General tips
Camera has not arrived
Orders for items in stock ship in 2 days or less. Pre-order items ship at the date shown at time of purchase.
If you haven't received your order as expected, here are a few helpful tips.
- Check your shipping confirmation email, this will include a tracking number and link to track delivery.
- Your tracking number may not reflect shipping updates to your package for up to 24-48 hours. This is usually because of the delay between the carrier receiving the order and them scanning it into their system.
- If there is an error with your tracking number, additional information can often be found using Global Package Tracking.
Camera doesn't appear as an option
Please follow these steps if you camera does not show up as an option.
On a Mac
- Click on the Apple icon in the top left of your screen.
- Select About This Mac > System Report > Camera.
- Under Camera, you should see your iContact Camera
- If you can't see you camera, try performing a SMC reset. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
On a PC
- Select Start and type device manager into the search bar. Select it from the search results.
- Look for your camera under Cameras, Imaging devices, or Sound, video and game controllers.
- If you can't find your camera, select the Action menu, then select Scan for hardware changes.
- Wait for it to scan and reinstall updates, restart your device, then attempt to open the Camera app again to test it.
- Check to see if your computer's Operating System is updated. Outdated software causes a lot of issues with 3rd party software.
- Microsoft has given great tips to troubleshoot a camera not function for Windows 11 and Windows 10: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/camera-doesn-t-work-in-windows-32adb016-b29c-a928-0073-53d31da0dad5
- Some times, power saving settings have been enabled during upgrades. These power savings settings can turn off usb devices, even though they are being used.
Check the USB connection
- Make sure the USB end of your camera is fully inserted into an active USB port.
- Unplug the USB end of your camera from your computer and plug it back in.
- Try another USB port on your computer to see if that helps.
- If you are running your camera through an extension or a hub, try plugging it in directly to your computer.
Image resolution seems low
If the image resolution isn't as expected, your computer or video call app may not have HD enabled.
Windows 11 HD setup is below, other operating systems may require similar HD setup.
In Search, type Camera and select iContact Camera. Open and click the ⚙ for settings. Scroll down to Video to select the highest available resolution.
Zoom and Google Meet HD setup is below, other video call apps may require similar HD setup.
- In a Zoom meeting, click ⌃ next to the video camera icon. Select the your camera then Video settings. Check the box next to HD.
- Google Meet Select the ⋮ for more options at the bottom, then Settings and choose iContact Camera. Set send and receive resolution to 720p. Hopefully the accepter higher bandwidth soon.
You may also want to increase sharpness on your camera. See the Adjust Sharpness... tip below.
Adjust Sharpness, white balance, saturation, and brightness
PC
Settings > Bluetooth & devices > cameras and select iContact Camera
Mac download our iContact Control app for instant access to settings in the top MenuBar on MacOS 12 and above.
Alternately you can use Camo, which has a free version with a wide range of video options.
Lighting
Good lighting is essential to get the best performance from the iContact Camera. Here are some lighting tips.
- Use Natural Light: If possible, position your webcam setup near a window where you can take advantage of natural light. This will give your video a more balanced and flattering look. However, be mindful of the time of day and the potential for changing light conditions.
- Avoid Backlighting: Make sure there are no strong light sources directly behind you, such as a window or a lamp, as this can make you appear silhouetted and harder to see on camera.
- Invest in a dimmable light: Our Glow light and Light panel provide a consistent, diffused light that can greatly improve the appearance of your video.
- Avoid dark backgrounds or the camera may adjust for them and overexpose your face.
White balance
- Ensure Adequate Lighting: Make sure your background is well-lit so you don't appear in shadow. Avoid over-illuminating the background which can lead to a washed-out appearance.
- Choose a Neutral or Uncluttered Background: Neutral colors work best as they don't cause color cast and white balance issues.
- Adjust with camera settings, see below.
Camera arm is too long or short
The iContact Camera is designed to be compatible with a wide range of screen sizes. For smaller screens, select a view with small video windows with other attendees on top. For Larger screens, place the small video windows to the left.
Flickering video
Flickering is often a doc or hub splitting power from one USB port to many. Plug the camera directly into your computer.
If this did not resolve the issue and you are working on a PC laptop, you may need to update power settings. Go Settings > System > Power & battery. Change Power mode to Best performance and turn off Battery saver.
Lens cover and privacy
Mac and PC require explicit permission for camera use and show on screen alerts when the camera is on.
For additional privacy, simply tilt the camera body up facing the ceiling or purchase a USB switch to shut power off to video and audio in the camera.
Slow frame rate
- Check to make sure that you have an appropriate amount of lighting in the room.
- Ensure that the HD setting is enabled for your conferencing software.
- Some video calling apps “Disable GPU hardware acceleration”. Turn off this setting and restart the application.
- Slower internet speeds may reduce the frame rate.
- Many video calling apps reduce the quality of the video to make it easier to transmit.
iContact Camera
Adjust for screen thickness
Slide back the cover at the top of the camera. Select a notch slightly larger than your screen and replace the cover. Slide the flexible cord grip up or down to adjust mounting tension.
Here's a video showing how.
USB adapter and extension
To change from USB C to A, choose this adapter. Should you want a longer cord, try this extension.
Changing focus
The camera is factory set to focus at the best distance from the screen. If you would like to change focus, plug-in the camera and open a video window so you actively see your video. Rotate the lens slowly clockwise 1/4 turn, monitoring focus. If the focus becomes MORE blurry after 1/4 rotation, rotate counterclockwise slowly 1/2 full turn until the camera comes into desired focus. Re-secure with lock nut. You can see a video of this here.
Black shapes on the screen
If you see dark images on your lens when it’s out of focus, there may be dust on the sensor. Dust can easily be removed by unscrewing the lens and cleaning the black sensor with a cotton swab. You can do this with the camera on to quickly check for success. Use rubbing alcohol or screen cleaner on the swab for more persistent dust.
Slow frame rate
- 1. Check to make sure that you have an appropriate amount of lighting in the room.
2. Ensure that the HD setting is enabled for your conferencing software.
3. Some video calling apps “Disable GPU hardware acceleration”. Turn off this setting and restart the application.
4. Slower internet speeds may reduce the frame rate.
5. Many video calling apps reduce the quality of the video to make it easier to transmit.
iContact Camera Pro
Turn off autofocus
By default, the iContact Camera Pro will come equipped with auto focus enabled.
Mac
Download our iContact Control app to adjust a variety of camera settings, including autofocus.
PC
In Search type Camera. In the Camera app, select the focus icon (a square in a circle on the left middle) and drag the slider to the left. Learn more here.
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get in touch with support@icontactcamera.com to and our customer service team will get back to you as soon as possible.