How to Use Elgato Facecam in Discord

The short answer

Discord treats an Elgato Facecam like any other USB webcam. Connect the camera, make sure your operating system lets Discord use it, then open Discord's User Settings, go to Voice & Video, and choose the Facecam in the Camera dropdown. The preview in that same panel shows whether Discord is receiving a picture.

Two details matter. First, Elgato sells several Facecam models, and their connection requirements and features differ, so check your model's documentation for its USB requirements and whether it has a built-in microphone. Second, a working preview only proves that Discord can see the camera. It does not prove how your video will look to others in a call. That depends on your connection, the call, and Discord's own video settings.

Before you start

• Use the cable that came with the Facecam, or one that meets the same specification, and plug it directly into a computer port instead of a hub if you can.
• Use a port that meets your model's USB requirements. Webcams that send high-resolution, uncompressed video often need a high-speed port, and a slower port can cause the camera to disappear or the picture to fail.
• Install or update the Discord desktop app. You can also use Discord in a web browser, but then the browser handles camera access and has its own permission prompts.
• Optionally, install Elgato's Camera Hub software if you want to adjust picture settings such as exposure, focus or field of view. Which controls appear, and whether settings stay on the camera, depends on your model and firmware.
• Close other apps that might be using the camera, such as streaming software or other video-call apps. A webcam is usually available to only one app at a time.

Step 1: Confirm the computer detects the Facecam

Before opening Discord, check that the operating system recognizes the camera. On Windows, open the Camera app or look under Cameras in Device Manager. On macOS, open an app that shows a webcam preview, such as Photo Booth or FaceTime, and choose the Facecam from its camera menu. If Camera Hub is installed, it should also show a live picture.

Success check: you see a live image from the Facecam in another app. If no app can find the camera, the issue is with the connection or the device, not Discord. Try a different port or cable before going further.

Step 2: Allow Discord to use the camera

Operating systems can block camera access for individual apps. If Discord is blocked, the camera may still be detected while Discord shows a blank or black preview.

• Windows: open Settings, go to Privacy & security, then Camera. Make sure camera access is on, that apps are allowed to access the camera, and that desktop apps are allowed to access it as well, since the Discord app is a desktop app.
• macOS: open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, then Camera, and turn on access for Discord. If Discord isn't listed, it will usually ask for permission the first time it tries to use the camera. After you change this setting, you may need to quit and reopen Discord.
• Browser: when Discord asks for the camera, allow it in the browser prompt. If you dismissed or blocked the prompt, change the camera permission in the browser's site settings for Discord, then reload the page.

Success check: Discord appears in the allowed list (Windows or macOS) or the browser shows camera access as allowed for Discord. This shows that permission exists, not that video is being captured yet.

Step 3: Select the Facecam in Discord

• Open Discord and click the gear icon next to your username to open User Settings.
• Under App Settings, choose Voice & Video.
• Scroll to Video Settings and open the Camera dropdown.
• Select the entry for your Elgato Facecam. The exact name shown can vary by model.
• Click Test Video, or look at the preview area, to start a preview.

Success check: the preview shows a live, moving image from the Facecam. If you see a different camera, such as a laptop's built-in webcam, choose the Facecam again from the dropdown. If you see nothing, go to the troubleshooting section below.

Step 4: Test in a real call

The settings preview runs on your own computer. To check what other people receive, join a voice channel or start a direct call with someone you trust, turn on your camera with the camera button, and ask them to describe what they see. A private server with a second account or a friend works well for this.

This test shows whether video is being sent and received, and gives a rough idea of sharpness and smoothness. Discord may lower video resolution or frame rate depending on your connection, the other person's connection, the type of call, and your account's video limits. So a sharp local preview and a softer picture in the call can both be normal. If the picture in the call is consistently poor, check your network before changing camera settings.

Adjusting the picture

Discord itself provides very few image controls. To change brightness, exposure, white balance, zoom or framing, use Elgato's Camera Hub. If your model saves settings to the camera, those adjustments carry over into Discord even when Camera Hub isn't running. If they don't seem to stick, check your model's documentation to see how it stores settings.

Lighting usually makes a bigger difference than any setting. A soft light in front of you and no bright window directly behind you helps any webcam produce a cleaner, steadier image.

Microphone and audio

Camera and microphone are configured separately in Discord. Check your Facecam model's specifications to see whether it includes a microphone. If it doesn't, or if you prefer a dedicated mic or headset, select that device instead.

• In User Settings > Voice & Video, choose your microphone under Input Device and your headphones or speakers under Output Device.
• Use Mic Test (Let's Check) to speak and play back your voice. A moving input meter shows that Discord is detecting the microphone and receiving sound.
• Listen to the playback to check clarity. Detection and a moving meter don't guarantee that your voice is clear; for that, you need to listen.
• If the meter doesn't move, check the operating system's microphone privacy settings in the same way as the camera permissions above.

There is no single recommended input level for this setup. Use Discord's meter and playback as a guide: your voice should register clearly without the playback sounding distorted, and background noise should stay low when you aren't speaking. Input sensitivity can be set automatically or adjusted by hand if Discord cuts off your words or picks up too much noise.

Backgrounds

You have two separate choices here. A physical background is whatever is actually behind you, and the Facecam captures it as it is. A virtual background is an effect Discord adds after capture. In the desktop app, Discord offers video background options next to the camera preview, such as blurring your surroundings or replacing them with an image. Some options, including uploading your own image, may require a paid Discord subscription.

Virtual effects can cause edge artifacts around your hair and shoulders, especially in poor lighting. A tidy, evenly lit physical background usually looks more natural. After choosing a background, check the preview again and in a test call. Note that these are live call effects and are separate from editing the background of a still photo.

If the Facecam doesn't work in Discord

Symptom | Likely cause | What to try

Facecam not listed in Discord | Camera not detected by the computer, or Discord started before the camera was connected | Confirm it works in another app, then fully quit and reopen Discord

Black or blank preview | Camera blocked by OS or browser permissions, or another app is using it | Recheck privacy settings; close streaming and video-call apps

Preview works but the call shows no video | Camera not turned on in the call, or a network problem | Click the camera button in the call; test with another person or network

Camera disconnects or flickers | Cable, port or hub issue | Use the original cable and a direct port that meets your model's requirements

Picture is dark, washed out or blurry | Lighting or camera settings | Adjust in Camera Hub; improve the lighting in front of you

Video looks soft in calls | Discord adjusting quality for bandwidth or account limits | Check your connection; compare with the local preview

If none of these steps help, check for updates to Discord, Camera Hub and the Facecam's firmware, and try turning hardware acceleration on or off in Discord's Advanced settings, restarting Discord after each change. If the camera fails in every app on more than one computer, contact Elgato support.

What this guide doesn't cover

No model-specific specifications, measured results or exact quality limits were available for this guide. For details such as supported resolutions and frame rates, USB requirements, microphone availability or which Camera Hub controls your Facecam supports, use Elgato's documentation for your specific model. Discord's menu names and video limits can also change over time, so if a setting has moved, look for it under Voice & Video in User Settings.