Please use the guide below to get started with video calling on Pencil Spaces. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact live support or email us directly. You can find more details about how to reach us here.

1. Why do I need to do this?

2. [Desktop] First-time set-up on macOS

​3. [Desktop] First-time set-up by browser:

4. How can I verify that everything is working correctly?

5. Something is still not working. What should I do?

For security reasons, various browsers and operating systems prevent applications from accessing the user's camera and microphone without their permission.

To get you started with video calling on Pencil Spaces, we'll need you to allow us access to use your devices in the call. Don't worry, this process usually takes less than 30 seconds. Information on how to do this on various popular devices and browsers can be found below.

The steps below apply only if you're using macOS and Google Chrome. You'll only need to do this once, but you'll also need to follow the instructions in Section 3 to grant permissions within your browser as well.

If you run into any other issues related to video conferencing in Pencil Spaces, see this article for further reference.

The flow to granting permissions can vary by browser and Desktop. Please click the link for the relevant section below to find instructions for your browser.

Don't know your browser? Visit What's my Browser and it should tell you your browser in big letters at the top of the page.

Once you create your Pencil account and enter your first Space in Pencil, you'll need to give us permission to use your Video and Microphone through your browser settings.

1) Click "Request Permissions" and then click "Allow" when you see this at the top of your page.

2) If you did not enable your camera and microphone permissions or if you clicked "Block", you will need to follow the instructions in this section.

3) Once you have clicked "Allow", you can change your device settings to ensure that the correct microphone, speaker, and webcam are selected.

4) You can turn on your microphone and video by clicking the two icons on the communications toolbar as seen below:

Although Pencil is best supported by Google Chrome, users can also access Pencil through other web browser platforms such as Safari.

1) Once you create your Pencil account and enter your first Space in Pencil, you'll need to give us permission to use your Video and Microphone through your browser settings. When you try to start or join a call, you will receive a pop-up that will ask you to give Pencil Spaces permission to use your camera and microphone.

2) Click the "Allow" button, and you will now be able to use your camera and microphone in Pencil Spaces.

If this does not work as intended, follow the steps in this article.

1) Once you join a new Space, you can click the "Start Call" button at the top right corner to begin set up.

2) As soon as you click Start, you'll see a notification from your browser, asking you to grant Camera and Microphone permissions.

3) Click "Remember this decision" and click "Allow".

4) As soon as you have granted these permissions, you may configure your camera and microphone settings, and Join the call by clicking the green "Join Call/Start Call" button.

Still not working? Follow the instructions in this section.

1) Once you join a new Space, you can click the "Start Call" button at the top right corner to begin set up.

2) As soon as you click Start, you'll see a box appear that asks you to grant camera and microphone permissions. Click "Request Permissions" at the bottom right corner.

3) You'll see a notification from your browser, asking you to grant Camera and Microphone permissions. Click "Allow".

4) You will then be able to configure your camera and microphone. To begin the call or to join an ongoing call. Click the green "Start call" button and you'll be all set!

Still not working? Follow the instructions in this article.

1) Click the green Start/Join call button at the top right corner of your screen.

2) If your permissions are enabled correctly, your video will load and the "Audio/video settings" pop-up will appear. Here, you can choose your webcam, microphone, and speaker for the video call.

If it seems as though something is wrong, or some of the tech still isn't working, please take a read through these two troubleshooting articles for Video & Audio.

3) Click "Adjust video and audio" to test your camera, microphone, and speaker or to change your input/output devices. Once everything is set up to your liking, click "Done"

4) Then, click "Done" and then click the green "Start Call" button.

5) Then, click the green "Start/Join Call" button and your video call should run smoothly!

If you are still experiencing issues sharing your screen, please reach out to our team so that we can help out as quickly as possible. Either: