Honorlock Side Camera and Dual Camera Mode: What Students Need to Know
Published: September 14, 2026
Your professor just told you the next exam requires a side camera. Maybe the syllabus says "dual camera Honorlock" or "side-angle webcam." You are now expected to buy an external webcam or prop your phone on a coffee mug three feet to your left so Honorlock can record your hands, keyboard, screen and the side of your face for the entire exam. On top of everything the front camera is already doing.
If you are searching "Honorlock side camera" or "how does Honorlock two cameras work" or "do I really need a second webcam for Honorlock," you are not the only one. This guide covers what the side camera actually is, why schools are adding it, how to set it up without losing your mind and what happens when it does not cooperate.
What Is the Honorlock Side Camera?
The side camera is a second webcam that Honorlock requires for certain exams. It sits to your left or right, about three feet away, and captures a wider view of your testing area. Honorlock calls it the "side-angle webcam" or "side-angle camera."
Your front camera (the built-in laptop webcam) still records your face. The side camera adds a view of:
- Your head and face in profile
- Both hands and the keyboard
- The computer monitor or screen
- Your desk and workspace
- Any allowed materials like scratch paper or a calculator
The idea is to give instructors a full picture of what is happening during the exam. A front camera alone cannot see your hands on the keyboard or what is sitting on your desk next to the laptop. The side camera fills that gap.
Why Are Schools Adding a Second Camera Now?
Schools started rolling out the side camera feature broadly in late 2025 and into 2026. Several things pushed the change:
AI voice assistants. Students figured out they could whisper questions to Siri, Alexa or ChatGPT voice mode on a phone sitting just out of the front camera's view. The front webcam could not see the phone. Audio monitoring could sometimes catch it but not reliably. A side camera aimed at the desk catches devices that the front camera misses.
Scratch paper workarounds. In open-note exams where scratch paper is allowed, the front camera cannot tell whether you are writing on a fresh sheet or reading from pre-written notes you slid into the stack. The side camera shows your hands and the paper surface.
False flag reduction. This is the part schools do not advertise loudly enough. The front-facing camera flags students for "looking down" even when they are doing scratch work on paper the instructor specifically allowed. A side camera that shows you writing on scratch paper can actually reduce false flags because the proctor can see you were doing math, not reading a cheat sheet. Lamar University made exactly this argument to faculty: "The side angle lets us see that you are simply working on your math problem, preventing unnecessary flags or exam pauses."
STEM departments led the push. Math, chemistry, engineering and physics exams need scratch work. The side camera became the answer to "how do we let students use paper and a calculator without giving up proctoring?"
How to Set Up the Honorlock Side Camera
You have three options for the second camera. Each has trade-offs.
Option 1: External USB Webcam (Recommended)
This is what Honorlock and most universities recommend. A basic USB webcam costs $15 to $25. You plug it in, point it at your workspace from the side and you are done.
What you need:
- A USB webcam (avoid Amcrest and Nexigo models as Honorlock lists them as incompatible)
- A tripod, gooseneck mount or a stack of books to get the right height
- A USB extension cable if the webcam cable is too short (most are about 5 feet)
Placement:
- Sit at your desk normally.
- Stretch one arm straight out to the side. Place the camera roughly where your fingertips reach (about 3 feet away).
- Raise the camera so it is slightly above desk level. Eye level or a bit below works well.
- Angle it so the on-screen overlay shows your head profile, hands, keyboard and monitor.
A USB connection is more reliable than Wi-Fi. Fewer disconnections. Fewer mid-exam pauses.
Option 2: Phone as Webcam (Honorlock Mobile App)
If your school has the Honorlock Mobile App enabled you will see a QR code during authentication. Scan it with your phone running Chrome and the phone becomes your side camera.
What you need:
- An iPhone or Android phone (iPads and tablets are not supported)
- Chrome installed on the phone
- A stable prop: tripod, phone mount, or propped against a coffee mug (Honorlock's own suggestion)
- Power cable plugged in so the phone does not die mid-exam
- Same Wi-Fi network as your computer or a wired USB connection
Heads up: If your school has not enabled the Honorlock Mobile App you will not see a QR code. You will need a third-party app like Camo or EpocCam to turn your phone into a webcam for the computer, which adds another layer of setup complexity.
