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Afinar for Windows · Help

Connect a camera

When Video is on, Afinar films you while you record a take. If Windows finds no camera, Afinar says No camera found. Connect one. To record sound only, turn Video off.

Use your laptop’s camera or a USB webcam

  1. If your laptop has a camera switch, a camera key or a lens shutter, make sure the camera is on and uncovered.
  2. For a USB webcam, plug it into your PC. Most USB webcams work with the driver built into Windows, so you don’t need to install anything.
  3. Open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Cameras. Your camera should be listed under Connected cameras.
  4. If it’s listed under Disabled cameras, select it and choose Enable. This needs an administrator account.
  5. If it isn’t listed at all, try a different USB port.

Then turn Video on in Afinar. If you have more than one camera, the arrow beside the Video switch lists them.

Use an Android phone as a camera

Windows 11 can use an Android phone as a camera. You need:

  • a PC running Windows 11
  • a phone running Android 10 or later
  • the Link to Windows app on the phone, version 1.24022.0 or later

Your phone and your PC must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Sign in to Link to Windows with the same Microsoft account you use on your PC.

  1. On your PC, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Mobile devices.
  2. If your phone isn’t linked yet, select Add device and follow the steps.
  3. Select your phone and turn on Use as connected camera.
  4. In Afinar, turn Video on, then choose your phone from the arrow beside the Video switch.

If your phone asks for camera permission, allow it. If no request appears, allow camera access for Link to Windows in your phone’s settings.

Allow Afinar to use the camera

If Windows blocks the camera, Afinar says Switch Afinar on in Windows Settings, under Camera.

  1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Camera.
  2. Turn on Camera access.
  3. If Afinar is in the list of apps, turn it on. If it isn’t, turn on Let desktop apps access your camera.

If these switches are greyed out, only an administrator can change them.

Close other apps that use the camera

Only one app can use most cameras at a time. If a video call or another camera app is open, close it, then turn Video on again in Afinar.

If you can’t find the app, right-click the taskbar, select Task Manager, select the app and choose End task.

If the camera disconnects during a take

Afinar keeps recording your sound and shows Camera lost. When you stop, the take keeps all your sound and the video filmed before the camera went.

Afinar doesn’t switch to another camera by itself. Before your next take, reconnect the camera or choose another one.

Use a work or school PC

Your organization may turn off the camera on its PCs. Afinar then says This PC’s administrator has turned the camera off for Afinar. Greyed-out camera settings mean the same thing. Ask your IT administrator. Using a phone as a camera also doesn’t work with work or school accounts.