Proctorio’s Webcam Image Test
Before some exams, Proctorio runs a Webcam Image Test: an optional step the exam administrator can turn on, which checks that Proctorio can detect a full, unobscured face. Its troubleshooting page lists what makes it fail, and each has a line in the checklist above:
- A blank image: a closed privacy shutter or cover. The Live picture line catches a black frame.
- Poor or uneven lighting: a dark room, or a bright light to one side or behind you. The Well lit line and the quality score flag both, including a window behind you.
- Face not fully in frame: sitting too low, too high or off to one side. The framing guide is already on: keep your whole face inside the oval.
- Face partly covered: hats, other face coverings, and glare from glasses. Proctorio suggests tilting your head slightly, lowering the screen brightness, and taking off non-essential items for the test.
Where your browser can detect faces, the Whole face line confirms one face is in the frame; elsewhere, tick it yourself once the framing guide looks right.
Virtual cameras and other camera trouble
Proctorio’s camera troubleshooting is explicit that virtual or software-based video devices aren’t supported, so the checklist warns when the open camera’s name looks like one (OBS, ManyCam, a splitter and so on). Its other quick checks: refresh the page if you missed the permission prompt, open the shutter or press the camera key (often an F-key or Fn plus an F-key), reconnect an external camera or try another USB port, close other apps that use the camera, and restart. Then make sure Chrome uses the connected camera at chrome://settings/content/camera.
Displays, system and the requirements check
At the time of writing (September 2026), the minimum camera is modest: 320×240 or better, built in or external. Proctorio runs as an extension in Chrome, Edge, Brave or Opera on Windows 10 or newer, macOS 13 or newer, ChromeOS, Ubuntu 18.04 or newer, iOS 13.4 or newer and Android 7 or newer, and it needs only 0.092 to 0.189 Mbps of upload. Exam administrators can restrict extra displays; if yours does, unplug them, since switching a monitor off usually doesn’t count.
When the list is green, close this tab and run Proctorio’s own requirements check at proctorio.com/setup. Check your microphone too. Using another service? See the Honorlock check or the Kryterion check.