FAQs: HUE HD Camera (General)

Google Meet applies a mirror filter to the camera feed by default. The image you see is mirrored but your call attendees will see the image the correct way around.

This is an application setting and does not have anything to do with the HUE camera. It is also not a setting that can be changed with the HUE software.

There is no way to remove the filter within Google Meet, unlike in Zoom, and if you use third party software to reverse it on your side, it will be mirrored on the attendees’ side as well.

As a workaround you can use the Present feature on Google Meet to share the camera feed from another application, such as HUE Intuition. Google Meet will not recognise the shared feed as a camera input so the mirror filter will not take effect. You can proceed to use the HUE Intuition application features in your call.

Instructions:

  1. Launch HUE Intuition and select your HUE camera as the video input device.
  2. Ensure that Google Meet is not already using your HUE camera or you will see a blank screen in HUE Intuition.
  3. Click on the Present button within Google Meet.
  4. Select the Application Window tab.
  5. Click on the HUE Intuition application window.
  6. Click Share.

For more help, please check our guide on how to use your HUE products with Google Meet.

For help with other apps, please check this alternative FAQ.

The USB cable that is supplied with our HUE cameras is a standard USB A to Mini B cable and it will fit any standard USB Type-A port on a computer.

If your computer only has USB Type-C ports, any standard USB adapter should work. If you don’t have an adapter yet, there are several options that may work for you.

USB to Type-C adapter: These are small adapters which let you convert the USB end of your regular USB cable to Type-C; they just slot right on top of your USB connector. They are a popular choice because they will let you connect the HUE base directly to the power source (computer). This will also let you connect the HUE camera directly to the computer by its flexible neck if you need to use it without the base.

Mini USB to Type-C cable: These are short cables which have a mini USB connector at one end and a USB Type-C connector at the other. These cable will let you connect your HUE Camera base to your PC or laptop since the camera’s base already has a micro USB port, completely replacing the USB cable which originally came with the camera. This option is not suitable for everyone since you will need to use the base every time you use the camera. It does have the benefit of offering a direct connection from the base to the computer.

Both types of adapter can be found at all good electronics stores, including Amazon.

If your USB cable is lost or damaged, it can easily be replaced by a third party alternative.

The USB cord that is supplied with your HUE camera is a standard USB A to Mini B cable and it will fit any standard USB A port on your computer.

Compatible cables can be purchased from most online hardware stores such as Amazon. We recommend choosing a cable no longer than 1.5m (5′) to avoid any latency in the video signal.

All HUE products include a three year manufacturer’s warranty against faults. If you purchased through a reseller, please contact your place of purchase for any issues with the order or delivery in accordance with their terms and conditions. If your HUE product develops a fault and the place of purchase is unable to help, you can contact us for support.

If you purchased directly through our online store or from the official HUE store on Amazon, please check this separate FAQ for further assistance.

All HUE USB products are fully compatible with USB 3.0 as well as the earlier USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 standards. Please contact us if you have any specific compatibility questions.

In normal use, all HUE cameras are designed to capture images in the correct orientation if they are positioned at the bottom of the document (as shown in the picture below). This is because HUE is intended to be a multipurpose camera, serving as a document camera, webcam and presentation device.

The HUE camera does not flip or mirror the video itself; what you see on-screen should normally be exactly as shown in the picture. Some versions of Skype and Google Meet (Hangouts) flip the local preview image but your callers will still see the video the correct way round. This is part of those applications’ design and not something we can override. In some cases, the ‘mirror effect’ can be disabled in settings.

Some offline applications (such as Photo Booth) always display the image mirrored and have no option to change this. We recommend avoiding these applications; Apple’s built-in QuickTime application and Microsoft’s built-in Windows 10 Camera tool will display the image correctly.

What if I need to use the camera flipped or mirrored?

If you are working locally, you can use software such as HUE Intuition or HUE Camera Viewer to flip and mirror the live video freely. HUE Intuition has options for flipping the live video in the Document Camera tab, while HUE Camera Viewer has buttons to do the same at the bottom of the Document Camera (toolbox) section located on the right side of the window.

You can also share the view from your local software in many video conferencing apps using screen sharing. Please check our tutorials for Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom for step-by-step instructions.

Otherwise, if you’re using a third party video conferencing tool to transmit your video, the controls will be part of that software. There are tutorials available for Blackboard and Zoom. At this time it appears that the rotation feature is limited to the Windows version of Zoom; please contact Zoom directly if this affects you. There are additional camera settings (‘Video Settings’) in the camera selection pop-up menu.

