strongly suggest using the Google Chrome browser.
  1. In the address bar on the left, you will see camera & microphone icons with a slash through them. Click the camera & mic icons.  
  2. Click the x's corresponding to: Use the Microphone Blocked Temporarily and Use the Camera Blocked Temporarily.
  3. Click the Webcam and Microphone buttons in the live session to activate your devices.
  4. Click Allow in the Firefox permission pop-up.

Devices Are Busy

  • If you are using another application that is accessing your webcam/mic (or recently accessed your camera and mic) such as Skype or similar website/applications, then please quit those applications and refresh your virtual classroom.
  • Sometimes your webcam and microphone drivers get stuck in the background. You may need to restart your computer.

OS Is Blocking Access To Your Webcam/Mic

Your webcam/mic might not be available for your browser to use due to privacy settings within your operating system (Windows, MacOS).

Windows 10

  1. Click the Start Button (Windows icon) in bottom left of desktop.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Click Privacy.
  4. Scroll through the list on the left to find Camera and select Camera.
  5. Under Allow Device To Access Camera click the Change button and make sure it is switched on.
  6. Make sure that under Allow Apps To Access Your Camera is turned on.
  7. Scroll through the list on the left to find Microphone and select Microphone.
  8. Under Allow Device To Access Microphone click the Change button & make sure it's switched on.
  9. Make sure that under Allow Apps To Access Your Microphone is turned on.
  10. Quit your browser and relaunch.
For more information, please Microsoft's article Windows 10 camera, microphone, and privacy

MacOS

  1. Go to System Preferences.
  2. Select Security & Privacy.
  3. Choose the Privacy tab.
  4. Scroll through the list on the left to find Camera and select Camera *MacOS Mojave.
  5. Check the box corresponding to your browser within the Allow the apps below to access your camera.
  6. Scroll through the list on the left to find Microphone and select Microphone *MacOS Mojave.
  7. Check the box corresponding to your browser within the Allow the apps below to access your microphone.
  8. You will be prompted to quit your browser. Choose Quit Now.
Once you relaunch your browser and join your session, you will have access to your webcam and mic. For more information, see this great post in iDownloadBlog. Note that you will want to make sure to add Chrome or Firefox to the allowed apps.
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