Set Browser Permissions

Gather must request permission to use your mic and camera from the web browser. Here's how to check your browser and system settings to make sure you have a smooth experience in Gather. 

Note: Right now, Gather is best supported in Chrome and Firefox on a desktop. Safari on desktop is in beta has limited support. 

Chrome Settings

When you first enter Gather in Chrome (or if you've cleared your Chrome history), you will see a pop-up asking for camera and microphone access permissions. Select Allow in order to provide the best experience in Gather.

A view of the camera and mic permission request in Chrome when entering a Gather Space. The browser pop-up requesting permissions is outlined in red.Select Allow in the Chrome site permission settings to enable audio and video.

If you block Gather from accessing your camera or microphone in Chrome, you will see a camera icon in the upper right of your site address bar with a red "x" to indicate that you have denied the site access. You can select this icon to change your preferences.

A red arrow points to the camera icon in the right of the URL bar. The camera icon has a red x over it. Clicking the red x opens a pop-up that displays current site settings for camera and microphone.Select the blocked camera or mic icon at the right of the URL bar in Chrome to view and change camera and mic settings.

Select the option to allow Gather access to your camera. You may need to select the mic icon on your video preview to change permissions for the mic. Refresh the page for the changes to go into effect.

You can view or change your permissions at any time by selecting the lock icon to the left of the URL. Toggle the Camera and Microphone on. If you do not see Camera and Microphone, select Site settings.

A red arrow points to a lock icon to the right of. the site URL in the browser. The lock icon is circled in red and the site permissions pop-up displays.Access the Privacy and Security settings by selecting the lock icon next to the URL.

If you select Site settings, Chrome's Settings open to the Security and Privacy tab. The base Gather URL should appear at the top of the page (app.gather.town). Set the Microphone and Camera to Allow.

The Camera and Microphone options are set to Allow and outlined in red under Permission in Chrome's settings.From Chrome's Site settings, in the Security and Privacy tab, allow the camera and microphone.

Firefox Settings

When you first enter Gather in Firefox (or if you've cleared your Firefox history), you will see a pop-up asking for camera and microphone access permissions. Select Allow to provide the best experience in Gather.

A view of the mic permission request in Firefox when entering a Gather Space. The screen is of the page where you select your name and avatar.Select Allow in the Firefox site permission settings to enable audio and video.

If you block Gather from accessing your camera or microphone in Firefox, you will see camera and mic icons with slashes through them in the URL bar to indicate that you have denied the site access. You can select these to change your preferences.

A view of the Firefox site permission settings pop-up. A red arrow points to Select the "X" next to each blocked permission in the Firefox site privacy settings to allow the camera and/or mic. Refresh the page to apply the updated settings.

Safari (Beta)

Safari (on desktop, not mobile) will prompt you for camera and microphone permissions when you first log into a space

A view of the Safari message Safari will prompt you for camera and microphone permissions separately when you first log into a space. Select Allow to permit Gather to use your microphone and to use your camera.

  • If you select Don't Allow and want to change the setting, refresh the page and try again.
  • If you select Never for This Website, you can change the setting in your Safari Preferences. 

In the Safari menu, select Preferences, and select the Websites tab. Scroll down to Camera and Microphone. Find app.gather.town on the list of websites to the right, then set the drop down menu to Allow (or Ask, if you wish to be prompted every time).

A view of the Safari preferences modal with the Camera selection active. A red outline is drawn around Websites in the Top Nav of the modal, around Camera and Microphone in the left nav of the mobile, and around the Allow drop-down next to gather.town. If you selected "Never for this website" in Safari and want to change to Allow or Ask, open Safari Preferences. Scroll to Camera and then Microphone and select Allow or Ask for "gather.town."