Our online courses take a quick photo of you with your webcam at the start of some quizzes, so we can confirm it is really you doing the course. If the camera isn’t working, this page will help you fix it in a minute or two.
1. Test your camera
Click the button below. If your browser asks to use the camera, click Allow. Nothing is saved – it’s only a test. If something is wrong, the pop-up will tell you exactly what to do on your own browser.
Or jump straight to your problem:
- I clicked “Block” by mistake – Chrome · Edge · Firefox · Mac / Safari · iPhone / iPad · Android
- Windows is blocking the camera
- “Camera is being used by another program”
- The photo is black, too dark or blank
- “We could not find a camera”
- Still stuck?
2. I clicked “Block” by mistake
This happens a lot – the camera question pops up and it’s natural to say no. Once you have clicked Block, the website is not allowed to ask again, so you need to switch it back on yourself. It only takes a few seconds. Follow the steps for your browser, then click Try again in the pop-up (or reload the page).
When the question pops up next time, click Allow:
Google Chrome (Windows or Mac)
- Click the icon at the left of the web address (two small sliders, or a padlock). You may also see a camera with a red cross at the right of the address bar – you can click that instead.
- Next to Camera, switch it on or choose Allow (or click Reset permission).
- The camera will usually start by itself. If not, click Try again or reload the page.
Microsoft Edge
- Click the padlock (or the small sliders icon) at the left of the web address.
- Next to Camera, choose Allow (or click Reset permissions).
- The camera will usually start by itself. If not, click Try again or reload the page.
Firefox
- Click the camera icon with a line through it, at the left of the web address.
- Click the × next to Blocked to remove the block.
- Click Try again. When Firefox asks, tick Remember this decision and click Allow.
Mac – Safari (and Mac camera settings)
- In the menu bar at the very top of the screen, click Safari → Settings for southsafe.ie…
- Set Camera to Allow, then click Try again or reload the page.
If the Mac itself is blocking the camera (any browser):
- Click the Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.
- Turn on your browser (Safari, Chrome, Edge or Firefox).
- Quit the browser completely (Cmd + Q), open it again and come back to the course.
iPhone / iPad
Safari:
- Tap aA (or the small page icon) at the left of the web address bar.
- Tap Website Settings.
- Set Camera to Allow, tap Done, then tap Try again.
Still not asking? Open the iPhone Settings app → Apps → Safari → Camera → Ask or Allow.
Chrome, Edge or Firefox on iPhone: open the iPhone Settings app → Apps → your browser (e.g. Chrome) → turn Camera on. On older iPhones, just scroll down the Settings app to find your browser.
Android phone or tablet
- Tap the icon at the left of the web address (a padlock or two small sliders).
- Tap Permissions (or Site settings).
- Set Camera to Allow, then tap Try again.
Camera not listed? Open the phone’s Settings → Apps → Chrome (or your browser) → Permissions → Camera → Allow.
3. Windows is blocking the camera
If the pop-up says your computer is blocking the camera, it’s a Windows setting rather than the browser:
- Click Start → Settings (or press Windows key + I).
- Click Privacy & security → Camera (on Windows 10: Privacy → Camera).
- Turn on Camera access, Let apps access your camera and Let desktop apps access your camera.
- Close your browser completely, open it again and come back to the course.
4. “Camera is being used by another program”
Only one program can use the camera at a time. Close Teams, Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp or any other window or browser tab that uses the camera, then click Try again. If that doesn’t work, restarting the computer or phone nearly always frees the camera.
5. The photo is black, too dark or blank
- Check the camera isn’t covered – many laptops have a small sliding cover over the camera.
- Make sure the room is bright enough and there isn’t a bright window or lamp behind you.
- Some laptops have a camera on/off key – look for a key with a camera symbol with a line through it (often F8 on Lenovo, sometimes F10 or a key next to the power button) and press it once.
Lenovo laptops also have a “Camera Privacy Mode” setting: open the Start menu, search for Lenovo Vantage (or Lenovo Settings on older laptops), go to Hardware Settings → Audio/Visual (or the Camera tab) and switch Camera Privacy Mode to Off. If it keeps switching back on, check for a physical camera switch on the side of the laptop.
6. “We could not find a camera”
If you use a separate webcam, check it is plugged in, then click Try again. Otherwise, please do the course on a laptop, tablet or phone that has a camera – you can log in to your account on any device and carry on where you left off.
7. Still stuck?
- Try a different browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari) or a different device, such as your phone.
- Open a private / incognito window, log in again and try the course there – the browser will ask about the camera fresh.
- Work computers sometimes have the camera switched off by the IT department – if so, please use your own phone or laptop.
- Still no luck? Contact us and tell us which device and browser you’re using – we’ll help you get going.