Healthdirect Australia Help Center

    Allowing camera and microphone access

    Allow access to your camera and microphone to start a video call

    If your browser cannot access your camera or microphone you will not be able to start a video call. This page explains ways to resolve this issue in our supported browsers and on various devices (operating systems).

     

    Video Call needs access to your device's camera and microphone to conduct a video consultation.

    As you start or join a Video call, you will be asked to allow access to your camera and microphone for the Healthdirect Video Call site. Always click Allow when prompted.

    If, however, you have denied access to your camera or microphone in your browser settings, or they are not connected properly, you won't be able to start the call. This is because your camera and microphone are essential requirements for a video call.

    You will need to go either into the browser settings or your computer/smart phone/tablet settings to set the camera and microphone permissions - see instructions below.

    Please note: You will see a notification that this will be an audio only call if you have allowed your microphone but not your camera. This isn't ideal as your service provider needs to see you. Follow the steps below to allow your camera

    Click on the browser you are using below to see how to allow access to your camera and/or microphone. Make sure you are using a supported browser - Video Call supports all modern browsers

    Google Chrome

    Google Chrome on a desktop or laptop computer

     
    When in a Chrome browser you can simply click on the camera symbol to the right in the URL bar when starting a video call to re-activate the camera and microphone if they have been blocked from the site.

    Click on "Continue allowing...", hit the "Done" button, and reload the page.

     

    You can also go into the Chrome settings and change the camera or microphone setting for the site you are using:

    In Google Chrome, open a new tab.

    You can either go to the settings icon at top right of the browser (3 vertical dots) or open a new tab and in the address bar, and if it is your camera that needs allowing, enter chrome://settings/content/camera

    Chrome's Camera settings page opens.
    Select the camera you want as your default from the drop-down list if you have more than one and ensure https://vcc.healthdirect.org.au is allowed. If it is under 'Block' please remove it from that section by clicking on the trash icon.

    Close the tab and start your call.

    Please note: If it is your microphone you need to allow, follow the steps above but go to the microphone settings instead of camera: chrome://settings/content/microphone

     

    Google Chrome on Android mobile devices

     

    In Google Chrome on an Android mobile device you can click the little menu on the right of the URL bar (the three dot points) and go to Settings.

    Click on 'Site Settings' - and then choose camera or microphone (depending on your which needs to be accessed). If you find the Healthdirect web address in the blocked section, click on it and then click on the camera and/or microphone symbol and select 'allow access'.

     


     

    Microsoft Edge

    Using a Windows computer

     
    In Edge, navigate to the Video Call site (either vcc.healthdirect.org.au for clinicians or the Start Video Call page for patients (using the link provided by your clinic).
    Click the Lock icon next to the web address in the address bar and click the Site Permissions option
    Select Camera and/or microphone, depending on which is currently blocked and select Allow from the dropdown permissions box.

    Using a MacOS computer

     
    Go to Settings and select Privacy and Security.
    Select the Privacy tab
    Select Camera or Microphone, depending on your pre-call test results, and ensure  Microsoft Edge is ticked.
    You will see this message. To allow the access you have granted please quit Microsoft Edge and then reopen to begin your Video Call.

    Apple Safari on iOS devices

     
    On an iOS device (iPhone or iPad), camera and microphone access is controlled from the device's 'Settings' application. Open 'Settings', then find 'Safari' and scroll down to find 'Settings For Websites'.

    Click on Allow for both microphone and camera access.
     
    iPhone and iPad allow camera and microphone

    Mozilla Firefox 

     
    In a Firefox browser on a desktop or laptop, click on the "i" (information) button in the URL bar and re-activate the camera and/or microphone there.

    Click on the "Blocked Temporarily" cross to re-allow camera or microphone access and then reload the page.

    You can also change the camera permissions in the Firefox Settings.

    • In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Preferences.
    • Select Privacy & Security from the left menu.
    • Scroll down to the Permissions section.
    • Select the Settings button for the Microphone option.
      Firefox displays the websites with the current saved Allow or Block permission. Change the permission to Allow.


     

     

     

     

     

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