Fix Before Your Eyes webcam not working

Quick answer

Before Your Eyes requires webcam access for its blink-detection gameplay. If the camera is not working, the most common causes are a missing camera permission, the wrong camera being selected as the active input, another app holding the camera, or a privacy or antivirus setting blocking access. The fix depends on which of these is happening on your system.

Check whether the game can access the camera

Start with the camera permission because it is reversible and often the cause. On Windows, open Privacy settings, choose Camera, and confirm that camera access for desktop apps is enabled. On macOS, open System Settings, go to Privacy and Security, select Camera, and make sure the game or the app you are using to run it is allowed. If the game is run through a browser, the browser also needs permission for the site.

A permission check only tells you whether the operating system or browser is allowing access. It does not prove that the camera hardware is working or that the game has selected the right input. If permission is missing, enable it, close the game fully, reopen it, and retest the original symptom.

Confirm the correct camera is selected

Before Your Eyes can fail to detect blinks if the active camera is not the one you expect. Check the game or platform input settings for a camera selection option. If you are playing in a browser, use the browser site settings to see which camera is allowed and change it if needed.

A camera appearing in a device list means the system detects it as a video input. It does not confirm that the lens is uncovered, that the feed is clear, or that the game is receiving frames. Treat input selection as a separate step from hardware verification.

Test the camera outside the game

Open the built-in Camera app on Windows or Photo Booth on macOS and confirm that you can see a live image. If the camera works there but not in Before Your Eyes, the problem is more likely permission, input selection, or another application holding the camera. If the camera does not work in the system app, the issue is more likely hardware, driver, or system-level access.

This test checks the video path from the camera through the operating system. It does not test the game's blink detection, audio, or any browser-specific behavior.

Close other apps that may be using the webcam

Webcams are often exclusive on Windows and macOS. Video calling apps, browser tabs, streaming tools, or another game instance can hold the camera and prevent Before Your Eyes from receiving video. Close other programs that might use the camera, then reopen the game and retest.

A camera can appear available while another process still claims it. If closing other apps fixes the problem, that points to an input conflict rather than a hardware fault.

Check physical and connection basics

If you use an external webcam, confirm that the USB cable is connected directly to the computer, try a different USB port, and check for a physical privacy shutter or lens cover. For a laptop, check whether a camera privacy switch or keyboard shortcut disables the built-in camera.

A direct USB connection rules out some hub-related problems, but a different port may still share the same internal controller. If the camera is not detected in the system app after these checks, driver or hardware failure becomes more likely.

Check antivirus and security software

Some antivirus, endpoint protection, or privacy tools can block webcam access for specific applications. Temporarily check the security software settings for camera protection or application control. If a setting is blocking Before Your Eyes, allow it, restart the game, and retest.

Changing security settings can affect protection beyond this one game. Only adjust a setting you understand, and restore it if it does not resolve the issue or if you are unsure.

What to change and how to know it worked

Make one change at a time, then return to the game and repeat the action that failed. A successful fix means the game shows a live camera feed or responds to blinking as expected. If the camera still does not work after checking permission, input selection, conflicting apps, physical connections, and security software, stop changing settings and test the camera in another application or on another computer.

If the camera fails in the system app and on another device, the camera itself may be faulty. If it works elsewhere but not in Before Your Eyes, the remaining likely causes are application-specific access, browser configuration, or an unsupported camera behavior. At that point, contact the game or platform support with the results of the checks you have already completed.

Webcam video is not microphone audio

Before Your Eyes depends on video capture for blink detection. A microphone problem is a separate input path and will not normally explain a webcam not working symptom. Keep camera access, active video input, and microphone access distinct when diagnosing the issue.