A few things to get ready
Use a device with a working camera and microphone, a browser that supports video calls, and a stable internet connection. You don't need studio lighting or a special webcam.
Sit where the light falls toward your face rather than from behind you. Put the camera at a comfortable height, check what's visible in the background, and use headphones if sound is feeding back.
On your phone or at your desk
On a phone, place the device somewhere steady so you don't have to hold it for the whole conversation. Keep the browser visible during the call. If a page opened inside another app has trouble requesting the camera, try opening CamWink in your usual browser.
At a desk, make sure the webcam isn't covered and that another app isn't already using it. If you use an external camera or microphone, check your browser and device settings for the selected input.
If you’re having trouble on one device, check its browser permissions before trying another.
Try your camera in a chat
Start cam chatAllow camera and microphone access
Your browser controls camera and microphone permissions. When asked, choose whether to allow the site to use them. If you previously blocked access, open the site's permissions in your browser settings and review the camera and microphone options.
The exact labels depend on your browser. After changing a setting, return to CamWink and try again. For the full sequence from entering the site to matching, read How CamWink works.
If the picture or sound isn't working
- Black picture: Check for a camera cover, blocked permission, or another app using the camera.
- No microphone input: Check the selected microphone and whether it's muted in device settings.
- Echo: Try headphones and lower speaker volume.
- Frozen picture: Check the connection and close unnecessary background apps.
- Camera prompt never appears: Review site permissions or open the page in your usual browser.
If the problem continues, contact support with your device, browser, page address, and a short description. Don't send passwords or payment card details.
Make the chat comfortable
Keep identifying details out of view, including documents, addresses, and other people's faces. During a call, you can blur your picture or mute your microphone. These are call controls, not a guarantee that everything around you is hidden.
Once the setup feels right, start a conversation. The cam-to-cam guide explains what the two video views and sound controls mean.