An external webcam/camera that isn't working properly can be a frustrating experience. Below are a few things to try in order to get it working with Cloud Stop Motion. Please note that a live feed is required for the camera to be compatible with Cloud Stop Motion and so without one it will not work. All webcams have a live feed, however not all regular cameras do. Please check this before attempting to use a regular camera.


Suggestions to get your camera working:


1. Hit the refresh button on your web browser


This will force the app to refresh itself and in doing so it may also create new 'permission' prompts asking you to allow the Cloud Stop Motion app (browser) to access any cameras (integrated or USB/externally connected) for the purposes of animation. It's unlikely, but permission may have lapsed or been reset by a system update and if access is not being granted then you will only ever see a black screen. 


 

To change camera permissions manually, please see our article titled 'How do I change camera permissions?'


2. Check if you have any other apps running in the background that might already be using or 'stealing' access to the camera such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom, for example


It is not uncommon for people to use these other apps that require a camera and once they have finished there, immediately clicked across to their already open tab for Cloud Stop Motion, forgetting their camera is still being used by Zoom. They've then had to ensure Zoom is fully closed before returning to Cloud Stop Motion and 'refreshing' their camera choice which has then picked up the camera again.


To 'refresh' your camera or search for external webcams, navigate to the camera icon near the top when using Cloud Stop Motion. Once you click on this icon a pop-out box will appear where, on the first page, you will see a red 'capture image' button with a sectioned off drop-down arrow located on the right of this. Clicking here produces a dialogue box advising which camera is currently being utilized for the animation and a further button to allow for a 'search for cameras'. Finally, clicking here will perform a brief check of all ports to see if the app can communicate with any alternative cameras it hasn't already registered. 


 

3. Check your USB ports to see if they are working properly


Very occasionally, a USB port may become faulty. This could be because of wear and tear over time (especially if other peripherals are routinely plugged in or taken out) or liquid/dust getting into the port. Try switching the camera to a different port or plugging in something that you know works, for example a keyboard or mouse, to see if that functions as expected.

Some USB ports also do not support some newer peripherals due to the increased bandwidth required to transfer data. If you have a high end camera, try and make sure it is connected to a USB 3.0 port to take full advantage of this and not a USB 2.0 port. You can tell what kind a USB port is by looking at the colour. If it is black then it is USB 2.0 and if it is blue then it is USB 3.0.



4. Check your USB cable for data loss - this usually occurs when using a USB cable extension


Passive extension cables aren't supported by the USB spec. In general, cables are designed for their length, Long cables have larger wires than short cables as well as other design differences. The data losses and signal degradation in each cable are additive so even if the combined cable length is less than the suggested limit (5 meters for USB 2.0 and 3 meters for USB 3.0), the component cables may not support the combined length. In this instance, we would recommend removing the extension cable and/or trying to move the webcam closer to the computer.





This solution was made for Cloud Stop Motion version 2.00.58. We hope it helped. If you have any further questions or queries about Cloud Stop Motion or just want to provide some feedback, leave us a message at animate@cloudstopmotion.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!