The Proctorio camera view is the live video feed from your webcam that Proctorio captures during an exam when your instructor turns on video monitoring. It shows your face and the space behind you, it is usually recorded for later review, and the exam will not start if Proctorio cannot reach a working camera. What gets recorded depends on the settings your exam administrator chose, not on Proctorio alone.
That is why two students can describe very different experiences. One sees a preview window, scans the room, and gets prompted for camera access. Another opens an exam and sees nothing at all. Both can be normal, because every exam is configured separately.
This guide covers what the camera shows, what else Proctorio can see, and how the exam rules and review process work. It then walks you through testing your webcam before exam day and fixing the usual problems. It sticks to what you can verify on your own screen, so you can walk into the exam knowing what to expect.
Why the Proctorio camera view matters on exam day
The camera view matters because it is often a hard requirement. When video is enabled, a camera that Proctorio cannot detect means you cannot begin. Knowing what is captured also tells you what to prepare.
What Proctorio records and who sees it
Proctorio can combine webcam, screen sharing, audio, and web traffic, and your instructor picks any mix of them. So "does Proctorio record you" and "does Proctorio record your screen" both have the same answer: yes, if the exam administrator enabled that option. Recordings are reviewed by authorized faculty or exam administrators, not by other students.
| Setting | What it captures | What to do about it |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | Video of you and your room | Keep your face fully visible |
| Screen | Everything on your display | Close unrelated windows first |
| Audio | Sound through your microphone | Choose a quiet room |
| Web traffic | Sites visited during the exam | Open only what the exam allows |
Your instructor, not Proctorio, decides whether the camera, screen, microphone, or web traffic is recorded.
When the camera is required and when it is not
Webcam use is not universal. At some schools, the instructor decides whether students need a webcam and microphone at all, so read your exam instructions instead of assuming. If video is required and Proctorio cannot find a camera, the exam will not launch.
Monitoring also belongs to the exam session. The web traffic option logs the sites you visit while the exam is running. It is not a way for Proctorio to read your history from before.
How the camera view works during the exam
Once you start, the camera view appears in two places: the pre-exam checks and the exam toolbar. Knowing both removes most of the surprise.
Pre-exam checks and the toolbar
Pre-exam checks run before the questions appear. Proctorio asks for camera access, and you click Allow. Depending on the settings, it may also check your microphone, screen sharing, and connection, and ask for a room scan. If none of that happens, your exam probably has video turned off, but confirm that in your instructions.
During the exam, the toolbar gives you a few useful controls:
- Live feed: a preview of what the camera sees. Check it regularly to make sure your face is fully visible. You can click it to hide it.
- Live proctor: shows whether a live proctor is monitoring you.
- Battery life: green means full or nearly full, yellow means medium, and red means low.
Hiding the preview changes what you see, not what is captured. Tools like the calculator and whiteboard appear only if your instructor enabled them.
Flags, review, and exam rules
Proctorio does not decide that anyone cheated. It flags moments according to adjustable sensitivity, and a human reviews them. Typical triggers include your face leaving the frame, another person appearing, unusual audio, or leaving the exam window.
The exact exam rules come from your course. Expect to stay in frame, work alone, and use only approved materials. A flag is a prompt for review, not a verdict.
Proctorio collects the evidence, but your instructor reviews it and makes the call.
How to test your Proctorio camera before the exam
Test on the same device and in the same room you will use for the real exam. A test run catches nearly every camera problem while you still have time to fix it.
Run a camera test and a practice exam
Follow these steps a day or two ahead:
- Open a supported browser: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, or Opera.
- Go to Proctorio’s requirements check at proctorio.com/setup and click Allow when it asks for camera access.
- Look at the preview. Your whole face should be visible and lit from the front. If glare off your glasses hides your eyes, tilt your head or adjust the angle slightly.
- Close any app that might be using the camera, such as a video call.
- Ask your instructor whether a practice exam or test run with Proctorio enabled exists. Some courses provide one, and it is the closest thing to the real pre-exam checks.
Set up your space
Put the camera at eye level and a light source in front of you, not behind. Plug in your laptop, since the toolbar tracks battery. If you use an external camera, plug it in firmly before opening the exam. Virtual or software-based video devices are not supported, so use a real camera.
Test on the same device, browser, and room you will use for the real exam.
How to fix a Proctorio camera that will not work
Start with the simple fixes, because most camera failures come from a blocked permission or another app holding the camera. Move to system settings only if those fail.
Quick fixes first
- Refresh the page. The access prompt may have been closed before you answered it.
- Check for a cover or switch. Open any physical shutter, and look for a privacy key or an Fn combination that disables the camera.
- Check the connection. Reseat an external camera or try a different USB port.
- Close other apps that may be using the camera, then restart your device.
Permissions and system settings
If those fixes fail, check permissions in three places:
| Where | What to check |
|---|---|
| Browser | Click the site information icon beside the address bar, turn Camera on, then reload |
| Chrome camera settings | Open chrome://settings/content/camera and select the connected camera |
| Windows | Settings > Privacy & security > Camera |
| Mac | System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera |
Also update your operating system and camera drivers. On Windows, you can do this through Device Manager. If the problem persists, try another supported browser. Contact your instructor or Proctorio support before exam time, not during it.
Most camera failures come from a blocked permission or a second app holding the camera.
Know your settings, then test early
The Proctorio camera view is simple once you know the rules. Your instructor chooses what is recorded, the camera must work if video is required, and humans review any flags. The best preparation is a camera test, a look at your lighting, and a practice run if your course offers one.
If you are juggling a heavy schedule and want more help with your remote exams, you can find WGU OA exam support at takemyproctoredexam.