Some applications do not include their own flip/mirror tools. In those cases, third party applications such as ManyCam or SplitCam (Windows-only) can be installed to access additional controls.

OBS Studio works on Windows, macOS and Linux and it includes many options to configure the camera feed.

Changing the video orientation in all of your camera apps

Windows 11 has introduced a new feature to change the default video orientation in all of your apps at once. If you are using an earlier version of Windows, you will need to change the video orientation in one of the third party applications listed above.

To permanently rotate the camera in Windows 11, browse to Start menu> Change Account Settings> Bluetooth & devices> Cameras> (pick your HUE)> Video rotation. You will be able to adjust your default rotation as shown in the screenshot below.

On macOS, iGlasses can also be used to flip and mirror the live video in most applications, including third party video conferencing tools. Apple have not yet added a feature to override the camera settings system-wide.

Please note that we cannot offer support for third party tools ourselves, though we can confirm that the ones listed above will work with HUE.

Yes. The HUE HD camera has been screened in accordance with RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) and its amendment directive 2015/863/EU. It has undergone EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) testing pursuant to EMC Directive 2014/30/EU, meeting the requirements of EN 55032: 2015 + A1:2020 (Class B), and EN 55035: 2017 + A11:2020.

It has been tested to the UKCA standard for Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1091).

It has also been independently tested and met the requirements for Phthalates Content in Computer and Electronics Accessories and Total Lead Content in Computer and Electronics Accessories under California Proposition 65.

An FCC grant of equipment authorization and an FCC ID are not required for these low voltage devices, but the equipment complies with FCC technical requirements. HUE cameras are not wireless devices.

This advice applies to both the standalone HUE HD cameras and the cameras included in the HUE Animation Studio kit.

All HUE cameras are solely powered through their USB connection. They do not contain any rechargeable batteries (e.g. Li-ion) and do not require special handling during shipping.

This advice applies to the following products referenced by part number and EAN:

5060167261398 (PC0001) HUE HD Pro camera: Blue gloss
5060167261404 (PC0002) HUE HD Pro camera: Red gloss
5060167261411 (PC0003) HUE HD Pro camera: Green gloss
5060167261428 (PC0004) HUE HD Pro camera: Black gloss
5060167261695 (PX0001) HUE HD Pro camera: Blue
5060167261701 (PX0002) HUE HD Pro camera: Red
5060167261718 (PX0003) HUE HD Pro camera: Green
5060167261725 (PX0004) HUE HD Pro camera: Black
5060167261763 (PXC001) HUE HD Pro camera: Blue (carry case version)
5060167261770 (PXC002) HUE HD Pro camera: Red (carry case version)
5060167261787 (PXC003) HUE HD Pro camera: Green (carry case version)
5060167261794 (PXC004) HUE HD Pro camera: Black (carry case version)

5060167260452 (HD0001) HUE HD camera: Blue
5060167260445 (HD0002) HUE HD camera: Red
5060167260476 (HD0003) HUE HD camera: Green
5060167260513 (HD0004) HUE HD camera: Black
5060167261817 (HDC001) HUE HD camera: Blue (carry case version)
5060167261824 (HDC002) HUE HD camera: Red (carry case version)
5060167261831 (HDC003) HUE HD camera: Green (carry case version)
5060167261848 (HDC004) HUE HD camera: Black (carry case version)

This also applies to the HUE cameras included in the HUE Animation Studio kits.

Coupled with third party software or a web application designed to read QR codes, the HUE Camera can be connected to a computer to live stream and read a QR code.

There are several QR code reader web applications out there, but we’ve found one called Web QR to be quite simple. It also works well with the HUE Camera.

Our cameras use manual focus, which means you have to turn the ring around the camera’s lens until the picture is sharp. This means that if you move the camera closer or farther away, the picture may become blurry until you turn the ring again to bring the image back into focus.

If you’d like to know more about manual focus and why we’ve chosen to use it for all of our cameras, please read this blog post on the subject.

To use HUE as a microphone, you will need to select it as the microphone in your chosen chat software’s audio preferences screen. The microphone is built into the camera and it can either be used with the video, or independently. If you don’t want to record sound you can disable the microphone in your audio settings at any time.

You can also set the camera as your default system microphone.

