Setting up webcam and screensharing at the same time for video calls revisions

Go back to topic: Setting up webcam and screensharing at the same time for video calls

  1. v3 anchor; v3 full version
  2. v2 anchor; v2 full version

Revision #3

Edited on
2026-01-17
Edited by user
tnt
1. Install QVC in dom0: sudo qubes-dom0-update qubes-video-companion-dom0 1. Install QVC in dom0: `sudo qubes-dom0-update qubes-video-companion-dom0`
3. Chromium will show correctly my webcam and screenshare. In the templatevm, run: sudo apt install chromium 4. Install Qubes Video Companion in the TemplateVM: sudo apt install qubes-video-companion 5. Install MPV in the TemplateVM (explained later): sudo apt install mpv 3. Chromium will show correctly my webcam and screenshare. In the templatevm, run: `sudo apt install chromium` 4. Install Qubes Video Companion in the TemplateVM: `sudo apt install qubes-video-companion` 5. Install MPV in the TemplateVM (explained later): `sudo apt install mpv`
9. Now, run "qubes-video-companion screenshare" in the AppVM and select dom0 to be able to share your whole screen 10. Last, we will use a webcam application to show the screensharing that we are receiving as a webcam data stream provided by QVC. First, I used Cheese and worked quite well, but the GUI of this app will take up a lot of screen space. So, I discovered that MPV tool will show a webcam without any GUI in its window. Run in the AppVM this command "mpv av://v4l2:/dev/videoN --profile=low-latency --untimed". Change the N in the "av://v4l2:/dev/video**N**" thing with the correct one. If you don't know which one is it, try one by one until you get the screensharing in the MPV window. 9. Now, run `qubes-video-companion screenshare` in the AppVM and select dom0 to be able to share your whole screen 10. Last, we will use a webcam application to show the screensharing that we are receiving as a webcam data stream provided by QVC. First, I used Cheese and worked quite well, but the GUI of this app will take up a lot of screen space. So, I discovered that MPV tool will show a webcam without any GUI in its window. Run in the AppVM this command `mpv av://v4l2:/dev/videoN --profile=low-latency --untimed`. Change the N in the `av://v4l2:/dev/videoN` thing with the correct one. If you don't know which one is it, try one by one until you get the screensharing in the MPV window.

Revision #2

Edited on
2026-01-16
Edited by user
tnt
1. Create a TemplateVM (i will use debian) for the videocall Qube. 2. Chromium will show correctly my webcam and screenshare. In the templatevm, run: sudo apt install chromium 3. Install Qubes Video Companion in the TemplateVM: sudo apt install qubes-video-companion 4. Install MPV in the TemplateVM (explained later): sudo apt install mpv 5. TemplateVM is ready. Now simply create an AppVM with this TemplateVM 6. Now, in this AppVM, run chromium, go to MS Teams, Jitsi, Google Meet or whatever you need to use 7. Connect your webcam to the AppVM. Doable with the GUI 8. Now, run "qubes-video-companion screenshare" and select dom0 to be able to share your whole screen 9. Last, we will use a webcam application to show the screensharing that we are receiving as a webcam data stream provided by QVC. First, I used Cheese and worked quite well, but the GUI of this app will take up a lot of screen space. So, I discovered that MPV tool will show a webcam without any GUI in its window. Run this command "mpv av://v4l2:/dev/videoN --profile=low-latency --untimed". Change the N in the "av://v4l2:/dev/video**N**" thing with the correct one. If you don't know which one is it, try one by one until you get the screensharing in the MPV window. 10. Now you can share your webcam in the videocall, and also use the screen share button to share the screen of the MPV window, which is your actual screen. I recommend moving the MPV window to a Workspace that you don't use and fullscreen it there, so everything looks nice and MPV doesn't get in your way. 1. Install QVC in dom0: sudo qubes-dom0-update qubes-video-companion-dom0 2. Create a TemplateVM (i will use debian) for the videocall Qube. 3. Chromium will show correctly my webcam and screenshare. In the templatevm, run: sudo apt install chromium 4. Install Qubes Video Companion in the TemplateVM: sudo apt install qubes-video-companion 5. Install MPV in the TemplateVM (explained later): sudo apt install mpv 6. TemplateVM is ready. Now simply create an AppVM with this TemplateVM 7. Now, in this AppVM, run chromium, go to MS Teams, Jitsi, Google Meet or whatever you need to use 8. Connect your webcam to the AppVM. Doable with the GUI 9. Now, run "qubes-video-companion screenshare" in the AppVM and select dom0 to be able to share your whole screen 10. Last, we will use a webcam application to show the screensharing that we are receiving as a webcam data stream provided by QVC. First, I used Cheese and worked quite well, but the GUI of this app will take up a lot of screen space. So, I discovered that MPV tool will show a webcam without any GUI in its window. Run in the AppVM this command "mpv av://v4l2:/dev/videoN --profile=low-latency --untimed". Change the N in the "av://v4l2:/dev/video**N**" thing with the correct one. If you don't know which one is it, try one by one until you get the screensharing in the MPV window. 11. Now you can share your webcam in the videocall, and also use the screen share button to share the screen of the MPV window, which is your actual screen. I recommend moving the MPV window to a Workspace that you don't use and fullscreen it there, so everything looks nice and MPV doesn't get in your way.