Camera, Recorder, Microphone help for Mac

Hey, we're sorry you're having camera, recording or microphone issues on your Mac! Check out this video to see how to set up your camera and microphone for the best BombBomb experience. Or keep reading below for the step-by-step.

 

 

Jump to: 

• Make sure your camera is working
• Make sure your microphone is working 
• Check your privacy settings
• Check your antivirus software
• Browser recommendations
• Troubleshooting for Chrome
• Other considerations 
• My screen & cam recording only shows my desktop 

 

Step 1: Ensure Your Camera is Working

For Mac Users:

1. Open Finder.
2. Navigate to Applications.
3. Open Photo Booth.
   • If the camera activates, it’s working correctly.

• If not, you may encounter an error message, indicating a potential hardware issue. Contact your computer’s support team for further assistance.

 

Step 2: Verify Your Microphone is Functioning

For Mac Users:

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.
2. In the System Preferences window, double-click the Sound icon.
3. Go to the Input tab and ensure the correct microphone is selected.
4. Ensure the microphone is not muted.

      5. Speak into the microphone — check the Input level to confirm it’s detecting sound.

 

Step 3: Review Your Privacy Settings

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and choose System Preferences.
2. Select Security & Privacy.
3. Click on the Privacy tab at the top.

 

              4. On the left, select Camera and Microphone.

1. • Ensure that both your browser and BombBomb have access to your camera and microphone.
     
     5. If you're using screen recording, also check Screen Recording and ensure BombBomb has access.

 

Step 4: Check Your Antivirus Software

Network security software can sometimes block your camera. Disable your antivirus temporarily to see if it resolves the issue. Common security software that may cause conflicts include Kaspersky, McAfee, Zscaler, and Malwarebytes.

How to disable your antivirus:

1. Find the antivirus software icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen.
2. Click the icon to open the program.
3. Select Stop or Disable.

If this resolves the issue, consult your antivirus provider for instructions on how to allow BombBomb access to your camera.

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Browser Recommendations

For the best experience with BombBomb, we recommend using Google Chrome. It is regularly updated and handles compatibility issues better than other browsers.

• Safari is not currently supported for BombBomb recording. If Safari is essential to you, let us know.

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Troubleshooting for Google Chrome

1. Check for Chrome Updates:

1. In the top-right corner of Chrome, click the 3 dots.
2. Go to Help > About Google Chrome.

 

 

        3. If Chrome isn’t up to date, it will begin downloading updates. Once complete, relaunch Chrome.

Quick Tip: If you see a message like, “Google Chrome may not be able to keep itself updated,” your admin may have disabled updates. Contact them for assistance.

 

2. Clear Your Browser Cache:

1. Click the 3 dots in the top-right corner.
2. Select More Tools > Clear Browsing Data.

 

             3. In the pop-up window, select:

1. • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
     
     4. Set the Time Range to All Time, then click Clear Data.

 

3. Clear Cookies for BombBomb:

1. While on the BombBomb web app or in Gmail, click the Lock icon next to the URL in your browser.
2. Select Cookies.

 

           3. Find anything related to BombBomb (e.g., bombbomb.com or app.bombbomb.com) and click Remove.

 

4. Adjust Site Settings for BombBomb:

1. Click the Lock icon next to the BombBomb URL.
2. Ensure that both Camera and Microphone are set to Allow.

 

    3. If the issue persists, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings.

    4. Under Permissions, click Camera and Microphone.

• • Ensure that permissions are enabled for BombBomb and Gmail.

 

      5. If necessary, click the Trash icon next to any BombBomb or Gmail-related pages to reset the permissions.

 

Other Considerations 

If you are on a VPN(Virtual Private Network): If you are connected to a VPN, it could be conflicting with BombBomb's software. Disconnect from your VPN and try using the camera again. If it works, send a list of the following URLs to your IT department and ask them to whitelist them for you: 

• https://desktop.bombbomb.io/* — Screen Recorder communication to/from the web app
• wss://scribe2.bombbomb.com/* — Uploads video over a live connection
• https://scribe2.bombbomb.com/* — https portion of the live connection
• https://metro.bombbomb.io/* — Sends BombBomb basic info about the usage for certain features
• https://lumberjack.bombbomb.io/ — Sends BombBomb diagnostic info for errors etc
• https://s3.amazonaws.com/bombbomb-installers/BombBombInstaller.exe

Make sure other programs aren't using your camera. Sometimes, other programs that use your camera and microphone, like Zoom, can interfere with BombBomb. Make sure to quit these programs and check if this fixes your problem.  

Check your internet speed. You could be having issues if your internet speed can't support the encoding process of videos. Here's how to check:

• Go to speedtest.net. 
• Click "Go" in the middle of the page.

In order for a video to properly encode, you will need at least 20 Mbps download and 3.5 Mbps upload speeds. Anything lower than this can cause encoding failures and should be addressed with your internet provider.

 

My screen recording only shows my desktop  

On a Mac with a Catalina Operating System, you need to change your privacy settings to allow the BombBomb screen recorder. Read here how to change your privacy settings. 

 

If you are still running into problems, please contact our Customer Care team at support@bombbomb.com. We will be happy to help you!