Windows: For Windows XP users this option is in Control Panel, Sound, then under the Voice tab. Make sure that HUE is selected as the Default Device and if necessary click the Volume button to adjust its settings. For Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10 users the options are in Control Panel, Sound, then the Recording tab. Make sure that HUE is ticked as the Default Device and if necessary click Properties to adjust its volume and boost settings. Remember to save any changes with OK.

Mac OS X: Go to System Preferences, then the Sound pane, then the Input tab. Make sure that the camera is selected in the list and the input volume is set high enough.

In low light situations the frame rate of the capture will drop which will make the video appear choppier. To obtain the highest possible frame rate, use HUE in a well lit area where the light source is behind the camera and out of the picture.

Using a USB 1.1 connection or USB hub/extension can also lead to lower frame rates. For best results the camera should be connected directly to a USB 2.0 port on the computer.

In some cases, using a shorter USB cable will help improve the connection. If you are using HUE with a different USB cable, please try the one which came inside your box.

Please try a different USB port. We recommend directly connecting USB cameras to a USB port on your computer, not through a USB hub.

If you are using HUE with its base, please make sure that the neck is firmly pushed into the base and making the connection.

As HUE cameras are plug and play, it’s normal for nothing to pop up when you connect the camera to your computer. You may need to install some video chat software if you don’t have any applications which work with a camera.

You will need to install some video chat software. Please find out which network your friends are using such as Skype™ (Windows/Mac), AIM® (Windows only), FaceTime (Mac only), Google Hangouts (Windows/Mac) or Yahoo!® Messenger (Windows/Mac). Download the corresponding software from the network’s website and follow their setup instructions. Make sure you set HUE as both your camera and microphone in the new program’s settings. Additional help on using a specific network can be found on each company’s website.

If you’re using the camera as a plug and play device and don’t have HUE Intuition installed, you can use alternate software or the built-in screenshot feature on your computer to take stills.

Windows

Windows 10 has a built-in application called Camera which includes a snapshot feature with an on-screen button.

One alternative way to take pictures is to use Snipping Tool, a small application installed with Windows 7 and later. That will store the images as graphics so you can edit them if needed.

Mac

We recommend using a dedicated macOS snapshot application such as Photo Booth to take stills, or to use one of Apple’s convenient keyboard shortcuts to capture a picture of the window.

​One drawback of Photo Booth is that it automatically flips all images. If this is not ideal, HUE is fully compatible with other snapshot software such as Debut Video Capture and HUE Intuition. iGlasses can also be used to override the flip feature in Photo Booth. Please note that we cannot offer support for iGlasses ourselves, though we can confirm it will work with HUE.


If you need to take a lot of snapshots, a dedicated application such as HUE Intuition will help streamline the process. HUE Intuition has a dedicated Capture button to take instant snapshots, as well as features to take pictures automatically at timed intervals.

Note: HUE cannot take pictures when not plugged into a computer and does not have internal storage memory to save images.

This problem is usually caused by Skype overcompensating for what it believes to be loud background noise levels. Go into Skype’s Tools menu, then to Options… and select the Audio Settings tab. First, check that the HUE camera is selected as the microphone, and then uncheck the box below marked, “Let Skype adjust my audio settings”. Initially it is best to set the volume slider a little less than halfway along the bar. You can adjust this later to suit your preferences.

Remember to save your settings before closing the window. The sound levels should now remain steady when you’re making calls.

We have had feedback from many educators who are using HUE as a document camera in their classrooms with great success. Because the camera is ‘plug and play’ and relatively compact, it is perfect for use alongside smartboards and interactive whiteboards to show documents, science experiments or artwork to the class. The software which comes with HUE will display a live video image on your screen which you can then project through the computer as normal.

Our HUE Intuition software (sold separately or bundled with the HUE HD Pro) has a document camera mode included to let you annotate the live video.

At this time, we don’t offer any support for using HUE on Android devices such as smartphones, tablets or Android-powered projectors. The reason is that the Android operating system doesn’t currently fully support connecting to UVC compatible cameras such as HUE, which makes it much more difficult to set the camera up. We will continue to monitor the situation in case things change in a future version of the Android software.

While we can’t offer advice directly, there are a few third party applications such as the USB Camera app by Infinitegra which claim to be able to support USB cameras. If you already have a HUE camera, downloading the free version of the app and testing it with your Android device may be a viable solution.

You can connect the camera base to the computer by the USB cable, or simply unplug the webcam from its base and connect it directly to a USB port by its flexible neck – great for laptops!

The base is simply an easy way to have the HUE camera standing upright on a desktop or other flat surface.

