Camera Not Working
Step-by-step fixes for when the kiosk camera is not working, from browser permissions to hardware checks.
Common Causes
The five most common reasons the camera does not work on the kiosk.
The TempClock kiosk uses your device's camera for facial recognition. If the camera is not working, it is almost always caused by one of these five issues. Work through them in order — most problems are solved within the first two steps.
The browser has not been given permission to use the camera
A different app or browser tab is already using the camera
The kiosk URL must start with https:// (or localhost)
The camera lens is covered, disconnected, or physically blocked
The browser is outdated and does not support the required features
Fix 1: Allow Camera Access in Your Browser
The most common cause — the browser needs permission to use the camera.
When you first open the kiosk URL, the browser should ask you to allow camera access. If you clicked "Block" or dismissed the prompt, the camera will not work until you change the setting. Here is how to fix it in each major browser:
Google Chrome
Click the lock icon in the address bar
Look at the left end of the address bar (where the URL is shown). You will see a small padlock icon or a settings icon. Click it.
Find the Camera permission
In the dropdown that appears, look for Camera. If it says "Blocked", click it and change it to Allow.
Reload the page
Click the reload button or press F5. The kiosk will restart and the camera should now be active.
Safari (iPad / Mac)
Open Safari Settings
On an iPad, go to Settings > Safari > Camera. On a Mac, open Safari, click Safari > Settings (or Preferences), then go to the Websites tab and click Camera.
Find the TempClock website
Look for tempclock.co.uk in the list. Change the setting from "Deny" to Allow.
Reload the kiosk page
Go back to the kiosk page and reload it. The camera should now activate.
Mozilla Firefox
Click the lock icon in the address bar
Click the padlock icon to the left of the URL. Then click Connection Secure (or More Information).
Go to Permissions
Click the Permissions tab. Find Use the Camera and make sure it is set to Allow. Untick "Use Default" if needed.
Reload the page
Close the permissions window and reload the kiosk page.
Fix 2: Close Other Apps Using the Camera
Only one app can use the camera at a time.
On most devices, only one application can use the camera at a time. If another app (such as a video call, another browser tab, or a camera app) is using the camera, the kiosk will not be able to access it.
After closing other apps, reload the kiosk page. The camera should activate now that it is no longer in use by another application.
Fix 3: Make Sure You Are Using HTTPS
The kiosk requires a secure connection.
Modern browsers require a secure connection (HTTPS) before they will allow a website to access the camera. If the kiosk URL starts with http:// (without the "s"), the browser will block camera access entirely.
TempClock kiosk URLs always use HTTPS by default. If you see http:// in the address bar, check that you are using the correct URL from Settings > Kiosk Setup.
Fix 4: Check the Camera Hardware
Make sure the camera is physically accessible.
Sometimes the issue is physical rather than software-related. Check for these hardware problems:
Fix 5: Update Your Browser
An outdated browser may not support the required features.
TempClock's kiosk uses modern browser features for camera access and facial recognition. If your browser is very outdated, it may not support these features. We recommend using the latest version of one of the following browsers:
Recommended — best compatibility and performance
Great on iPad and Mac devices
Works well on Windows devices
Supported, though Chrome is preferred for kiosk use
To check your browser version, go to Settings or About in your browser menu. If your browser is more than a few months old, update it to the latest version.
Testing Your Camera
Verify the camera works outside of TempClock.
If you have tried all the fixes above and the camera still does not work on the kiosk, test whether the camera works at all by using a different application:
Open a video call or camera app
Try opening the device's built-in camera app, or join a test video call (such as Google Meet or Zoom). If the camera works there, the problem is specific to the browser or kiosk settings.
Try a browser camera test
Search for "browser camera test" in your search engine and open one of the test sites. These sites request camera access and show your video feed. If the camera works on these sites, the issue may be with TempClock's specific camera permissions.
Compare results
If the camera works in other apps but not on the kiosk, go back through fixes 1 to 3 above. If the camera does not work anywhere, the issue is with the device or hardware.
Still Not Working?
What to do if none of the above fixes help.
If you have worked through every fix above and the camera still does not work, try these final steps:
When contacting support, let us know: which device you are using, which browser and version, what error message you see (if any), and which of the fixes above you have already tried. This helps us resolve the issue much faster.
Ready to try TempClock?
10-day free trial. All features included. No hidden fees, cancel anytime.