Navigate the Interview Interface and Controls

Last updated: August 27, 2026

After you join an interview, you can use the interview interface to communicate with your interviewers, switch between questions, and manage your audio, video, and interview settings.

This article covers the interface and controls in the new and legacy Interview experiences.

New Interview Experience

View interviewers

The upper-left corner displays your profile icon and the profile icons of interviewers who have joined the interview.

Share your screen

The screen-sharing icon in the upper-left corner displays a green status indicator while you share your screen.

To restart screen sharing:

  1. Select the screen-sharing icon.

  2. Select Restart Screenshare.

  3. In the browser dialog box, select Entire screen.

  4. Select the screen preview, and then select Share.

Start and manage the video call

Note: The video-call controls are available only when the hiring company enables HackerRank Built-in A/V.

Select the Start video call icon in the upper-left corner. A green status indicator appears on the icon while the call is active.

You can use the following controls in the video window:

  • Microphone: Select the microphone icon to mute or unmute your microphone. Select the arrow next to the icon to choose a microphone.

  • Camera: Select the camera icon to turn your camera on or off. Select the arrow next to the icon to choose a camera, apply background blur, or hide your self-view.

  • Video layout: Use the controls at the top of the video window to change how videos appear:

    • Select Hide video to hide the video feed and display the active speaker’s name.

    • Select Single video to display one video feed. Use the left and right arrows to switch between video feeds.

    • Select Horizontal participant row to display the video feeds in a horizontal row.

    • Select Vertical participant list to display the video feeds in a vertical list.

    • Select Expand window to expand the video window.

  • End call: Leave the built-in video call.

    Note: Ending the video call does not end the interview.

Chat with interviewers

Select the Chat icon in the upper-left corner. Enter your message in the Message box, and then send it.

The chat panel also displays notifications when interviewers join or leave the video call.

Switch between questions

If an interviewer has not added a question, wait while they set it up.

Your workspace opens automatically when the question is ready.

After an interviewer adds a question, the question selector appears at the top center of the page.

If the interview includes multiple questions, select the current question name, and then select the question that you want to open.

For information about working with each question type, see 📄 Navigate Question Workspaces in an Interview.

Configure interview settings

Click the Settings icon in the upper-right corner. You can use the following tabs:

  • Audio & Video: Review your video preview and select your camera, microphone, or speaker.

    If you experience device issues, expand Troubleshoot Audio & Video and follow the instructions.

  • Editor: Select the font size, tab size, and editor mode.

    Note: The Editor tab is available only for Coding and Database questions.

Legacy Interview Experience

Select audio and video devices

To select your audio and video devices after you join an interview:

  1. Click Start Video in the upper-right corner of the screen to launch the video call.

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  2. Allow the browser to access your camera and microphone when prompted.

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  3. Select your preferred Camera, Microphone, and Speaker from the drop-down menus.

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  4. Click Join. 

Note: If the interviewer invites you to a video call, click Join to start the video.

Update device settings during the interview

To update your device selections during the interview:

  1. Click the microphone or video icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

    image.png

  2. Select your preferred camera, microphone, or speaker from the drop-down menu.

Video layout

You can customize the video layout in HackerRank Interviews based on your preference. The following configurations are supported:

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  • Gallery View: Displays participant videos in a grid.

  • Speaker View: Highlights the active speaker in a large window.

  • Side-by-Side Mode (when screen sharing): Shows the shared screen next to Speaker, Gallery, or Multi-speaker view.

  • Floating Thumbnail (Mini Window): Keeps a small, always-on-top video window when you minimize Zoom.

  • Pop-out View: Opens the video call in a separate browser tab, useful when using multiple monitors.