My camera or microphone isn't working

If the Camera and Microphone boxes on the pre-class screen are empty, your browser has not given the class page access to your devices. It is almost never a problem with the class itself.

Work through these in order. Most of the time it’s the first one.

Open your class from your Sessions page so you’re always on the real class link.

1. Close other apps using your camera

Only one app can use your camera at a time. Quit Zoom, Teams, WeChat, Skype, Photo Booth, or OBS completely — not just the meeting window, the whole app — then press Retry on the class page.

2. Allow camera and microphone in your browser

Click the lock icon (or camera icon) in your browser’s address bar, set both Camera and Microphone to Allow, then press Retry.

If you clicked the permission popup away when the page first loaded, it will not come back on its own. You have to allow it from the lock icon.

3. Check the message on screen

The class page tells you what went wrong. Read the yellow box:

What it says	What to do
Camera access was blocked	Use the lock icon in the address bar, set Camera to Allow
Camera is being used by another app	Close Zoom, Teams, WeChat or similar, then Retry
No camera was found	Check the camera is plugged in and works in another app
Access is not allowed on this connection	Open the class from https://expatteaching.com

4. Still stuck?

• Try Google Chrome. It has the fewest problems with classroom video.
• On a Mac, open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera and make sure your browser is switched on.
• Restart the browser completely, then open the class link again.

You can still teach while you fix it

If you’re out of time, you can open your class and join without a camera. The button will say Join without camera or mic. The other person will not see or hear you, so use the chat to explain, and tell an admin so the class isn’t counted against you.