Chromebook users: Phone-as-webcam is not supported on Chromebooks at all. You need a USB webcam or a different computer.
Option 3: Native Phone-as-Webcam (No App Needed)
Recent versions of macOS let you use an iPhone as a webcam natively through Continuity Camera. Android phones running the latest version can also connect as a webcam on Windows. These are built into the operating system and do not need a third-party app.
This works but requires specific OS versions and a compatible phone. Test it before exam day or it may not pair in time.
What Dual Camera Mode Looks Like During the Exam
Honorlock's newer Dual Camera Mode (still in beta at some schools) works differently from the standard side-camera-only setup:
- Side camera records continuous video for the entire exam.
- Front camera takes interval snapshots rather than continuous video. This keeps bandwidth low.
- AI flags from the side camera appear in the session video, the event log and the timeline.
- AI flags from the front camera appear in the event log and timeline with a snapshot image attached.
From the student's perspective the experience is the same: set up both cameras during authentication, position them according to the on-screen guides and take your exam. You do not need to interact with either camera once the exam starts.
Not every school uses Dual Camera Mode. Some only enable the side camera and leave the front camera as the primary. Ask your instructor or check your practice quiz to see which setup your exam uses.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
The side camera feature is still relatively new and students run into issues regularly. Here is what comes up most often:
"Honorlock won't recognize my webcam"
- Close and relaunch the exam. You can only switch camera sources during the Student Photo step of authentication.
- Try a different USB port.
- On Windows check Device Manager to confirm the webcam shows up as a camera device.
- If using a phone check that Chrome is open on the phone and you are on the same Wi-Fi network.
"My phone keeps disconnecting mid-exam"
- Use a USB cable instead of Wi-Fi. This is the single most common fix.
- Plug the phone into power so it does not throttle background processes.
- Turn off notifications and Do Not Disturb mode so nothing interrupts the camera stream.
- Keep the Honorlock mobile app in the foreground. Switching apps will kill the connection.
"The camera view does not match the overlay"
- Move the camera farther away. Three feet is the target distance.
- Raise or lower the camera. If it is on the desk surface it will not see your monitor. Stack a few books under it.
- You do not need a perfect match. Honorlock says "Don't worry about making it perfect—just aim to cover all four areas" (head, hands, keyboard, screen).
"I was paused during the exam because of the side camera"
Live proctors can pause your session if the side camera view is blocked, the camera disconnects or they cannot see your workspace. If you get paused:
- Stay calm and follow the proctor's instructions.
- Reposition the camera or check the connection.
- Note the time lost. If it eats into your exam time contact your instructor afterward with the details.
"My professor requires a side camera but I don't have one and can't afford one"
- Check if your school's library or IT department lends webcams. Many do.
- Ask your professor if the Honorlock Mobile App is enabled so you can use your phone.
- A basic Logitech webcam costs around $15 on Amazon. It does not need to be HD or fancy.
- Contact your school's accessibility or student services office if cost is a barrier. Some have emergency tech funds.
What the Side Camera Can and Cannot See
Understanding the camera's field of view helps you set up your space and avoid unnecessary flags.
What it captures:
- Your desk surface and everything on it
- Your hands, keyboard and mouse
- Your computer screen (at an angle)
- Your face in profile
- Scratch paper, calculators and any allowed materials you use
What it typically does not capture:
- What is directly behind you (unless the camera is placed very far to the side)
- What is on the floor under your desk
- Content on your computer screen in detail (the angle is too steep to read text clearly)
The side camera is there to confirm you are using allowed materials and not reaching for hidden devices. It is not trying to read the fine print on your monitor.
How to Prepare for a Side Camera Exam
The biggest mistake students make is setting up the side camera for the first time during a graded exam. Do not do this.
Before exam day:
- Take the practice quiz. Most professors who enable the side camera also create a low-stakes practice quiz with the same Honorlock settings. Use it. Work out every camera angle, cable and connection issue when nothing is on the line.
- Test your specific setup. If you plan to use a phone, test it as a webcam on the computer you will actually use for the exam. If you plan to use a USB webcam, plug it in and confirm the computer recognizes it and Honorlock can select it.
