Quick answer
You only needed a camera for Omegle’s video chat. If you used text chat, you didn’t need a camera.
One important update: the original Omegle shut down in November 2023, so you can’t use the official Omegle service today the way people used to. (1 2)
That said, people still use the word “Omegle” to mean random stranger chat sites. For those, the camera requirements depend on the site and the mode you choose.
What “needing a camera” used to mean on Omegle
Historically, Omegle had two core experiences:
- Video chat: You’d typically be expected to allow camera + microphone permissions in your browser/app.
- Text chat: You could chat without any camera access.
So, no webcam was required unless you were doing video—but many users preferred (and some platforms encouraged) video.
If you’re trying an “Omegle-like” site now: what to expect
Since the original Omegle is gone, you may land on:
- Text-only random chat sites (no camera needed)
- Video-first sites (camera is effectively required)
- Hybrid sites (you can pick text or video, or start in text and switch to video)
In practice: - If the site’s main entry button says “Video,” assume you’ll need a camera. - If there’s a clear “Text” option, you can usually use it without a camera. - Some sites allow you to join video with the camera “off,” but you may get skipped quickly.
Privacy & safety: how to control camera access (recommended)
If your goal is to avoid accidentally turning on your camera, do these every time:
Check browser permissions before you start
- In Chrome/Safari/Edge/Firefox, confirm the site does not have persistent camera access.
Use “Ask every time” (not “Allow”)
- If you ever clicked “Allow,” revoke it immediately after.
Cover the webcam
- A simple sliding cover or even a small piece of tape is a low-tech fail-safe.
Use a separate browser profile
- Keep random chat activity isolated from your everyday logins, autofill, and extensions.
Assume you can be recorded
- Even if a site claims it doesn’t record, the other person can capture video/audio/screenshots.
If you want interaction without a webcam (and without strangers)
If what you’re really looking for is a more private, controlled experience than random video chat, consider an option that doesn’t require putting your face on camera.
For example, Orifice.ai pairs an AI-driven experience with an interactive adult toy / sex robot priced at $669.90, featuring interactive penetration depth detection—which can appeal to people who want responsiveness and novelty without the unpredictability (and privacy exposure) of stranger video chats.
You can learn more here: Orifice.ai
Bottom line
- Back when Omegle existed: you did not need a camera for text chat, but you did for video chat.
- Today: the original Omegle is shut down, and “Omegle-style” alternatives vary—some are text-first, many are video-first.
- If you’re even slightly privacy-conscious, treat camera permission as something you grant only deliberately, and consider safer, more controlled alternatives when you don’t want to be on video.
