Use these FAQs to fix join, audio, video, screen share, chat, and presenter-mode issues in Bevy Virtual. Start with Chrome, the Help button, and your support ID before you contact Bevy Support.
These steps apply to presenters, hosts, and moderators in Bevy Virtual Meetup and Bevy Virtual Conference. Attendees who are not presenting can start with Troubleshooting steps for attendees.
Applies to: Bevy Virtual Meetup and Bevy Virtual Conference. Screen share is available on desktop only.
Before you continue, try these first:
- Use the latest version of Google Chrome.
- Refresh the page.
- Sign out and sign back in with the email you registered with.
- Turn off your VPN and browser extensions.
- Restart your computer if a device stays locked by another app.
Why can't I find a button to join the event?
If the event page does not show a Join Event button in the header, selecting it does nothing, or the page does not load:
- Turn off browser extensions.
- Disconnect your VPN.
- Refresh the page.
- Confirm you are signed in with the email you registered with.
On the pre-join (hair check) screen, the button label is Join event. In a conference it can also read Join session, Join room, Join backstage, or Join networking table.
Meetup-style events usually open about 15 minutes before the start time. Conference events usually open about 60 minutes before. Some communities use a longer window.
If you still cannot join, copy your support ID and contact Bevy Support.
Why do I see a black square instead of the event?
A black square usually means the browser cannot load the virtual room. Use a recommended browser first.
| Status | Browser |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Google Chrome |
| Supported | Safari, Microsoft Edge |
| Not recommended | Firefox |
| Mobile | Safari on iOS, Chrome on Android |
Other Chromium browsers such as Brave or Arc can work, but switch to Chrome if you see issues.
If you are already in a recommended browser:
- Check for browser updates.
- Turn off extensions and disconnect your VPN.
- Close other tabs and windows.
- Confirm the same issue does not happen in other video apps.
- Refresh, then reinstall the browser if it still fails.
Why is my connection unstable or video missing?
Bevy lowers video quality when your connection is weak, and it can turn videos off so audio stays usable.
- Refresh the page.
- Close other browser tabs and windows.
- Select Help, then Test network.
- If a firewall or VPN is in the way, select Help, then Use relay connection.
If the event shows Failed to connect, turn off your VPN, refresh, then use Test network in Help.
How do I test my network?
Use the in-event Help menu. Help is a button, not a tab.
- Select Help in the bottom bar, or on the pre-join screen.
- Select Test network. A new tab opens the Daily video check.
- Follow the prompts, then return to the event and refresh if the test finds a problem.
You can also open the same tool from the pre-join screen before you select Join event.
How do I use a relay connection?
A relay connection helps when a VPN, firewall, or strict network blocks a direct connection.
- Join the event, then select Help.
- Select Use relay connection. The page reloads.
- To leave relay mode later, select Help, then Switch to direct connection.
If Bevy detects a network issue for about 30 seconds, you may also see Network issue detected, with Try different connection or Dismiss. Try different connection turns on relay mode.
Use relay mode when audio or video stalls on a corporate network. Switch back to a direct connection when you are on an open network so quality can recover.
Why is chat missing?
If chat or direct messages are missing, first check whether the event turned chat off. When Disable chat is on, the Chat button is not shown and refreshing cannot bring it back.
- Ask a host whether Disable chat is on for the event.
- If chat should be on, refresh the page.
- Sign out and sign back in.
Hosts can also Block chat for one person from that person’s actions menu. That hides chat for that attendee only.
If chat should be on for everyone and it is still missing, copy your support ID and contact Bevy Support.
Why can't I join a session?
In a conference agenda, the session Join button becomes available 15 minutes before the session start time. Before that window, the session is upcoming and has no Join button.
- Confirm the session start time and wait until 15 minutes before it begins.
- Refresh the page.
- Sign out and sign back in.
Joining the overall conference is a different window — usually 60 minutes before the event start. The 15-minute rule is for the session Join button on the agenda.
Why can't I hear the event?
- If you are in the event and there is no audio:
- Refresh the page.
- Right-click the browser tab and confirm it is not muted.
- In Chrome, open the lock icon in the address bar and check Sound.
