Share a Webcam

Any user with a built-in or external webcam can share their webcam so others in the session can see them. You can also adjust webcam brightness, set a virtual background, pin a webcam, and share multiple webcams. Configure your webcam device and set it as the default in your operating system before joining the session.

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Share your webcam

To start sharing, select the webcam icon in the media bar at the bottom of the BigBlueButton interface. Your browser asks for permission to use the webcam. The prompt usually appears in the upper-right corner or the center of the browser. Select Allow. After allowing access, choose your device and quality settings. If you have multiple webcams connected, select the one you want from the dropdown [1]. You can also set Quality [2], Brightness [3], and Whole image [4], then select Share [5]. To set a virtual background, select Virtual background [6] in the next tab before sharing.

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Adjust webcam brightness

Use the Brightness slider at the bottom of the webcam settings window to change how bright your image appears. If Whole image is selected, the slider adjusts the brightness of the entire image. If it is not selected, only your face is adjusted.

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Change the webcam background

BigBlueButton includes a set of default virtual backgrounds, and you can also upload your own. To upload a custom background, select the camera icon, then Upload. Select an image file (.jpg, .png, or .webp) from your computer. The uploaded image appears in the first position on the left in the list of available backgrounds. To delete a custom background, select the X in the upper-right corner of the image.

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Pin a webcam

You can pin one or more webcams so they always stay visible — useful when one webcam is showing sign language interpretation, for example.

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Share multiple webcams

After sharing one webcam, share a second by opening the video options menu. Select Open advanced settings. In the webcam dialog, select a different webcam [1], then select Start sharing [2]. The second webcam appears alongside the first.

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Troubleshoot Chrome webcam permissions

If you see the message “The webcam is in use by another application” in Chrome, check that you have allowed webcam access. The browser permission prompt usually appears in the upper-right corner. Select Allow and choose the device you want to share.