Powertoys: [VideoConferenceMute] tracker for current known issues

[enricogior]

For idea/enhancement please see https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6374

_Note: strikethrough means it's fixed in the dedicated branch but not released yet._

Software/Hardware compatibility:

• Surface internal mic stops working - https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6438
• Oculus Rift S not working if VideoConference driver is installed - https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6596
• virtual background in Zoom doesn't work - https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6297
• Logitech Webcam C920 issue with video for MS Teams - https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6338
• Lenovo YOGA https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6888

Virtual driver:

• with some webcams, it fails to properly forward the video stream
• rename driver to "PowerToys Webcam driver" - https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6241

Lowlevel keyboard hook:

• prevet hotkey event to be passed to the next handler - [OneNote conflict w/ WIN + N]

Camera overlay image:

• it is stretched to fill the current video frame size instead of respecting its proportions
• in some cases it may be shown flipped horizontally (mirrored) https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6424
• in some case it may not show up at all or show distorted/wrong colors

Shortcut:

• Win+Shift+A to toggle mic mute doesn't work as expected https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6246#issuecomment-696644366

Status toolbar:

• it used .png instead of .svg images (causing to be fixed size and too small on high DPI screen)

Camera:

• when turning off the camera, the physical camera remains on, it would be better to turn if off https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6246#issuecomment-717900700

Microphone:

• does not mute if using Nvidia RTX Voice for background audio suppression - https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6300

Code cleanup:

• disable autoupdate pre-release functionality when the branch is merged in master

Debugging:

• add debug tool (to the Settings page) to report the physical webcam info

Telemetry:

• add telemetry for the driver

Installer:

• Get signed by HDC - #6266

Localization:

• move all strings to .resx file

Azure CI:

• install WDK to enable building the VideoConference module

Fixed in 0.24

Software/Hardware compatibility:

• DroidCam - https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6246#issuecomment-686905540

Camera overlay image:

• image dialog doesn't work when running settings as admin

Status toolbar:

• it shows always, even when the option to hide it is on
• it always use the light theme
• always open on startup even when disabled https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6396

Microphone:

• not all microphones are muted
• offer option to select which microphone to mute

Settings UI:

• settings info for hotkeys valid modifiers - https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6246#issuecomment-685450269

Code cleanup:

• move VideoConferenceViewModel.cs from Settings.UI to Settings.UI.Lib
• move toolbar out of the VideoConferenceSettings

Telemetry:

• add telemetry for settings

[crutkas]

Was doing a toggle and i don't think we're stopping the bubble through for keyshortcuts. I was working on the release notes and in a meeting and the hotkey was bubbling down to the text box.

[enricogior]

~Hotky info is missing:~
EDIT: this is now fixed https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/pull/6432

[crutkas]

classic OneNote overrides Win+N and causes one of their notes to pop up

[niels9001]

I'm getting a green flickering screen when using the integrated webcam on my Lenovo P52. @enricogior Let me know if you need some webcam information or want to test out stuff.

[enricogior]

@niels9001
I also have a Lenovo laptop and I have the same problem, hopefully we will have a fix soon.

[EdgeOfControl]

On a Surface device with a 3:2 aspect ratio screen the scaling for the toolbar is off and makes it really hard to read the text on it.

[nvdweem]

Not sure if this is part of "with some webcams, it fails to properly forward the video stream", but VideoConference doesn't see my virtual webcam:

MS Teams does:

[enricogior]

@nvdweem
thank you for reporting the problem.

[ZackStone]

An option to hide the mic/cam notification after X seconds, even if they are disabled, should be useful.
I always keep them disabled and only enable them when I need them.

Thank you guys, this app is great! : )

[enricogior]

@ZackStone
this issue is for actual bug, for suggestion, please use https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6374

[mahoekst]

After a reboot the virtual camera just show a lot of flickering with no camera image. I saw this happening to another colleague as well. Is that being tracked somewhere?

[igrblkv]

Даже когда [VideoConference] отключено в Настройках при перезагрузке иконки Камеры и Микрофона продолжают появляться. Помогает зайти в настройки и вкл.-выкл.

[cjmaxik]

@igrblkv already known, #6396

[EdgeOfControl]

Turning off the microphone mutes all audio from the computer temporarily. Computer is a Surface Laptop 3 (i5/8/256) running Windows 10 2004 stable build 19041.450. This issue manifests in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra and in Zoom.

[Daksh777]

Is it possible to change the default camera device to PowerToys one? Some websites do not offer an option to change the camera device and uses the OS' default camera device so is it possible to select a default camera device?

[crutkas]

Is it possible to change the default camera device to PowerToys one? Some websites do not offer an option to change the camera device and uses the OS' default camera device so is it possible to select a default camera device?

