Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting webcams
Black image, busy webcam, wrong webcam selected, choppy, blurry or too-dark image, no sound: fixes for the photobooth, the videobooth and the guestbook.
USB webcams are used by the photobooth, the videobooth, the digital guestbook selfie and animated formats (GIF, boomerang). They're simple, but a few pitfalls come up often. If the webcam doesn't appear at all, start with Camera not detected and, on Mac, Camera access denied.
Quick diagnosis
| Symptom | Likely cause | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|
| Black image | Webcam used by another program, or lens cover | Close the other program, open the cover. |
| “Webcam busy” in a mode | The same webcam is open elsewhere in BoothX | Close the preview on the Cameras page or the other mode. |
| Wrong image (built-in webcam instead of USB) | System default webcam | Select the webcam explicitly. |
| Choppy image | USB port, hub, resolution, busy computer | Direct USB 3 port, lower resolution. |
| Blurry image | Autofocus lost, distance | Light, distance, clean the lens. |
| Dark or grainy image | Not enough light | Light from the front. |
| Video without sound | Mic missing, denied or wrongly selected | Permission and mic selection. |
Black image
- Lens cover: many webcams have a privacy shutter. Open it.
- Another program: video calls (Teams, Zoom, Meet), the manufacturer's software, a browser with a video-call tab. Quit them completely (including from the notification area).
- Permission: on Windows, Settings › Privacy & security › Camera must allow desktop apps; on Mac, BoothX must be checked in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera.
- Unplug and replug the webcam, then reopen the mode.
Webcam busy because of BoothX itself
A webcam can only be opened by one feature at a time. For example, the webcam preview on the Cameras page (photobooth) and the videobooth can't use it at the same time. Close the preview on the Cameras page before starting the videobooth, or use two webcams.
In a multi-mode event, BoothX hands the webcam from one mode to the next; if a mode shows an error when switching, go back to the choice screen and try again.
Choosing the right webcam
A laptop has its built-in webcam and the USB webcam you plugged in:
- Photobooth: select the webcam on the Cameras page.
- Videobooth: select it in Videos › Settings (depending on your version; otherwise BoothX uses the system default webcam).
- System: you can disable the built-in webcam in Device Manager (Windows) to avoid any confusion during events.
See Using a webcam.
Choppy or lagging image
- Plug the webcam directly into a USB 3 port on the computer, with no hub or passive extension cable.
- Lower the requested resolution (720p instead of 1080p) in the mode's settings.
- Lower Display performance in Settings › Performance. See Performance: GPU, rendering and preview smoothness.
- Close heavy applications (browser with many tabs, video editing software).
- In low light, the webcam lengthens its exposure time and slows down: add light.
Blurry, dark or off-color image
- Light: it's the number one quality factor for a webcam. A soft light from the front (LED panel, ring light) changes everything.
- Distance: most webcams focus from 30 cm to a few meters; too close and the image is blurry.
- Clean the lens: fingerprints are common on a booth.
- White balance: under colored lighting, the image can take on a cast. White light on faces fixes most of it.
- Manufacturer settings: turn off automatic effects (“beautify”, auto framing that follows faces) in the webcam's software, then quit that software before launching BoothX.
No sound in videos
- Check that a mic is plugged in or built into the webcam.
- Mic permission: Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone (Windows) or System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone (Mac).
- Select the right mic in Videos › Settings, and check that it isn't disabled.
- Use the Test button: it shows whether the mic is active.
Without an allowed mic, the videobooth records the video without sound and tells you so. See Complete videobooth guide.
The webcam disconnects during the event
- Turn on Keep USB ports powered (Settings › Power).
- Secure the cable: a cable pulled by a guest causes loose contacts.
- Avoid passive USB extension cables longer than a few meters.
When the webcam comes back, the videobooth and the guestbook resume automatically; meanwhile the guest screen offers Retry.
Linux
Your user must belong to the video group. After changing it, log out and log back in.
Still having trouble?
Send a report to support with the webcam model, the mode involved and the message shown. See Logs and support reports.