How to resolve issues with Blackboard Collaborate

If you are connecting to Collaborate from outside the UK, follow this link to How to get the best experience when attending a Blackboard Collaborate session from outside the UK

If you cannot connect, have a poor connection, or make any changes suggested below :

• Leave the Collaborate session.
• Close the browser you were using to connect to Collaborate (the entire browser and not just the browser tab).
• Wait a couple of minutes and re-open the browser and re-join Collaborate.

We recommend using Google Chrome* in the first instance and then Firefox.

Visit the Browser Checker to make sure your browser is supported

A full list of supported browsers and operating systems is available here: Browser Support

*If you are connecting from China see the section above on connecting from outside the UK.

How to update Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95414

How to update Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/update-firefox-latest-release

If you experience problems with Collaborate whilst using Chrome, try Firefox.  If you experience problems with Firefox, try Chrome.

Ensure that your web browser is allowing third-party cookies, these guides explain how:

Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647

Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/content-blocking#w_turn-content-blocking-off-on-individual-sites

The next step is to try using the session in a private or incognito window.  This resets certain settings and can be an effective way to work around some configuration issues.

How to open an incognito window in Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464

How to open a private browsing window in Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/private-browsing-use-firefox-without-history

If that does not help the next step is to try clearing your browser cache. This guide explains how: http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser’s-Cache

Collaborate uses a technology called WebRTC.  The WebRTC Troubleshooter website tests that this is working for you and can pick up issues and help you to fix them.

• Close all programs & browser tabs you are not using while in Collaborate.
• Use a hard-wired (Ethernet) connection, if available.
• If you are using  Wifi , sit as close to the router as possible
• Use only supported up to date web browsers (see sections below)
• Use video during the session only when necessary.

If your connection is poor, a connection status indicator appears over your Collaborate profile picture. Move your pointer over it for the connection details. See the Connection status guide.

This publicly available knowledge base article discusses the most common issues when connecting from a domestic connection.

The latest versions of OS X have extra security settings you need to make for devices to use the camera and microphone.  If you use a Mac / OS X please read through this guide on how to set the correct permissions.

Some corporate and institutional networks may block the HTML5 Web Socket traffic upon which Collaborate relies.  Try on a domestic connection to see if you get the same issues.  If you do not, it could be an issue with the network in the institution or business you are connecting from.  Ask the network administrator to review the relevant information here.

It is vital that you all Collaborate to use your microphone and camera.  You are likely to ask to approve permissions that look like this:

We can be so used to clicking “no” that we may accidentally prevent Collaborate from having permission to use our microphone and web cam.  If you find that people cannot hear you or see you, check that you have given permission for Collaborate to use your camera and microphone.

Review the guide at https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/114662

Having reached the Site Settings page, choose “View permissions and data stored across sites” and search for bbcollab.  Open all that appear one after the other and choose to allow Camera and Microphone.

The process is fairly similar in Firefox, see: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-page-info-window

Blackboard Collaborate allows you to alter the microphone input and webcam settings, but not the audio output. Blackboard Collaborate will use the system default audio output / playback device, so ensure this is set correctly before opening Blackboard Collaborate. This is particularly important if you have multiple devices connected to your computer, such as speakers, headsets and external monitors.

• Change the default audio playback on Windows 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWX4WxMkDxk
• Change the default audio output on OSX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lf03JGcS00

• Ensure that the correct audio device (speakers) is selected.
  • Windows 10 users, select your audio device by selecting the Speaker button near the clock as shown below:
    
  • Mac users please refer to the following article: Change the sound output settings on Mac
• Ensure that sound volume on the computer is not muted or set really low.
• Ensure that sound volume on the desired audio output device (e.g., speakers or headset) is not muted or set really low. Some headsets have a mute or volume knob on them.
• Ensure that cables going to speakers or headset are all firmly plugged in.
• If the above do not work, try rebooting the computer and/or try another web browser.
• Try playing a YouTube video to see if there is sound. Collaborate will produce sound using the same audio device (e.g., speakers or headset) as other websites such as YouTube.

Windows 10 allows users to set audio preferences for individual apps. Some apps listen, others don’t. Because Collaborate runs entirely in your browser, you have to check settings for your browser.

1. Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray. This is usually at the lower right of your computer monitor.

2. Select Open Sound Settings.

3. Check your default Output device. Normally this will be the speakers or headphones you regularly use, but not always. You can use the dropdown menu to change your default for the system.

But some apps will save their own preferences. So we will need to check those as well.

4. Scroll down until you see the Advanced sound options section.

5. Click on the App volume and device preferences link.

6. Find your browser that you use for Collaborate in the list and check if you have options in the dropdown to select the sound source you expect to hear it from.

Notice that there is also an Input option if you are having problems selecting the correct microphone.

Read through and try everything suggested in Blackboard’s support page for

Chrome: https://help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Participant/Support/Chrome_Support

Firefox: https://help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Participant/Support/Firefox_WebRTC_Support

When you use Collaborate for the first time a wizard will guide you through the setup.

It is important to pay attention to the device you choose to use with Collaborate if you have a choice.

The recommendation is to use a headset with microphone.

No luck?  Please try going through the wizard again and double check that you have selected the right devices.

1. Open the Collaborate Panel.
2. Click on the Cog.
3. Choose Set up Camera and Microphone.

Still not working?  Read through the page linked below and check through everything it recommends.

https://help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Participant/Participate_in_Sessions/Audio_and_Video

• Let your lecturer know if you are having issues with connecting or participating in a Collaborate session.
• Use the Chat Support in  Collaborate to access Blackboard technical support.
• Contact the University IT help – ServiceLine 

Collect some useful information that will help us, and add it to the ticket you will raise.

Within the Collaborate session you can capture some date which will be very useful for us to check.

1. Open the session menu (the hamburger button at the top right).

2. Click on Report an issue.

3. The collaborate panel on the right will open, scroll down this section.

4. At the bottom will be a box of diagnostic text, select this text, right click on it, and choose copy. Then raise a ticket via ServiceLine describing the problem you are experiencing and paste in this diagnostic text so we can take a look.