> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.userintuition.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Video Interview Mode
> Capture facial expressions, body language, and on-screen behavior by running interviews as video calls with optional Participant screen sharing.
Video mode turns an interview into a full video call: the Participant appears on camera, can optionally share their screen, and the AI interviewer runs the conversation as it would in audio mode. Both video tracks and any screen share are recorded and attached to the Interview record for later review.
This page is a deeper look at video mode. For the basic toggle in the Study setup flow, see [Set Up Your Interviewer](/creating-a-study/setup-interviewer).
***
## What video mode is
When video mode is enabled on a Study, each interview opens in the Participant's browser as a video call rather than a voice or chat session. During the call:
* The Participant's webcam stream is captured.
* The Participant can choose to share a tab, window, or full screen.
* The AI interviewer speaks and listens just as it does in audio mode — there is no on-camera AI avatar.
* Both the camera feed and any screen share are recorded into a single video file linked to the Interview.
Internally, video mode is controlled by the `enable_video_recording` flag on the Study. When that flag is on, the AI is also told it is on a video call so it avoids prompts like "type your answer" or "read the next page."
***
## When to use video mode
Watch Participants navigate a prototype, website, or app while they narrate their thinking.
Hesitation, confusion, and delight often show on someone's face before they say it out loud.
Pair video reactions with concept tests so you can see *and* hear what Participants think of a design.
Ask Participants to walk through how they currently solve a problem in their own tools.
If you only need spoken responses, audio mode is the better default — it has lower friction and a smaller hardware footprint.
***
## Enabling video mode
Video mode is configured in **Step 4: Setup Interviewer** of the Study creation flow.
From your Study, navigate to the Setup Interviewer step. You'll see voice selection cards followed by a **Default Mode** section.
In the Default Mode section, enable the **Video** toggle. This sets `enable_video_recording` on the Study.
Your selection saves automatically. Continue to [Step 5: Test Your Conversation](/creating-a-study/test-conversation) to confirm the video call experience end to end.
You can keep the Audio toggle on alongside Video. Mode preferences interact at the Study level — see [Set Up Your Interviewer](/creating-a-study/setup-interviewer#available-modes) for the full mode matrix.
***
## What the Participant sees
Video mode runs entirely in the browser — no app install, no plugin.
The Participant clicks the unique link from their invite (email, panel dashboard, or your own distribution).
The browser prompts for camera and microphone access. Both must be granted for video mode to start. If either is denied, the call cannot proceed.
Once the call starts, the Participant can click **Share screen** to pick a tab, window, or their full desktop. Screen sharing is optional and can be stopped or restarted at any time.
The AI interviewer talks just like in audio mode. The Participant's camera feed (and any active screen share) records in the background.
***
## Reviewing recordings
Completed video interviews appear in the **Calls** tab of your Study, alongside transcripts and AI analysis.
* Each Interview row with a recording shows a video thumbnail or play affordance. Click it to open the recording in a modal.
* The video file is the same artifact whether the Participant turned on screen share or not — if they shared a screen, that footage is composed into the recording.
* AI-generated citations in the report and Intelligence Hub deep-link into the video at the timestamp of the cited quote, so you can jump from a finding to the exact moment it was said.
Open the Study, switch to the **Calls** tab, and click any Interview to view its transcript, recording, and analysis side by side.
In a Study report or Intelligence Hub answer, clicking a citation opens a modal that plays the recording from the cited timestamp.
Once a Study is synced as a source, video Interviews remain accessible through citations in chat answers. See [Intelligence Hub](/managing-your-study/intelligence-hub).
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## Privacy and consent
Video recordings include the Participant's face, surroundings, and anything they choose to share on screen. Make sure your consent language and data handling reflect that.
* Always disclose video recording in your Study description and any pre-interview consent screen.
* If your Study touches regulated data (health, finance, minors), confirm with your legal or compliance team before enabling video mode.
* Treat screen-share recordings as sensitive — Participants may inadvertently expose other tabs, notifications, or personal information. Consider asking them to share a single tab rather than the full desktop.
* Recordings are stored alongside the Interview record and are subject to the same retention and deletion controls as the rest of your Study data.
***
## Browser and hardware requirements
Video mode runs on the same WebRTC stack as audio mode, with the addition of camera and screen-share capture.
| Requirement | Details |
| ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Browser | Latest Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari (desktop). Mobile Safari and Chrome on Android also work for camera; screen share support varies by OS. |
| Camera | Any working webcam or built-in laptop camera. |
| Microphone | Required — same as audio mode. |
| Screen share | Supported on desktop browsers. Some mobile browsers cannot share a screen; the Participant can still proceed with camera-only. |
| Network | Stable broadband; \~1 Mbps up minimum, more recommended for clean screen capture. |
If a Participant's device does not support video, they will see an error before the call begins. For mixed audiences, consider running an audio-only Study and enabling video on a follow-up Study with qualified Participants.
***
## Cost
Video interviews cost **2 credits per completed Interview**, compared to 1 credit for audio or chat. See [Billing and Credits](/essentials/billing-and-credits) for how credits are charged and refilled.
Credits are consumed per Interview, not per Study. Enabling video mode does not charge anything until Participants actually complete interviews.
***
## Frequently asked questions
**Does video mode change the AI interviewer's behavior?**
The interviewer adjusts its language so it doesn't reference reading or typing — it knows the conversation is happening on a video call. The questions and overall flow are the same as audio mode.
**Can a Participant turn their camera off mid-interview?**
The Participant controls their own camera via the browser. If they disable it, the audio side of the interview still continues and is recorded.
**Is screen share required?**
No. Screen share is optional and Participant-initiated. Use video mode any time you want camera capture, even without screen share.
**Can I switch a Study from audio to video after launch?**
Yes — toggle video on in the Setup Interviewer step. New Interviews will use the new mode; previously completed Interviews keep their original recordings.