Last updated 28 August 2026
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What mirroring actually does
Mirroring flips the image horizontally, exactly like a bathroom mirror. Raise your right hand and the reflection raises its left.
Video apps mirror your self-view by default because it matches a lifetime of looking in mirrors, and an unmirrored self-view feels wrong to most people. Crucially, this affects only what you see. Participants always receive the unmirrored image.
The practical consequence. Text held up to your camera looks backwards to you and correct to everyone else. If you are showing a document, a book cover or a whiteboard, trust what participants see rather than your own preview. Use the unmirror button on our camera test to check.
Turning mirroring off, app by app
| App | Where |
|---|---|
| Zoom | Settings, Video, then uncheck Mirror my video |
| Microsoft Teams | Device settings during a call, look for the mirror option |
| Google Meet | Self-view is mirrored and not adjustable in most versions |
| Discord | Voice & Video, mirror preview option |
| This site | Unmirror button beneath the video on any camera test |
Genuinely flipping what others see
The settings above change only your preview. To flip the image everyone receives, which you would need for showing text on a physical page, you need software between the camera and the app.
- Install OBS Studio, which is free and available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Add a Video Capture Device source and select your webcam.
- Right-click the source, choose Transform, then Flip Horizontal.
- Click Start Virtual Camera.
- In Zoom, Teams or Discord, select OBS Virtual Camera as your camera.
Some webcam utilities from Logitech and others offer a flip option directly, which avoids installing OBS if your camera supports it.
Vertical flip
An upside-down image is a different problem, usually a driver fault or a camera physically mounted inverted, common on some laptops and on cameras clipped to the underside of a monitor. On Windows, check the camera manufacturer's utility for a rotation setting. If none exists, OBS can rotate the image using the same Transform menu.
Which view should you use?
- Mirrored for checking your appearance, since it matches what you are used to.
- Unmirrored for checking framing and background before a call, since it shows what participants will see.
- Unmirrored whenever text or a logo is visible behind you.
Related
Common questions
Do other people see me mirrored?
No. Self-view is mirrored for your comfort, but participants receive the unmirrored image. Only your own preview is flipped.
Why does text look backwards on my camera?
Because your preview is mirrored. Everyone else sees the text the right way round. Turn mirroring off to confirm.
How do I flip what others actually see?
You need software between the camera and the app. OBS Studio can flip the image and output a virtual camera that Zoom, Teams and Discord can use.
My camera image is upside down.
That is usually a driver fault or a physically inverted camera mount. Check the manufacturer's utility for a rotation setting, or use OBS to rotate the image.