We have heard from fans using HUE with great success as a visualiser, document camera, vlog camera and even for lunar photography. Let us know how you use yours!

Yes! HUE is compatible out of the box with Google Hangouts and Skype™ for Windows and Mac OS X. As soon as you connect HUE to the computer, it is ready for free video chats worldwide.

If your computer has a built-in webcam already, you may need to select the HUE camera in the software’s Video Settings.

HUE works with a wide range of video conferencing and picture editing software. Any software that is designed to work with a USB camera should work using HUE as its video input source, from Google Hangouts to FaceTime to Skype™.

It will also work with software intended for video chat, visualisation or simply recording real time videos. Pick which video chat network you wish to join, download the software from their website and follow their setup instructions. Make sure you set the USB camera as your camera and microphone in the new program’s settings, then you’re ready to chat!

HUE Animation Studio owners can also send exported animation projects to their video chat contacts.

If your camera is not recognized automatically, try connecting it to a different USB port. We recommend directly connecting it to a USB port on your computer, not through a USB hub. If you are using the camera with its base station, please make sure that the neck is firmly pushed into the base and making the connection.

If the camera is plugged into one of the ports in the front try one of the ports in the rear of the computer, or vice versa.

If you are using Windows XP, please check that you have Service Pack 2 or later installed as this is required for Windows to properly detect plug and play cameras. Service Pack 2 is a free stability update available through the Windows Update tool.

All HUE cameras come with an integrated plug and play microphone.

HUE hardware will work on Linux systems so long as UVC camera support has been installed. This comes as standard in the current version of Ubuntu and most other distributions. For more information about the Linux UVC driver project please visit this official website. Please note that we do not offer any viewing software for Linux.

There are currently no plans for a Linux version of HUE Animation or HUE Intuition.

Please send us a message with a full description of the problem. Our team will assist as quickly as possible – often the same day.

Your HUE camera is a plug and play device, so there are no additional drivers to install. Simply connect the camera to your computer and open your camera software to begin using HUE.

The HUE HD Pro Camera comes with an application called HUE Intuition which can be installed if you don’t already have your own camera management software.

If you have a HUE HD Camera, you can either purchase HUE Intuition or use the basic AMCap software for Windows to view your video stream. Mac users can use QuickTime to access the camera without installing any additional software.

HUE is completely plug and play so it’s not necessary to install any camera drivers. Windows users can view and record the video stream using free software such as Windows 10’s ‘Camera’ app or AMCap, while Mac users can access the camera through QuickTime and Photo Booth.

Standalone AMCap viewer for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10

If you’re using an older version of Windows and want to install the optional drivers for features such as digital zoom and interpolation, you can download the installation package here:

Optional drivers for Windows XP and Vista only (version 5.8.60000.201)

We recommend the standalone version of AMCap for Windows 10 users.

If you have an older model which requires additional software, please see this FAQ for help.

The camera is also compatible with our HUE Intuition software (sold separately) which is supported on Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10) and Mac OS X 10.6 and later.

Windows users: Please download the previous driver software here. The camera should be disconnected from the computer for the installation until you are prompted to connect it.

Mac users: Please download the previous driver software here. The camera should be disconnected from the computer for the installation. Please note that we only provide support for the plug and play HUE cameras under Snow Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks and Yosemite. Apple removed support for many driver-based webcams and webcam plug-ins in OS X 10.6 so if you have an older HUE and the drivers don’t work, we will be unable to provide new ones.

This software is not necessary if you have one of the newer plug and play HUE cameras.

If you’re not sure whether your camera is an older model, please check the text printed on the silver focusing ring around the lens. If you see the number 1.3, your camera will require the drivers above.

Please note that these manuals are now outdated. The most recent information about our HUE products is available in the Support section of our website.

HUE HD user manual (English)
HUE Caméra Manuel de l’Utilisateur (Français)
HUE HD Kamera Bedienungsanleitung (Deutsch)
HUE HD Manuale Utente (Italiano)

You may need to install Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader application to view the manual if you are using Windows (Mac users can open it with Preview).

Veuillez noter que si vous utilisez Windows, vous aurez besoin d’installer Acrobat Reader, l’application gratuite d’Adobe, pour ouvrir le manuel (les utilisateurs Mac peuvent l’ouvrir avec Preview).

Bitte beachten Sie, dass Sie möglicherweise die kostenlose Anwendung Acrobat Reader von Adobe installieren müssen, um die Gebrauchsanleitung unter Windows anzeigen zu können (Mac-Nutzer können sie mit Preview öffnen).

