gesture synth camera not working
Restore Camera Access Step by Step
A failed Gesture Synth camera session usually belongs to one of four stages: the browser blocked permission, the operating system blocked the browser, another application owns the webcam, or the video opens but the hand tracker cannot see a usable frame.
Work through the checks in order and retry once after each change. Do not repeatedly refresh while a permission prompt or operating-system privacy dialog is still unresolved.
Play the instrument ↑- Required
- Video camera permission
- Not required
- Microphone permission
- Secure page
- HTTPS
- Best first retry
- Close other camera apps
Identify Where the Camera Start Failed
If no permission prompt appears, check the camera icon in the address bar because the site may already be blocked. If permission is allowed but the preview remains unavailable, close video calls, recording tools and other tabs that may own the device. If video appears but no hand indicators change, the problem is tracking conditions rather than basic access.
The page must run over HTTPS on the production domain. Embedded previews, copied files and some private-browser policies can restrict camera APIs even when the webcam works in a normal tab.
Reset the Browser Camera Permission
Open the site controls beside the address, set Camera to Allow and choose the intended device when more than one camera is installed. Reload once after changing the permission, then press Start again. Do not enable the microphone; GestureSynth requests video only.
When the camera choice is missing, confirm that the browser itself is current and that the page is not running inside an in-app browser with limited media support. A current standalone Chrome, Edge or Safari release is the safer test surface.
On a device with an internal camera, USB webcam or virtual camera, verify the selected input rather than assuming Allow chose the intended lens. Stop the current session, open the browser's site or camera controls, select the physical camera you can uncover and reload the page once. Press Start and watch for both a live preview and the browser's camera-use indicator. If the preview shows a frozen virtual background or a black external feed, disconnect that input or change the browser choice before troubleshooting hand tracking. Keep the same camera selected while testing light and framing; switching devices between attempts changes resolution, exposure and field of view, which makes the comparison inconclusive. After a stable physical feed appears, show one open palm and then both separated hands. Only then move to finger-shape troubleshooting; permission recovery is complete once the intended live feed is available.
- Allow camera access for gesturesynth.me.
- Select the correct front or external camera.
- Reload once after changing site permission.
- Press Start and wait for the hand model to load.
Check Operating-System Privacy and Camera Conflicts
macOS, Windows, Android and iOS can block camera access at the operating-system level even when the browser shows Allow. Verify that the browser is permitted to use the camera, then fully close and reopen the browser if the operating system requests it.
Quit video meeting software, camera utilities and background recording tools. Some devices share one camera stream poorly; closing the competing application is more reliable than repeatedly switching inputs inside the web page.
When the Video Works but Hands Are Not Detected
Move into soft front light, keep the complete hands and wrists inside the frame and avoid a bright window behind you. Separate the hands so one does not cover the other, then hold a simple pose for a moment instead of moving rapidly near the frame edge.
If sound is the only missing part, the camera is not the root cause. Use the separate audio guide to check mute state, AudioContext startup and the selected output device.
Set up the webcam for hand tracking → · Fix Gesture Synth sound → · Review camera privacy →
Answers before you play
Gesture Synth Camera FAQ
Why did the camera prompt not appear?
The site may already be allowed or blocked. Open the address-bar site controls, check Camera permission and reload once after changing it.
Does Gesture Synth need microphone permission?
No. It requests video camera access for hand tracking and generates sound with Web Audio. A microphone prompt is not required.
Why is the camera busy?
A video meeting, recorder, camera utility or another browser tab may own the device. Close those applications and retry the Start button.
The preview works, so why are no hands detected?
Improve front lighting, include wrists, separate the hands and hold a clear pose. That is a tracking-quality problem rather than a permission failure.