Technical Issue: Camera access limited to front camera & black screen on Student Verification page

[ahmetfthmt]

Hi everyone,

Hi everyone,

I am a student trying to complete my GitHub Global Campus verification, but I am completely blocked by two technical issues on the verification page. I was advised by GitHub Support to reach out here for potential solutions or visibility.

The Problem:

Camera Selection: The verification interface only activates my device's front-facing camera. There is no option to switch to the rear camera. Since the front camera is fixed-focus and lower resolution, I cannot get a clear, readable photo of my student ID.

Black Screen Bug: To bypass the front camera issue, I tried using virtual camera software (OBS Virtual Camera) to provide a clear image. However, the verification page only displays a black screen for all video inputs, including the virtual camera.

What I’ve Already Tried:

Testing on multiple devices (Laptop, Tablet, Phone).

Disabling hardware acceleration in Chrome/Edge settings.

Clearing browser cache and resetting camera permissions.

Running OBS as an administrator.

Since the automated system refuses to capture a valid image or recognize the camera input, I am unable to proceed with my student application.

Has anyone else encountered this "front camera only" or "black screen" bug recently? Are there any workarounds to force the rear camera or to trigger a manual document upload option?

Is there a way to upload my document manually?

I would appreciate any guidance or help from the community or the GitHub team.

[niphoenixo]

Hi, this issue is usually related to browser camera permissions or how the verification page handles device cameras.

Please try these steps:

1. Use the latest Google Chrome on your mobile phone.
2. Open the verification link directly in Chrome (not inside Gmail, WhatsApp, or any in-app browser).
3. Allow camera permission when prompted.
4. On mobile, tap the camera switch icon (if visible) to change to the rear camera.

For the black screen with virtual cameras:

• Many verification systems block virtual cameras like OBS for security reasons, so this is expected behavior.
• Try using a real camera only.

If it still doesn’t work, try:

• Another mobile device.
• A different network (Wi-Fi vs mobile data).

If the issue persists, you may need to ask GitHub Support to enable manual verification for your account.