How to Invert Your Camera on Zoom

Updated 14 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to flip your camera image on Zoom so it appears as a mirror image, which is how you see yourself in most apps. You can do this during a meeting or before you join. The setting only affects how you see your own video preview—other participants see you normally unless they also invert their view.

What You’ll Need

A computer with the Zoom desktop app installed (Windows or macOS).
An active Zoom meeting or the ability to start a new meeting.
Your camera connected and working.

Step-by-Step

Open Zoom and start or join a meeting. The setting is only available during a live meeting, not on the main settings screen.
Click the arrow next to the video icon. In the meeting controls at the bottom left, you’ll see a small upward arrow next to the camera/video button. Click that arrow to open a dropdown menu.
Select “Video Settings…” This opens the Settings window directly to the Video tab.
Check the box “Mirror my video”. In the Video settings, under the “Camera” section, you’ll see a checkbox labeled “Mirror my video”. Click it to enable the mirror effect. Your preview will immediately flip horizontally.
Close the settings window. Click the X in the top right corner to return to the meeting. The change is saved automatically.
Verify the effect. Look at your video thumbnail in the meeting. It should now show a mirrored view of yourself, like a reflection in a mirror.

Common Mistakes

Looking for the setting outside a meeting. The “Mirror my video” option is only accessible while you are in a meeting. You cannot set it from the main Zoom home screen.
Expecting others to see the mirrored view. The mirror setting only changes your local preview. Other participants see you as the camera actually captures you, unless they also enable the same setting on their end.
Confusing “Mirror my video” with “Touch up my appearance”. These are two separate checkboxes. “Touch up” softens your skin; it does not flip the image.

Tips

Use mirror mode for text or signs. If you hold up a sign or show a document with text, the mirror will make it appear reversed to you, but it will be correct for others. For your own reading, you may want to turn the mirror off.
Mirror mode helps with hand gestures. When you point or gesture, the mirrored view matches what you see in a mirror, which can feel more natural for some people.
It works on the mobile app too. On the Zoom mobile app, the same setting is found in Settings > Meetings > “Mirror my video”. The desktop version is the most common place people look, but it’s good to know it’s also available on phones and tablets.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find the arrow next to the video icon. Make sure you are in a meeting. If you are in the meeting but the controls are hidden, move your mouse to the bottom of the screen to make them appear. If you still don’t see the arrow, try right-clicking the video icon instead—it should open the same menu.
The checkbox is grayed out. This can happen if your camera is not active or if Zoom hasn’t fully connected to the camera. Try turning your camera off and on again using the video icon, then check the settings again.
The mirror works but my video is still not flipped for others. That’s expected. The setting is only for your own view. If you want others to see you mirrored, they would need to enable the same setting on their own devices.
I changed the setting but my preview didn’t change. Sometimes the preview needs a moment to refresh. Close the settings window and look at your thumbnail. If it still doesn’t change, try toggling the checkbox off and on again, or restart the meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does inverting my camera on Zoom affect how others see me?

No. The “Mirror my video” setting only affects your local video preview. Other participants see the unmirrored feed from your camera.

Can I invert my camera before joining a meeting?

Yes, you can start a new meeting by yourself, change the setting, and then leave that test meeting. The setting will persist for future meetings.

Why does my camera look inverted by default?

Zoom mirrors your video by default in the preview to make it feel more natural, like a mirror. The “Mirror my video” checkbox toggles this behavior. If you uncheck it, you see yourself as others see you.

Will the mirror setting affect screen sharing?

No, the mirror setting only applies to your camera video. Screen sharing is never mirrored.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to invert my camera?

No, there is no default keyboard shortcut. You must go through the video settings menu each time.

Does the setting apply to all meetings?

Yes, once you change it in one meeting, it is saved as a global setting and applies to all future meetings on that device.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.