What you need to join
A device with a camera and microphone, an up to date browser, and an ordinary internet connection.
Three things, and you probably have all of them: a device with a camera and a microphone, one of the browsers below, and an internet connection good enough for video.
There is nothing to buy, nothing to install, and no account to create.
A browser
Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari, on a phone, tablet or computer. These are the versions that work:
| Browser | Version |
|---|---|
| Chrome, Firefox or Edge | 120 or newer |
| Safari | 16 or newer |
And the device it runs on:
| Device | Version |
|---|---|
| Windows | 10 or newer |
| Mac | macOS 12 or newer |
| iPhone and iPad | iOS 15 or newer |
| Android | 10 or newer |
An older one often still works. You do not have to check your own version: if yours is below these, your provider is told so before the appointment, and they will usually ask you to update.
A camera and a microphone
Built in is fine. The one on your laptop or phone is what most people use.
Headphones are worth adding. They stop your provider’s voice coming back out of your speakers and into your microphone, which is what causes echo.
A connection fast enough
Anything that handles ordinary video calling will do, and you do not need to know your own numbers. The connection test measures your speed and grades it for you. If it says your connection is fine, it is fine. If it reports a problem, the call is likely to be rough.
You can run it before your appointment, from Test Your Connection on the page your link opens. See Test your connection.
What to know
- A work or school network may block video calls. If the test fails there and passes on your phone, that is usually why.
- Close other things that use the connection heavily, such as downloads or streaming, before the appointment.