Your microphone or camera may not work in Nearo if permissions, device settings, or connections are blocking access.
Quick things to check first
These checks take just a few seconds and resolve most audio and video issues.
Look at your own video tile, in the middle of the call window above the controls bar. A red slashed microphone icon next to your name means you are muted, so click Unmute in the controls bar, the dark gray strip along the bottom of the call window. The Mic button is at the left on the desktop apps and in the middle on the guest web app.
If your tile shows your initials instead of video, your camera is off. Click Start Video, the Camera button next to Mic in the controls bar.
Make sure your microphone and camera are physically connected to your computer.
If you are using an external device, unplug it and plug it back in.
Confirm your microphone or camera is not muted or disabled on the device itself.
Close other apps that may be using your microphone or camera, such as Zoom, Teams, or recording software.
If a message says your microphone, speaker, or camera stopped
In the Nearo desktop apps, a message appears at the top center of the window for about 4 seconds when a device stops working during a call. The guest web app does not show these messages.
If the message says your microphone or speaker was disconnected and names a device, Nearo has switched to that device. If it is not the one you want, click the small arrow beside the Mic button in the controls bar and choose another under Select a microphone or Select a speaker.
If the message says Nearo is using the system default, it has switched to your computer's default device. Choose a different device from the same menu if you prefer another.
If the message says your microphone or speaker stopped, plug it back in or choose another one from the same menu.
If the message says your camera stopped because another app is using it, close that app. Then click Stop Video and Start Video, the Camera button next to Mic in the controls bar.
If the message says your camera stopped for any other reason, click Stop Video and then Start Video to try again.
Check which devices Nearo is using
Nearo must be set to use the correct microphone and camera.
Click the small arrow next to the microphone button in the controls bar and make sure the right microphone is selected under Select a microphone.
Click the small arrow next to the camera button and make sure the right camera is selected under Select a camera.
Speak and watch for the green border around your own tile, which appears while Nearo picks up your voice.
If you have not joined yet, find the preview first. In a web browser, open the room link the tutor sent; a card shows your camera, with the Mic and Camera dropdowns below it, and the small bars at the bottom left of the preview light up green as you speak. In the guest Nearo desktop app, the preview is on the join card, below Join Room and Cancel, and again on the waiting screen. The two full-width buttons there, Mic: and Camera:, each show your current device and open a list of devices. As a host in the Nearo desktop app, click Open my room, the blue button at the bottom of the My room card on the home screen, and use the small arrows beside Mic and Camera at the left of the controls bar.
In Safari or Firefox, the Camera list may be grayed out and read "Default camera (turn the camera on to choose)." Turn your camera on first, then choose your camera.
đĄ If you recently plugged in a new device, Nearo may still be set to a different microphone or camera.
Check browser or app permissions
Your browser or computer must allow Nearo to access your microphone and camera.
In a web browser or on an iPad
Your browser asks for camera and microphone access when the preview opens. Allow both.
If the preview reads "Camera unavailable â you can still join," the browser has not given Nearo access to your camera. You can still join the session.
If Start Video shows "Camera permission was denied â your camera stays off," allow the camera for Nearo in your browser settings, then click Start Video again.
If it shows "Couldn't turn the camera on â it stays off," close any other app that may be using the camera, then click Start Video again.
On macOS
The Nearo desktop app shows a permissions screen listing what it needs, with a button to allow each one. Allow Microphone Access and Camera Access.
Open System Settings.
Select Privacy & Security.
Open Microphone and Camera.
Make sure Nearo is enabled for both.
đ If Nearo was blocked previously, you may need to fully quit Nearo and reopen it after changing permissions.
On Windows
Open Settings.
Select Privacy & security.
Open Microphone and Camera.
Make sure access is turned on.
Confirm Nearo is allowed under app permissions.
Check operating system sound and camera settings
Sometimes the issue is caused by system-level settings instead of Nearo.
Open your computer's sound settings and confirm the correct microphone is selected as the input device.
Open your camera settings to confirm the camera works outside of Nearo.
Test your microphone using your system's input level meter.
Restart your computer
A full restart can clear background processes that block device access.
Save your work.
Restart your computer.
Reopen Nearo and test your microphone and camera again.