Start by Identifying the Symptom

Is the preview completely missing, showing the wrong camera, freezing or displaying an error? Those situations are different. Notice what changes when you select a device or respond to a permission prompt.

Check the Website’s Camera Permission

A video website needs browser permission before it can use your camera. If you previously denied access, the browser may keep that decision instead of asking again.

In Chrome on a computer, open Settings, then Privacy and security, then Site settings. Look under Camera or Microphone and review the entry for the website. Change the permission only for a site you intend to use, then return to its video interface.

Chrome camera and microphone help

Check the Camera Selected by the Browser

If your computer has a built-in camera and another connected camera, the selected device may not be the one you expect. Use the browser’s camera settings or a device selector provided by the chat interface to review the current choice.

Consider Device Access and Other Apps

Permission in a webpage is one layer of access; the operating system may have another. Review the camera and microphone permissions for the browser you are actually using.

As a practical isolation check, close another application that may be using the camera, then retry. This is a troubleshooting step, not a promise that another app is always the cause. If your device cannot show camera output in any appropriate application, investigate the hardware or operating-system setup too.

Use the Intended Secure Website

Browser camera APIs are restricted to secure contexts. A normal live website should be opened through its intended HTTPS address. Development environments have exceptions, so an HTTP page on another device is not necessarily equivalent to a localhost test.

If you are visiting Hotmegle, check the address you opened rather than using a copied development URL to judge the live video feature.

MDN camera access requirements

Try Again with a Clear Setup

After changing a permission or selecting a device, reload the active chat experience. If your browser or operating system asks you to restart the browser, follow that instruction. Then check the preview before you begin a conversation.

Choose a Different Way to Connect

If video is not the right option for your current setup, messaging remains a separate route. It does not repair camera access, but it lets you explore a different conversation format.

Explore text chat

Video chat in your browser

Read Hotmegle’s common questions