@Daksh777 can you give us a website so we can test? What browser are you running.

[Daksh777]

@Daksh777 can you give us a website so we can test? What browser are you running.

@crutkas Sorry, I meant app. I am using an Android Emulator called MEmu which doesn't have an option to switch camera input. Can something be done to make PowerToys the default camera app?

[andyrdean]

I'm getting very unreliable operation on my Surface Laptop 3. Most of the time I get a flickering random camera output, but occasionally if I toggle cameras, I can get it to work properly. Looking closely when it's flickering the top few lines are correctly forwarding video, but it's as if some random bytes are then injected into the stream making it "out of sync" for the rest of the frame. When it is flickering if I mute the camera I correctly get a black output. On the occasions it does correctly forward the video, curiously when I mute I get a few lines of black, the rest of the frame is a fixed purple coloured gradient.

[igrblkv]

@igrblkv already known, #6396

Одно наблюдение: Ошибка присутствует только на ПК без микрофона и камеры. На планшете с имеющимися в наличии микрофоном и камерами всё прекрасно отключается и больше не появляется после перезагрузки.

---

Crutkas: added translation

One observation: The error is present only on a PC without a microphone and camera. On a tablet with an available microphone and cameras, everything turns off perfectly and no longer appears after a reboot.

[yuyoyuppe]

@igrblkv будет исправлено в следующем релизе :)

[marcelkornblum]

Are you logging microphones that are not muted/unmuted here? My Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 mic is unaffected when I toggle the mute (the camera feed itself works, although I have issues using a virtual webcam)

[yuyoyuppe]

@marcelkornblum alright, we'll test it. btw, what are your issues with the virtual webcam?

[marcelkornblum]

The are a couple, though fairly minor.

Logitech uses video processing software to e.g. zoom, affect colour balance etc. (It's the software that comes bundled with the driver). The feed displayed by the power toys virtual camera hasn't got any of this processing in it.

Additionally, I have an app (ChromaCam) that adds a background to the actual webcam feed and registers as a webcam itself. When I use this as the source for power toys camera I just get a black feed.

[yuyoyuppe]

@marcelkornblum thanks for the feedback! I wonder if fixing the ChromaCam app issue could fix other similar known issues as well...

[marcelkornblum]

No problem - let me know if there's anything I can help with or test out for you, and thanks for the hard work!

[jgrisham]

The Audio/Video mute function is a great idea - thank you all for working on this!

... but regarding the default hotkey _(the conflict that @crutkas mentioned above)_:

• WIN-N is used by default to create a new OneNote quick note window _(sort of like a cloud-synced sticky note)_ in all applications, including Windows Explorer. _(If you have OneNote[1] installed and didn't know about this, try it now - it's really, really handy!)_

Perhaps a better default keybinding could be chosen, prior to release, that could be non-blocking with a major Microsoft product.

Two suggestions; neither _seem_ to do anything by default on the most recent version of Windows 10 Enterprise, at least not in Edge or in Windows Explorer:

• "WIN-Z" -- on a US English keyboard they are adjacent
• "WIN-SPACE" might even make more sense, as the space bar by itself is commonly used for play/pause _(or stop)_. Additionally, the space bar is a nice, large, and consistent physical target - if the kid or dog jumps up on my lap during a call, Win-SPACE will be easier to hit, and most or all localized keyboards should have a spacebar near the Windows key

_Notes:_
[1] While "Classic" OneNote / "OneNote 2016" was once slated for replacement, late last year it was reinstated as an active product alongside the lighter-featured "OneNote for Windows 10" UWP app. _The original, non-UWP version, is now installed by default with O365/M365 installations._

• "Classic" OneNote _(rebranded from "OneNote 2016" to just "OneNote")_ will now be with us for five years or more, as "(n)ew support dates for OneNote 2016 now align with Office 2019 (October 10, 2023 for mainstream support and October 14, 2025 for extended support)"

[enricogior]

@jgrisham
this is an experimental release, and the key is configurable in case someone is running the old OneNote.

[jgrisham]

@enricogior said:

this is an experimental release, and the key is configurable in case someone is running the old OneNote.

Fair. I brought this up as I saw mentioned in an article that feature this might be included in a Microsoft Store release of PowerToys later this year — it seems a minor change would be easier earlier in the pipeline before more users were committed. Even though it is configurable, it seems worthwhile to consider the initial default user experience.

You’re right, though, this is totally not a priority until leaving experimental status.

To clarify, in addition to the unrelated international keyboard concerns: it’s no longer the ‘old OneNote’, but now the version installed by default with all new Office / M365 installations and deployments (link above), after which the conflicting key binding is active system-wide, not just when OneNote is open.

