Controlling camera in Firefox
Hi there,
I have a laptop running Windows 10, plus the latest version of Firefox. The laptop has a built-in webcam. I have also connected an external webcam via USB. This second camera is better quality and preferred, I visit a web site. When I first activate the camera, I am presented with a dropdown of available cameras. The USB camera appears in the list. All is fine. I instruct Firefox to "allow" this camera to be used. (first image) However, after a short time, less than a second, the same dialog is shown again, this time without the USB camera. (second image) There have been no actual hardware changes. I can then click "allow" again and the *integrated* camera works, i.e. not the desired camera. So, two questions, really. First, what just happened? Did Firefox try to control the USB camera, find that it couldn't, and redisplay the dialog showing only the "controllable" option? Second, my desired endpoint here is for the web site to use the USB camera. How do I achieve this? I can easily do this with Chrome but I like Firefox. TIA.
Modified by pete103
All Replies (4)
I have what might be a partial fix for this. It feels like a bug in Firefox.
1. In Windows 10 Device Manager, I disabled the integrated webcam. 2. I had to reboot the computer. The integrated web cam was not visible following the reboot, as expected. 3. I launched the web site in Firefox and the USB camera was now at the top of the list. I allowed the dialog and the camera worked on the site. 4. I closed down the browser, 5. I re-enabled the integrated webcam. No reboot required. 6. I re-opened the browser. "Integrated webcam" appeared in thew list again, but in second place rather than top. 7. Regardless of which camera I chose, Firefox used the USB camera.
The end result is what I wanted, but I can't help but feel I'm going about this the wrong way. I would still like to know how Firefox works. It does not feel like a fix because Firefox should be able to use *any* camera.
Modified by pete103
Dropa said
You need to check what driver your using for camera and how Windows control mic/webcam controls. The O/S controls what other software uses the mic/webcam - so check your settings and drivers.
In terms of permissions, Firefox was granted access to everything. I appear to have been able to work around the problem, however, by disabling, then re-enabling, the integrated webcam. See my other response. But what I did feels like a bug in Firefox.
posted by mistake.
Modified by pete103
pete103 said
Dropa said
Make sure your installing the correct Webcam drivers and O/S verifies the correct drivers. And I think Windows should have test for the WebCam as well. Otherwise you need to check with the webcam driver support sites as to why it's not working in Firefox since Firefox isn't the manufacture of the webcam.The drivers were downloaded yesterday. In any case, the USB webcam works with the the Windows 10 Camera application, with Zoom, with Chrome and with WhatsApp. Suggesting it is a problem with drivers is, I'm afraid, a complete red herring. If it were a problem with drivers, the camera would not work in any application. But it works in every application except Firefox. The problem therefore lies with Firefox, not with the camera.