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Random Video Chat in Google Chrome

Updated · 4 min read

Omlet runs as a random video chat in Chrome with nothing to add: no extension, no plugin, no account. Go to omlet.site, click Allow when Chrome asks for your camera and microphone, confirm you're 18 or older, and press Start.

It works the same way in Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS and Android. Below are the Chrome settings that matter when you video chat with strangers: permissions, choosing devices, installing and updates.

Answering Chrome's camera and microphone prompt

The first time you open Omlet, Chrome shows a prompt near the address bar saying omlet.site wants to use your camera and microphone. Depending on your version and device, the choices look like Allow, Allow while visiting the site, Allow this time or Never allow.

  • Allow or Allow while visiting the site keeps access, so Chrome won't ask again.
  • Allow this time gives access until you leave; Chrome asks again on your next visit.
  • Block or Never allow means no camera or mic. You can still text chat, and you can undo it any time.

On Android, the first time a site uses the camera, Android may also ask whether Chrome itself can take pictures and record audio. Allow that too, or Chrome can't pass the camera to any website.

Changed your mind? Click the icon to the left of the web address, turn Camera and Microphone on, and reload. How to allow camera access in Chrome shows every screen.

Choosing which camera and mic Chrome uses

Chrome uses one camera and one microphone for a site. If you have more than one, such as a laptop camera and a USB webcam, pick the right pair on a computer:

  1. Open chrome://settings/content/camera.
  2. Choose your camera from the dropdown at the top of the page.
  3. Do the same at chrome://settings/content/microphone.
  4. Reload Omlet.

If the camera you want isn't in the list, unplug it and plug it back in, close other apps that might be using it, then restart Chrome.

On Android, connect earbuds or a headset before you press Start so Chrome picks them up. More detail, including Edge and Firefox, is in how to change the camera your browser uses.

Install Omlet as a web app from Chrome

On a computer

Click the install icon at the right end of the address bar, or open ⋮ → Cast, save, and share → Install. The wording varies by version. Omlet then opens in its own window and shows up with your other apps. To remove it, open the ⋮ menu inside the Omlet window and choose the uninstall option.

On Android

Tap ⋮ → Install app (or Add to Home screen). Omlet gets a home-screen icon and opens full screen. Random video chat on Android covers phone-specific settings such as battery saver and Bluetooth.

Installed or not, it's the same Omlet using the same Chrome profile, so your permissions, and a country filter unlocked in Chrome on that device, carry over to the installed app.

Keep Chrome up to date

Live video depends on browser features that improve with each release, and many camera bugs disappear after an update.

  • Windows and Mac: ⋮ → Help → About Google Chrome. Chrome checks for updates and asks you to relaunch.
  • Linux: updates usually arrive through your package manager or software center.
  • Chromebook: Chrome updates with ChromeOS. Go to Settings → About ChromeOS → Check for updates.
  • Android: update Chrome the same way you update your other apps.

If your Chrome is managed by an employer, an administrator may control updates and some settings.

Extensions, Incognito and other Chrome quirks

  • Extensions: some privacy extensions limit or switch off WebRTC, the technology live video in the browser relies on, which can stop calls from connecting. Test in an Incognito window, where extensions are off unless you've allowed them, to see whether one is the cause.
  • Incognito and the country filter: an Incognito window starts with fresh site data, so a country filter you unlocked in a normal window won't be there. Clearing Chrome's site data for omlet.site removes it too.
  • Several profiles: each Chrome profile keeps its own permissions and data. Allow the camera in the profile you actually use.
  • Another tab holding the camera: a video call open in another tab or app can keep the camera busy. Close it and reload Omlet.
  • Muted site: if you can't hear your partner on a computer, check that Omlet's tab isn't muted. A crossed-out speaker on the tab is the sign; right-click the tab and choose Unmute site.
  • Black video with the camera light on: try switching off Use graphics acceleration when available in Chrome's System settings, relaunch, and test again.

Talk to strangers in Chrome: quick reference

What you needWhere to find it in Chrome
Omlet's site permissionsIcon left of the address → Site settings
Default camerachrome://settings/content/camera
Default microphonechrome://settings/content/microphone
Graphics accelerationchrome://settings/system
Version and updateschrome://settings/help
Whether Chrome is managedchrome://management

If the camera still won't start, camera not working in Chrome lists fixes by symptom. On Windows, also check the system privacy switches described in random video chat on Windows PC.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Chrome extension for random video chat?

No. Omlet runs in Chrome as a normal website using WebRTC, which is built into the browser. Be wary of extensions that promise extra video chat features or unlocked filters: they aren't connected to Omlet, and some can read the pages you visit.

Does Omlet work in Microsoft Edge and other Chromium browsers?

Yes, Omlet works in Edge, and its permission and install steps are very close to Chrome's. Other browsers built on Chromium often work too, but Chrome and Edge are the ones to try first if something misbehaves.

Why does Chrome keep asking for camera permission?

You probably chose Allow this time, which only lasts for that visit. Click the icon to the left of the address, set Camera and Microphone to Allow, and Chrome will remember your choice for omlet.site.