Woman wearing headset and microphone pointing at a computer screen

Webinar FAQs

On this page you can find answers to some commonly asked questions about joining a Historic England webinar. For information on upcoming webinars please see our webinars page.

What software do you use?

We use software called Adobe Connect. Why? Because it allows us to deliver a range of different virtual experiences that focus on the audience experience as a learning platform rather than a meeting software like Zoom and MS Teams. It allows us to offer different training methods via an online platform.

A note on browsers

One thing to note is that Adobe Connect cannot fully function on older web browsers such as Internet Explorer, there will be difficulties with sound and often picture quality. We recommend Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Safari for a better experience.

Why does my Mic or Camera not work?

(On a computer or laptop browser)

Often browsers need permission to allow the use of sound or microphones.

Chrome

Open Chrome.

1. Open Chrome.
2. At the top right, click More Settings.
3. Under 'Privacy and security', click Site settings.
4. Click Camera or Microphone.

Turn on or off Ask before accessing.

  • Review your blocked and allowed sites.
  • To remove an existing exception or permission: To the right of the site, click Delete.
  • To allow a site that you already blocked: Under 'Blocked', select the site's name and change the camera or microphone permission to 'Allow'.

 You can select a default microphone to use on different sites.

5. Open Chrome.
6. At the top right, click More Settings.
7. Under 'Privacy and security', click Site settings Microphone.
8. To select a default microphone, click the Down arrow

Microsoft Edge

You can use your camera and microphone for websites in Microsoft Edge. However, even when your camera and microphone are enabled for Microsoft Edge, you will still need to give individual websites permission before they can use your camera and microphone.

Here’s how:

  • Go to a website that wants to use your microphone and/or camera.
  • If a dialogue box appears asking if you want to give the website permission to use your camera or microphone, select Allow once or Always allow, or close the dialog box to block access.

If you have previously turned it off you can:
1. In Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more and then select Settings.
2. Select Advanced settings, and then under Website permissions, select Manage permissions.
3. Select the website you want to manage.
4. Under Camera or Microphone, turn the switch to Off to disable access for that website.

Safari

In the Safari app on your Mac, use the Website's preferences to customize how you browse individual websites.
To change these preferences, choose Safari > Preferences, then click Websites.
To apply a setting to a website on the right, first select the setting, then choose the option you want from the pop-menu next to the website.

  • Camera
    Ask: The site must ask if it can use the camera on your Mac.
    Deny: The site can’t use your camera.
    Allow: The site can always use your camera.
  • Microphone
    Ask: The site must ask if it can use the microphone on your Mac.
    Deny: The site can’t use your microphone.
    Allow: The site can always use your microphone.

Watching via a mobile device

We recommend downloading the Adobe Connect App. You can find this in the Google Play and Apple App stores and it is called Adobe Connect (new) as there was an older version.

There is also a visual difference to icons. The older version has a border around the app icon and the new version does not.

Is there a desktop app?

Yes, there is and you can download it for PC or Mac. You shouldn’t normally need your organisation’s IT administrator to do this for you, but we are aware that some organisations do not allow for the app to be downloaded, for those cases please use the appropriate internet browser.