You can change Webcams in your browser. This is useful for Video Notes in D2L or changing the camera in Google Meets. Note: in either case, for changes to take effect, you will have to reload the webpage so this cannot be done on the fly-- whatever camera you are using is the one you will be using for the rest of the meeting/recording. Also note that these changes will only take effect for that particular website and you will have to go through a similar process for other websites to grant permission. In this tutorial, three of the major web browsers will be discussed: Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. If you would rather a more visual tutorial, you can click on this link here.
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1 | Chrome is much easier to change the camera than in Firefox. When you open Chrome, click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right of your browser. | |
2 | In the drop-down menu that appears, click on Settings | |
3 | In the search bar that appears in the upper-mid of your screen (beneath the web address bar), type in Camera. | |
4 | In the list that appears, click on Site Settings. | |
5 | In the next list that appears, scroll down a bit until you find Camera, which should be highlighted. | |
6 | When you do that, there will be a dropdown menu that says Integrated Webcam if you are currently using your laptop camera. If not, it may just say webcam. Click on it and a dropdown menu will appear. | |
7 | In the drop-down menu that appears, choose the webcam that you want to use. Then click on the arrow to the left of Camera to return to the list shown in step 5. | |
8 | In that list, underneath Camera, is Microphone. In a similar process to Camera, choose the microphone you want to use. Often, but not always, it may say USB Microphone or Integrated Microphone depending on what the browser has detected. If you are using headphones/earbuds, some browsers are smart enough to detect these automatically. | |
9 | When you first go to a website that requires the use of your camera, a pop-up will appear in the upper-left asking if you want to let the website use your Camera or not. Click on allow if you wish for this to happen, otherwise click on block. | |
10 | To change the Camera/Microphone, simply follow steps 1-8. If you have D2L or another site open that is currently using your Camera, you may have to reload the website for the changes to take effect. You will also have to do step 9 for each new website that you want to allow the use of your Camera or Microphone on. |
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Edge
1 | Changing Cameras in Edge will have a similar process. First, click on the three horizontal dots in the upper right of the browser. | Image Modified |
2 | In the menu that appears, choose Settings; it has a little gear icon to the left of it. | Image Modified |
3 | In the Search Bar in the upper-left, type in Camera. | Image Modified |
4 | When you type in Camera, the menu options on the right will change; find and select Camera in the menu on the right. | Image Modified |
5 | In the dropdown, you can select the Camera you wish to use; in this case, Edge had automatically detected the external webcam. | Image Modified |
6 | By clicking on the arrow pointing to the left of Search Results, you will be taken back to the menu for Site Permissions. | Image Modified |
7 | In this menu, you can change the Microphone the browser is using by clicking on Microphone and following similar steps for changing the Camera. | Image Modified |
8 | When you go to a site that you want to use your camera for the first time, Edge will have a little pop-up in the upper-left asking if you want this site to use your Camera and Microphone. After this first time you will not be asked again. You will have to repeat this step every time you go to a new website that you want to use your Camera or Microphone on. | Image Modified |