Houseparty is a popular social video chat app that allows you to video chat with up to 8 friends at once. It has fun built-in games and enables spontaneous hangouts and conversations. Here is a guide on how to enable and use your webcam effectively in Houseparty.
Table of Contents
Downloading and Setting Up Houseparty
You can download the Houseparty app for free on iOS and Android devices. There is also a desktop version available as a Chrome extension.
To set up an account:
- Enter your name, email address, date of birth, and phone number
- Verify your phone number with a 4-digit confirmation code
- Connect your contacts from your phone, Facebook, or Snapchat to find friends
- Add friends manually by username or invite contacts via text or email
Once your account is set up, you’re ready to start chatting!
Enabling Camera and Microphone Access
In order for others to see and hear you on video chat, you’ll need to provide Houseparty access to your phone’s camera and microphone.
On iOS:
- Go to Settings > Houseparty
- Enable access to Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Photos
On Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Houseparty
- Turn on permissions for Camera, Microphone, Contacts, Storage
On Desktop:
- Click Allow when prompted to enable camera and microphone access
- You may need to enable camera and microphone access in browser settings
Joining and Starting Video Chats
There are a few ways to join or start a video chat on Houseparty:
1. Open Friends List: See which friends are online and tap their profile to join their chat
2. Notification Icon: Send a friend a wave notification that you want to chat
3. Phone Icon: Start a new video chat, then invite friends to join
4. Lock Icon: Lock a chat to make it private if you only want certain people to join
Adjusting Camera Settings
If you want to tweak your video settings, tap the gear icon in the top right while on a video chat. Here you can:
- Switch between front and rear cameras
- Adjust video quality
- Enable or disable camera effects like black & white filter
- Touch up appearance with smoothing and adjustments
You can also mute your microphone if needed by tapping the mic icon.
Playing Games
One fun feature of Houseparty is the ability to play quick casual games during video chats. Just tap the dice icon and you can choose from games like trivia, drawing games, chips and guac, and more. The whole group in the video chat can participate together!
Troubleshooting Camera and Mic Issues
If your camera or microphone is not working properly in Houseparty, try the following:
- Force quit and relaunch the app
- Enable permissions in device settings for the app
- Allow access when prompted by the app
- Check for OS or app updates
- Reboot your phone
- Ensure camera hardware is clean and not obstructed
With these tips, you’ll be video chatting smoothly with friends and family on Houseparty in no time! Let me know if you have any other questions.