[filipepreve]

Hi! Tried to disable video conference toggle, but it always starts as "on" on PC restart.
It requires to enable it (with no effect), and disable it again, on every rebooting.

[enricogior]

@filipepreve
that issue has been fixed, it will be available in the next VideoConferenceMute release.

[marcelkornblum]

I have another small one sorry ...

When I use the keyboard shortcut - e.g. Win+Shift+A to toggle mic mute, it doesn't catch the keypress even when the toggle works. I'm not sure the technical term but if I am in a text input field, a capital "A" character is sent through as well as the mic muting/unmuting, which feels like unexpected behaviour.

[enricogior]

@marcelkornblum
thanks for reporting the issue, I added it in the first comment under the Shortcut section.

[marinegeek23]

I looked through the list and it appears the issue I'm having is struck out, indicating fixed? Every time I reboot, PowerToys displays the Video Conference widget in the top right of my primary screen, even when disabled. I have to open PowerToys Settings and enable/re-disable to get it to disappear.

[enricogior]

@marinegeek23
this list all the known bugs in 0.22, those that are struck out are currently resolved and the fix will be available in the next release.

[TheChilliPL]

The overlay shows up when starting PowerToys with Video Conference disabled. Disappears if you turn it on and off again.

[enricogior]

@TheChilliPL
already fixed, it will be resolved in next release.

[marinegeek23]

@marinegeek23
this list all the known bugs in 0.22, those that are struck out are currently resolved and the fix will be available in the next release.

Understood - I must have missed that designation somewhere. Thank you for letting me know!

It's only the first line up there. Sorry I didn't read from top to bottom :(

[psycho2288]

esolved in next release.

similar issue here. where video conference just show up even if it's disabled in the console. Can you please specify which version this fix is included in?

thanks

[enricogior]

@psycho2288

Can you please specify which version this fix is included in?

There are no new releases yet for the VideoConferenceMute experiemental module.

[CraigN]

Installed and tested using Skype video settings dialog. The preview video flickers black and predominantly white frames only. Original webcam works just fine. Works great in Zoom and Google Meet. Only seems to be an issue in Skype. During capturing of a screen recording I managed to get it to work a few times but it was not consistent.

The screen recording below shows that it appears that part of the top of the frame is working.

Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 2004 (20221.1000)
Camera: HP HD Webcam (Driver SunplusIT 5.0.8.22)
Skype version 8.53.0.77 Application version 14.53.77.0

[enricogior]

@CraigN
thanks for reporting. The issue is known and under investigation.

[Jeej]

Hi,

Yesterday I tried the preview version of the PowerToys to test out the video conference mute tool. My understanding of it is that you quickly mute your webcam and / or microphone with keyboard short cut. This is something I really like because I have different calls in different Microsoft Teams environment, some I want camera, sometimes not. Also I mute my mic. when I am not talking so that no background will be send.

The camera part of PowerToys is working, I haven't had any problem with it. The microphone part I have troubles with. I don't know if I should create a new issue or write it down here, so now I will write it down here first.

In teams my audio / video settings are like this:

So I have a sony wh-1000xm3, in Teams it is set to my audio device and speaker and microphone is also set to the headset. It doesn't matter if I mute the microphone with PowerToys or unmute it, the microphone is always one. Am I missing some setting or should I do something else?

Also useful information: I have a Dell laptop with MaxxAudioPro, maybe that is creating troubles?

[enricogior]

@Jeej
thanks for the feedback. It's a known issue and it should be fixed in the next release (24.0) that we are planning to release soon.

[SeraphimaZ]

Camera overlay image text input is clean after closing and reopening settings, though the selected image is still used when the camera is muted.

[ghost]

I am getting the same issue as @CraigN (in v0.24) but it worked fine in v0.22

[Alfacharlie1973]

I am using v.024. I am having the same flickering issues (primarily black color) that other users have reported. This only happens when using MS Teams. It works fine with Webex however. While flickering, if I press Wn + Z, the overlay image is shown perfectly.

I am using an HP laptop with Windows 10 1909.18363.1082. The issue happens whether I use the HP Laptop Camera or a Logitech c925e camera. The Logitech camera is attached directly to the laptop.

After switching back and forth between the two cameras from the PowerToys settings, the driver seems to crash and it no longer works (light on the camera indicating use no longer turns on, overlay does not work either). I tried to use the Camera app afterwards, I got the following error message "Can't start your camera. If you're sure the camera is connected and installed properly, try checking for updated drivers. If you need it, here's the error code: 0xA00F4241 (0xC00D36B2)"

[ghost]

I am also using an HP Laptop, @CraigN is using the HP HD Webcam. I think it is something to do with HP laptop cameras. But note that it had worked fine in v0.22

[ghost]

UPDATE: It is working in Zoom meetings as @CraigN mentioned. But I had that problem ☝️ when I was testing it out using the Camera app

[Alfacharlie1973]

@alannt777, given that the cameras seem to work with Webex, Zoom and other tools, this seems a problem related to the Microsoft stack. There is 'something' those apps do not use that seems to be creating the issue.

