Devices
Random Video Chat on a Chromebook
A Chromebook is ready for random video chat out of the box: it has a camera, a microphone and Chrome. Open omlet.site, allow camera and microphone access when Chrome asks, confirm you're 18 or older, and press Start.
When something goes wrong on ChromeOS, it's almost always one of three things: Chrome's site permissions, the system privacy controls, or rules set by whoever manages the device. Here's how to check each, plus how to pin Omlet to your shelf.
Video chat with strangers on a Chromebook in five steps
- Open Chrome and go to omlet.site. No extension or download is needed.
- Confirm you're 18 or older. Omlet doesn't ask for your name, email address or phone number.
- Allow the camera and microphone when Chrome asks.
- Press Start to meet whoever has waited longest and fits your settings. Matching is Worldwide by default.
- Press Next to meet someone else, or Stop to end. Text chat with emoji runs alongside the video.
Each new partner's video is blurred for a moment while it's checked for nudity on your Chromebook, so a brief Safety check… label is expected.
Allow the camera and mic in Chrome on ChromeOS
Chrome asks the first time Omlet wants your camera and microphone. Click Allow. If you clicked Block, or no prompt appeared:
- Click the icon to the left of the web address.
- Turn on Camera and Microphone, or open Site settings and set both to Allow.
- Reload the page.
You can review every site at chrome://settings/content/camera and chrome://settings/content/microphone, where the dropdown at the top chooses which camera or mic Chrome uses. The guide to allowing camera access in Chrome walks through each screen.
ChromeOS privacy controls and camera switches
Newer ChromeOS versions have system-wide switches that override Chrome. Names may differ slightly by version.
- Privacy controls: Settings → Security and privacy → Privacy controls → Camera access and Microphone access. When they're off, no app or website gets the camera or mic.
- Physical switch or shutter: some Chromebook models have a slider over the lens or a switch on the side that disconnects the camera.
- The Camera app: open it from the Launcher. If the camera works there but not on Omlet, the problem is in Chrome's site settings, not the hardware.
If the camera is black in every app, restart the Chromebook before changing anything else. A restart clears many camera glitches on its own.
For the full list of fixes, see camera not working on Chromebook.
Pin Omlet to your shelf as an app
Chrome can install Omlet as a web app, so it opens from the Launcher in its own window. Nothing comes from a store, and you don't need an Android app.
- Open omlet.site in Chrome.
- Click the install icon at the right of the address bar, or open ⋮ → Cast, save, and share → Install. The wording varies by version.
- Confirm. Omlet appears in your Launcher.
- Right-click its icon on the shelf and choose Pin.
It's the same Omlet with the same permissions. The desktop install guide also explains how to remove it later.
Work-managed Chromebooks
If your Chromebook is managed by an employer or another organization, its administrator can set policies you can't change yourself. These can block specific websites, turn off the camera or microphone, prevent installing web apps, or lock site permissions.
- A blocked-page message, or a setting that's grayed out with a note that it's managed by your organization, means a policy is in control.
- Visit chrome://management to see whether the device or browser is managed.
- Don't try to work around the policy. Use a personal device for video chat and keep work devices for work.
External webcams and headsets on a Chromebook
- USB webcams: most standard USB webcams work on a Chromebook without installing anything. Plug it in, then pick it in chrome://settings/content/camera.
- Wired or USB headsets stop echo and keep your voice clear. Choose the input by opening Quick Settings and clicking the arrow next to the volume slider.
- Bluetooth earbuds work, but their mic switches to a lower-quality call mode while it's in use. That's normal for Bluetooth, not a Chromebook problem.
Chromebook video chat habits for longer sessions
- Keyboard shortcuts: → starts a chat or skips to the next person, and Esc stops. Both keys sit in their usual places on a Chromebook keyboard.
- Plug in. The camera, screen and network running together drain a Chromebook battery faster than browsing.
- Raise the screen to eye level on a stand or books, and tilt the lid so the camera looks straight at you.
- Update ChromeOS: Settings → About ChromeOS → Check for updates. Chrome updates along with it, and updates often fix camera bugs.
- Use text chat if your mic acts up. Messages can be up to 1,000 characters, with emoji.
For Chrome settings that apply on every device, see random video chat in Google Chrome. For posture and lighting on any portable computer, read the laptop setup guide.