Your own tile is the panel labeled "Your video tile" (top-left of the room on the web). It's your control center: camera, backgrounds, your tile message, and how you appear to others. This article covers all of it — web focus rooms only; the mobile app keeps tiles simpler.
How do I turn my camera on or off?
Use the camera button on your own tile panel. A few things worth knowing:
- You can only toggle the camera once every 2 seconds — quick double-clicks are ignored on purpose.
- "Test camera" (in the expanded panel) shows you your own picture without anyone else seeing you.
- The camera is optional. Your study time and streaks count with the camera off — see: Streaks: how they work (freezes and repairs).
Can I blur or change my video background?
Yes — on the web, on every plan. With your camera on, click the background-effect icon on your own video tile panel ("Virtual backgrounds") and pick an option: Soft Blur, Hard Blur, one of the ready-made background images, or None to turn it off. The picker only works while your camera is on.
Virtual backgrounds aren't available in the mobile app.
How do I post or change the message on my video tile?
The short line shown under your name on your tile (your tile message, or status line) is set from your own tile panel. Open the "Your video tile" panel first — if you only see the collapsed bar at the top-left of the room, click the down arrow on its right to expand it. The text field ("Post video tile message...") puts a short message under your tile for everyone in the room; to change it later, type the new text in the same field and press Enter.
- Messages are 2 to 90 characters, and you can update once every 10 seconds.
- Other users can react to your message with emoji — the top reaction shows as a chip on your tile.
- "See history" brings back a recent message that earned reactions, so you can re-activate it (available once your account is a few days old).
What is boost (and superboost)?
Boost pushes your tile ahead of the crowd in the room's tile order — use the boost button on your tile panel when you want to be seen (and pinned) more. Boosted users appear before everyone else on the grid.
Superboost is the Premium version: while boosted, Premium users rank higher still. Same button — it upgrades automatically with your plan.
Who can see my video?
By default, everyone in the room. Premium users get privacy controls that blur their tile for certain viewers — in your Privacy settings you can limit your video to:
- only accounts older than 7 days, or
- only other Premium users, or
- only people with their camera on.
Viewers outside your chosen group see a blurred tile with a note explaining your setting. (Hiding your self-view — below — doesn't affect what others see.)
How do I hide my own preview?
Two separate things:
- Self-view toggle on your tile panel ("Hide self view video") hides your own preview from yourself. Others still see you normally.
- "Self video view" in the room Settings → Video enables a small draggable floating preview of yourself you can position anywhere.
Video quality and performance settings
In the room, open Settings (gear on your tile panel) → Video:
- "Number of tiles per page" — fewer tiles = less bandwidth and CPU. Free accounts can show up to 12 tiles per page; subscribers up to 20. (Above 12 you'll see a warning — that many streams needs a powerful machine.)
- "Preferred resolution" (Premium) — choose up to 1080p, 540p, 360p, or low resolution.
- "Mirror my video for myself" / "Mirror my video for others" — your preview is mirrored only for you by default; others always see you the right way around.
- "Zoom camera to fit 16x9".
- Struggling on a slow connection? The Troubleshooting tab has "Decrease my own video resolution", and "Join lite" on the room card is the biggest saver — see: Can't join a focus room? Common issues explained.
Can I show what I'm listening to?
Premium users can connect Spotify and show their current track on their tile: expand your tile panel, use "Connect Spotify", then switch on "Show now playing". Turn the toggle off any time to stop sharing.
What's the NEW 🎉 tag on my tile?
It marks your first week, so others give you a warm welcome (new users also get a highlighted tile border). If you'd rather not have it: expand your own tile panel and choose "Remove new user marker".
Watching tiles while you work in other tabs
The picture-in-picture button on your tile panel pops your pinned tiles into a small always-on-top window, so your focus buddies stay visible while you work elsewhere. Free accounts get the 4-tile layout; larger layouts are a Premium option.