[ghost]

@Alfacharlie1973 That makes sense.

[Jeej]

I can confirm that with the v0.24 version is muted correctly.

I noticed also that my overlay image is flipped horizontal and that the image is stretched / shrunken. I changed the resolution of the image down to 1080x720 and flipped the image in paint.net, now it is OK.

A new thing I noticed, what I think is annoying, is when I join a meeting in Microsoft Teams you get the screen with on / off sliders for audio / webcam. When I turn on my webcam in Teams and disable the webcam in PowerToys (so Teams has the overlay image) and I join the meeting PowerToys switches my webcam on and disables the overlay image :-(

[yuyoyuppe]

@Jeej can you please upload the original image somewhere as a .zip archive, so it's not recompressed?

[Jeej]

@Jeej can you please upload the original image somewhere as a .zip archive, so it's not recompressed?

Euh, unfortunately that is not possible because it is a photo of me. I can try if I can make an image that simulates the issue but isn't a photo of me 😉

[yuyoyuppe]

@Jeej oh, sure, that would be great! :) btw, you can attach the .zip to the comment

[Daksh777]

It would be amazing if we could use a GIF as the camera overlay image which can be looped over and over (suggestion)

[yuyoyuppe]

@Daksh777 it's pretty straightforward to implement from the technical POV. may I ask what use case do you have in mind? :)

[niels9001]

@yuyoyuppe That would open up so many fun moments during (boring) work days :). If it's an easy thing to add I'll be all for it :)!

[enricogior]

@niels9001
that will open the door... to get PowerToys banned from most corporations! :)

JK

[Daksh777]

@Daksh777 it's pretty straightforward to implement from the technical POV. may I ask what use case do you have in mind? :)

I often do meetings with friends and sometimes I go AFK without saying, so I could use a GIF that says "I'm AFK right now" and in the next frame, it would show "I'll be right back".

[marcelkornblum]

I often do meetings with friends and sometimes I go AFK without saying, so I could use a GIF that says "I'm AFK right now" and in the next frame, it would show "I'll be right back".

...or simply a looping gif of you at your desk looking interested :)

[Daksh777]

...or simply a looping gif of you at your desk looking interested :)

Haha, that would be funny, but yeah, an option to use a GIF would be amazing!

[meepmeme]

when application stops using camera , microphone resets to on. this happens on every app i have tried.

[yuyoyuppe]

@meepmeme that's intentional. @enricogior perhaps we should add a switch?

[Krrishdhaneja]

camera functionality not working in Video Conference Mute.
Camera - HP HD Camera

I was using Camera app to test it, but nothing happened.

[Krrishdhaneja]

_Any suggestions_

[enricogior]

@Krrishdhaneja
use the camera icon

to switch between the physical webcam and the PowerToys virtual cam.

[Krrishdhaneja]

_Let me check that_

[Krrishdhaneja]

Yes, it works. But the light of camera was still flashing. And it means that camera is still in use.

[enricogior]

@Krrishdhaneja

But the light of camera was still flashing. And it means that camera is still in use.

That is currently expected, I'll add a reference to this problem (we should turn it off and then on again).

[ghost]

@enricogior

Please track this issue #7892 here:

ℹ Computer information

• PowerToys version: 0.24 Experimental
• PowerToy Utility: Video Conference
• Running PowerToys as Admin: Yes
• Windows build number: 19042.610

📝 Provide detailed reproduction steps (if any)

1. Setting the webcam input as "PowerToys VideoConference"
2. I joined the meeting.

✔️ Expected result

_What is the expected result of the above steps?_ Other people can see me and I can enable and disable cam view with Win+Shit+O.

❌ Actual result

_What is the actual result of the above steps?_ Other people can't see me (they see all black) when camera is enabled.

📷 Screenshots

_Are there any useful screenshots? WinKey+Shift+S and then just paste them directly into the form_

[Laeae]

Dear experts, I'm totally new here, and I'm despirately looking for the mute mic feature, that is supposed to be released in the next version. Is there any chance of installing this already, as I was seeing that the 0.29 version is even available as a project?

thanks,
Laeae

[Jay-o-Way]

Small thing: one label is not greyed-out when VCM is disabled in v0.24:

[htcfreek]

Small thing: one label is not greyed-out when VCM is disabled in v0.24:

This should be fixed but not released yet.
cc: @niels9001