- Prepare your space. Clear your desk of everything you do not need. Good lighting matters: the camera needs to see your hands clearly. Face a window or use a desk lamp.
- Charge your phone. If your phone is the side camera, start with a full battery and plug it in during the exam anyway.
- Have a backup. If you own a USB webcam and a phone, know how to use either. If one fails during authentication you can switch.
During the exam:
- Do not touch or move the side camera once the exam starts.
- Keep your hands visible on the desk or keyboard.
- If you need scratch paper keep it in the camera's view. Do not reach under the desk or to a shelf.
- If you get paused by a proctor, follow their instructions and note the timestamp.
Do Both Cameras Record the Entire Exam?
In standard side-camera mode the side camera records continuously. The front camera also records continuously. Your instructor can review both feeds.
In the newer Dual Camera Mode the side camera records continuous video while the front camera only takes periodic snapshots. This reduces bandwidth and file size. Flagged moments from either camera appear in the instructor's review dashboard.
Either way: both cameras are active for the full exam. There is no "one camera shuts off after authentication."
Some Schools Have Already Pulled Back
Not every school has kept the side camera enabled. Lamar University enabled it in late 2025, received multiple support requests about reliability issues and removed access to the feature in February 2026. Their IT team wrote that "the feature does not yet provide the level of consistency and reliability needed to ensure a smooth and equitable testing experience for students."
Honorlock is building a dedicated mobile app to improve the side camera experience. Some schools are waiting for that update before re-enabling the feature. Others, especially STEM-heavy programs at USF, George Mason, Georgia Tech and Purdue, are pushing forward because they consider the workspace visibility worth the setup friction.
If your professor requires a side camera and you have persistent technical problems, document the issues and contact your professor and IT support. A technical problem during a graded exam is not your fault if you tested beforehand and the system failed.
What About Cheating with Two Cameras?
Students search for "how to cheat with two cameras Honorlock" frequently enough that it shows up in autocomplete. The side camera was designed specifically to close the gaps that made single-camera workarounds possible:
- Phone on the desk? The side camera sees it.
- Someone behind you holding a whiteboard? The side camera shows anything entering the frame from behind.
- Notes hidden under scratch paper? The side camera angle can see the paper surface and your hand movements.
- Whispering to a voice assistant? Audio monitoring plus the side camera showing no visible device makes this easier to flag.
The two-camera setup does not make cheating impossible. It makes the most common workarounds visible to both AI and human reviewers. Students who get caught face academic integrity charges that are far more damaging than a bad grade on one exam.
If you are struggling with a course that uses Honorlock proctoring, there are better paths than trying to beat two cameras during a live exam. Getting help before the exam, understanding the material, and having a plan for proctored exam support are all more reliable approaches.
When to Get Help Instead of Stressing Over Setup
The side camera adds real friction to an already stressful process. Between buying equipment, testing connections, clearing your desk, positioning everything correctly and dealing with mid-exam pauses, it can feel like the setup takes more mental energy than the exam itself.
If you are behind in the course, stacking multiple proctored finals, or working full time while trying to keep your grade alive, the camera setup is just the last straw on top of a bigger problem. In those situations getting structured help with your Honorlock exam or your entire online course can take the pressure off so you can focus on what matters.
For specific exam types you can also check our guides on Respondus Lockdown Browser exams, Proctorio exams, statistics Honorlock exams, calculus Honorlock exams or anatomy Honorlock exams.
Bottom Line
The Honorlock side camera is a second webcam that records your workspace from the side during proctored exams. It shows your hands, keyboard, screen and desk to fill the blind spots the front camera misses. You can use a USB webcam (cheapest and most reliable), your phone through the Honorlock Mobile App, or a native phone-as-webcam setup.
Test everything before exam day. Use a USB cable when possible. Clear your desk. Take the practice quiz. If the feature is buggy or unstable at your school, document the problems and talk to your professor and IT support.
The two-camera setup is spreading across universities and it is not going away. Knowing how it works and preparing properly is the best way to keep camera issues from hurting your grade.
Need help with a proctored exam? Message us on WhatsApp (+1 408-709-4522) or Discord (homeworkguy100) for a free quote. No advance payment.
Related reading: