If you've updated your Mac computer to macOS 10.15 Catalina or higher, you’ll need to change your security settings to allow screen recording and microphone access for the UserTesting Browser Recorder.
You'll also need to allow camera access if you choose to participate in tests with Face Recording.
Learn how to apply these changes, by following the steps below:
Allow the microphone and screen recording permissions
Allow the microphone and screen recording permissions
When you log into your UserTesting dashboard after upgrading to macOS Catalina or higher, our system will prompt you to update your permission settings. You'll have to make these changes before you can complete a test.
1. First, click Allow to give the UserTesting Browser Recorder access to your microphone.
2. Once you allow access to your microphone, you’ll be prompted to share your screen. Select your screen under Your Entire Screen, and then click Share.
3. To make sure we can record your screen properly, we've added blue circles to the preview. If you see blue circles in this step, click Yes.
4. You should see a “Success!” message at this point. Once you click Done, you’ll be able to continue taking tests using the UserTesting Browser Recorder.
If you didn't see the blue circles in Step 3 and clicked No, you’ll need to allow permissions for our recorder in your Mac’s System Preferences by following these steps:
1. Click the Apple logo, and select System Preferences from the dropdown menu.
2. Then click Security & Privacy in your System Preferences.
3. Click the Privacy tab.
4. Scroll down to Microphone and check the box next to Google Chrome.
5. Complete the same steps for Screen Recording.
6. Once you select the box next to Google Chrome, you’ll be asked to quit Chrome in order to apply these settings. Don’t worry! When you reopen Chrome and visit your UserTesting dashboard, you’ll complete Step 3 and the blue circles should appear in the preview window.
7. Continue through the last steps to complete the setup and return to testing.
Allow the camera permission
If you choose to participate in tests that require Face Recording, you'll need to allow the Camera permission to do so. All tests requiring Face Recording will have a badge and screener asking if you're comfortable sharing your camera.
Once you accept a Face Recording test, you'll be prompted to share your camera to proceed. Click Allow when prompted to do so.
After clicking allow, you should be able to proceed with the test as normal.
If you accidentally click "Block", you'll be shown the following screen and will need to manually enable the Camera permission in your System Preferences.
To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left of your computer screen and select System Preferences from the dropdown menu.
2. Navigate to Security & Privacy in your System Preferences.
3. Click the Privacy tab.
4. Scroll down to Camera and check the box next to Google Chrome.
5. At this point, you'll need to quit Chrome to apply the setting changes.
6. Once you re-open Chrome and navigate back to your UserTesting dashboard, you'll be able to resume the test.
Thanks for taking the time to learn how to enable Microphone, Screen Recording, and Camera permission on macOS 10.15 Catalina or higher. Happy testing!