- Select the microphone button, then choose a speaker under Select a speaker.
- Select Help, then Test network.
How do I choose my microphone and speaker?
Device selection is a drop-up from the microphone button — there is no separate settings window with Microphone or Speakers drop downs.
- Select the arrow on the microphone button.
- Under Select a microphone, choose your input. A device in use by another app appears in the list but stays unavailable.
- Under Select a speaker, choose your output.
- Turn on noise cancellation if your browser supports it and you are a presenter.
If you use a streaming microphone that does not play sound back, choose headphones or speakers as the output so you can hear the room.
Why is my microphone not working?
If you are a host or presenter and nobody can hear you:
- Select Help, then Test network.
- Open the microphone menu and confirm the correct device under Select a microphone.
- Close other apps that might be using the microphone.
- Refresh the page.
- If you dismissed Enable video and audio? when you joined, you are not in presenter mode — see Why isn't presenter mode available?
Why can't I share my screen?
The Share screen button appears on desktop only, and only when you are in presenter mode. Only one person can share at a time.
- Confirm you are on a desktop browser, not a phone or tablet.
- Confirm presenter mode is on. If you do not see Share screen, ask a host or request to present from the left sidebar.
- Allow screen recording for your browser in system settings, then quit and reopen the browser.
- Refresh the page.
- If the slides are in a browser, share that tab. If they are in another app, share that window.
- If the share is lagging, turn off your camera.
Applies to: Desktop presenters. Mobile browsers cannot share a screen. If Share from my phone appears in the screen share menu, that pairs a companion phone — it does not share the phone’s screen from the mobile browser.
Learn more in Share your screen in Bevy Virtual Meetup and Share your screen in Bevy Virtual Conference.
Why are there black bars around my shared screen?
Black bars appear when the shared window is smaller than the attendee view, or when browser zoom is below 100%.
- Present from a higher-resolution screen.
- Make the shared window larger, or use a second monitor.
- Set browser zoom to at least 100%.
Why can't I share video?
If you are a host or presenter and your camera is off or unavailable:
- Confirm presenter mode is on.
- Select the arrow on the camera button and choose a device under Select a camera. A camera in use by another app is listed but unavailable.
- Allow camera access in the browser, then in system settings.
- Close other apps that might be using the camera.
- Refresh the page.
- Select Help, then Test network.
Why isn't presenter mode available?
Presenter mode — permission to talk, appear on video, and share your screen — is not turned on by a refresh alone.
If you are a host or moderator:
- When you join, Bevy shows Enable video and audio? with Enable or Do not enable.
- Select Enable if you need to present. Selecting Do not enable leaves microphone, camera, and screen share off. Refreshing does not reverse that choice.
- The prompt does not appear in breakouts or many-to-many sessions, where presenter mode turns on automatically for moderators.
If you are an attendee who needs to present:
- Select Raise hand, or request to present from the left sidebar.
- Wait for a host or moderator to approve the request in Presenter requests.
- Ask a host to turn presenter mode on from your actions menu.
If you selected Do not enable, refreshing, clearing cookies, or signing out will not restore presenter controls. Leave and rejoin, or ask another host to grant presenter mode.
If presenter mode should be on and the controls are still missing, copy your support ID and contact Bevy support here.
How do I block chat for one person?
Hosts and moderators can Block chat for one attendee from that person’s actions menu. This is different from Disable chat, which turns off chat for the whole event.
- Open the actions menu on the person’s tile or people list.
- Select Block chat, then confirm.
- Select Unblock chat later if you want to restore their chat.
Block chat is not available when Disable chat is already on for the event, and you cannot block your own chat.
How do I copy my support ID?
If these steps do not fix the issue, contact Bevy Support and include your support ID — the identifier Bevy Support uses to find your session.
- After you join, or on the pre-join screen, select Help. Help is a button in the bottom bar. It is not a tab next to Chat or Attendees.
- Select Copy support ID. The menu shows Copied to clipboard.
- Paste the support ID into your message to support.
The same Help menu also includes Test network, Use relay connection, Troubleshoot, and Get help when the support widget is available.