Se state utilizzando Windows, potreste aver bisogno di installare l’applicazione gratuita di Adobe, Acrobat Reader, per visualizzare il manuale (gli utenti Mac possono aprirlo con Preview).

The light on the camera head will only be illuminated when the camera is streaming video.

If it isn’t lighting up, fully quit the camera software you’re using so that it does not show up in your Dock or Taskbar. Then try opening it again, making sure that the camera isn’t in use in any other applications which might be running in the background. USB cameras will only work in one application at a time, and sometimes even web browsers can reserve the video stream with certain plugins installed.

Please also make sure that the camera is directly connected to your computer, not to a USB hub or through a port in the keyboard. If you change the USB port the camera is connected to, please make sure that the software is fully quit as above and then reopen it after reconnecting the device.

HUE Intuition users don’t need to close the software. Simply changing to another tab and then back again will reset the camera connection.

Yes. HUE can be connected to a PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 and used as a standard webcam/microphone.

Please check that your antivirus software is not blocking access and that you have permission to install software on your computer. You may need to be logged in as an Administrator to install software.

Most HUE products are now completely plug and play so the software is completely optional.

You can download the driver software from our website if you can’t access the CD. Please note that if you bought your HUE in the last few years, you don’t need the drivers to use the camera in video applications – it’s completely plug and play.

Check that the camera isn’t being used in any other applications, and that it’s selected in your software’s list of devices. If you have an older HUE HD camera, please try uninstalling and reinstalling the driver software.

Please check the product page to view the current system requirements for the HUE HD camera.

The external display and the camera might be using different refresh rates. If you’re using a projector, you may also have an option to switch between different refresh rates in your computer’s display settings.

For Mac users this setting is in System Preferences, then Displays.

If you don’t have the option to change your display settings in Windows and you’re using the AMCap software, you can go to Video Capture Filter from the Options menu in the camera viewing software. You should see some options to switch between different refresh rates (sometimes labelled as Flicker settings) on the right of the window. Please note that if you have a smartboard which is streaming the camera through its own software, you’ll need to close that first in order to be able to select the camera and amend its settings.

If the flicker settings are unavailable, the system may be streaming the video in MJPG format which blocks the extra controls. To check, go to Video Capture Pin in the Options menu and locate the Color Space/Compression dropdown. If you change that to YUY2 mode, the flip/mirror boxes should start working in Video Capture Filter and allow you to tune the image.

In a few cases, visual flickering or flashing can be caused by choosing a video resolution too high for your monitor. You can change to a lower resolution in Video Capture Pin in the Options menu.

We don’t currently provide any software for Chromebooks, but because HUE cameras are plug and play devices they will be recognized automatically as soon as they’re connected.

To start using HUE on your Chromebook, open the Chrome browser and click on Menu in the top right. Navigate to Settings, then Show Advanced Settings.

You should see a section called Privacy. Click on Content Settings (called Site Settings in some versions of Chrome) and select the HUE USB camera in the Camera dropdown list.

Once you click Done, your HUE camera will be available to stream and record video on websites such as YouTube and Ustream.


To stay up to date with news on our Chrome OS support, please check this page or send us a message.

It is now possible to use HUE cameras with iPads running iPadOS 17 or later, which allows the iPad to connect to external USB cameras and microphones. This applies to all ‘plug and play’ HUE cameras, including the HUE HD camera and HUE HD Pro. A standard USB Type-C adapter may be required to physically connect the camera to the iPad.

Apple currently does not allow external USB video cameras to stream to the iPhone, other iOS devices or older iPad devices even if you purchase a camera connector kit.

Yes! Any software that is designed to work with a USB camera should work using HUE as its video input source. However, we hope that you’ll quickly find that the HUE Animation is even better than other video packages.

Most microphone issues are caused by problems with the connection between the camera and computer. If there is a loose USB connection anywhere in the chain, the audio will be the first thing affected.

Please ensure that you aren’t using a USB hub or extension with the camera. For best results the camera should be connected directly to a USB 2.0 port on the computer.

In some cases, using a shorter USB cable will help improve the connection. If you are using HUE with a different USB cable, please try the one which came inside your box.

Please check the silver focusing ring around the lens. There will be some text printed on the ring. If you see the number 1.3 printed there, you have an older camera which requires drivers.

If you see the number 2.0, you have a plug and play model. The very newest plug and play models do not have a number printed around the ring at all.