---
id: setup
title: Getting Started
sidebar_label: Getting Started
slug: /
---

<div>
  <img align="right" width="35%" src="../img/example_intro.png" />
</div>

## Installing the library

Install react-native-vision-camera through npm:

```sh
npm i react-native-vision-camera
npx pod-install
```

## Updating manifests

To use a Camera or Microphone you must first specify that your app requires camera and microphone permissions.

### iOS

Open your project's `Info.plist` and add the following lines inside the outermost `<dict>` tag:

```xml
<key>NSCameraUsageDescription</key>
<string>$(PRODUCT_NAME) needs access to your Camera to record videos and capture photos.</string>
<key>NSMicrophoneUsageDescription</key>
<string>$(PRODUCT_NAME) needs access to your Microphone to record videos with audio.</string>
```

#### Compatibility

VisionCamera is written in Swift. If your project is written in Objective-C, you have to create a Bridging Header first:

1. Open your project (`.xcworkspace`) in Xcode
2. Press **File** > **New** > **File** (<kbd>⌘</kbd>+<kbd>N</kbd>)
3. Select **Swift File** and press **Next**
4. Choose whatever name you want, e.g. `File.swift` and press **Create**
5. Press **Create Bridging Header** when promted.

Also, make sure you're using Swift 5.2 or above:

1. Open `project.pbxproj` in a Text Editor
2. If the `LIBRARY_SEARCH_PATH` value is set, make sure there is no explicit reference to Swift-5.0. If there is, remove it. See [this StackOverflow answer](https://stackoverflow.com/a/66281846/1123156).
3. If the `SWIFT_VERSION` value is set, make sure it is set to `5.2` or higher.

> See [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting) if you're having problems

### Android

Open your project's `AndroidManifest.xml` and add the following lines inside the `<manifest>` tag:

```xml
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
```

## Permissions

VisionCamera also provides functions to easily get and request Microphone and Camera permissions.

### Getting Permissions

Simply use the **get** functions to find out if a user has granted or denied permission before:

```ts
const cameraPermission = await Camera.getCameraPermissionStatus()
const microphonePermission = await Camera.getMicrophonePermissionStatus()
```

A permission status can have the following values:

* `authorized`: Your app is authorized to use said permission. Continue with mounting the `<Camera>` view.
* `not-determined`: Your app has not yet requested permission from the user. [Continue by calling the **request** functions.](#requesting-permissions)
* `denied`: Your app has already requested permissions from the user, but was explicitly denied. You cannot use the **request** functions again, but you can use the [`Linking` API](https://reactnative.dev/docs/linking#opensettings) to redirect the user to the Settings App where he can manually grant the permission.
* `restricted`: (iOS only) Your app cannot use the Camera or Microphone because that functionality has been restricted, possibly due to active restrictions such as parental controls being in place.

### Requesting Permissions

Use the **request** functions to prompt the user to give your app permission to use the Camera or Microphone.

:::caution
Note: You can only use **request** functions if the current permission status is `not-determined`.
:::

```ts
const newCameraPermission = await Camera.requestCameraPermission()
const newMicrophonePermission = await Camera.requestMicrophonePermission()
```

The permission request status can have the following values:

* `authorized`: Your app is authorized to use said permission. Continue with mounting the `<Camera>` view.
* `denied`: Your app has already requested permissions from the user, but was explicitly denied. You cannot use the **request** functions again, but you can use the [`Linking` API](https://reactnative.dev/docs/linking#opensettings) to redirect the user to the Settings App where he can manually grant the permission.

<br />

#### 🎉 Hooray! You're ready to learn about [Camera Devices](devices)!