Webcam not working in a call? Check these in order
If the camera does not work in a call, test it outside the call first. A picture in the test but not in the call points to a permission or an app setting. No picture anywhere points to the operating system, the driver or the hardware. Work through the steps in this order, because each one rules out a whole group of causes, and you will know which fix worked.
Webcam testIs my camera working? — free, runs in your browserOpen →Step 1: Test outside the call
Open the camera app that came with your computer, or use the webcam test in your browser. Browser tests ask for camera permission, so they also show whether the browser is blocking you.
- If the picture shows, go to step 2 and check the call app's own camera setting.
- If there is no picture anywhere, go to steps 4 and 5.
Step 2: Browser and site permissions
In a browser-based call, the website needs permission to use the camera. Click the padlock or site settings icon at the left of the address bar, and find Camera. Set it to Allow, then reload the page. If you clicked Block once by accident, the browser remembers that choice until you change it.
Step 3: Operating system privacy settings
Operating systems can block camera access for every app, or for particular ones.
- Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Camera. Check that camera access is on, and that the browser or call app is allowed in the list below the main switch.
- macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera. Tick the browser or app you are using.
Then quit the app completely and open it again. Permission changes often do not apply to an app that is already running.
Step 4: Another app, or a physical switch
Most webcams serve only one app at a time. A recording tool, a streaming app, a second call open in another window, or the camera app itself can hold the camera, and the next app then sees a black frame or nothing. Close everything that might use video. On Windows, check Task Manager for leftover processes; on macOS, Activity Monitor does the same job. Then try again.
Many laptops have a privacy shutter over the lens, or a function key that turns the camera off, often marked with a camera symbol. External webcams may have a sliding cover. Look for a small light next to the lens, which should come on whenever the camera is in use. If the light stays off and the picture is black, check for a cover or switch before you suspect anything else.
Step 5: Drivers and connections
On Windows, open Device Manager and look under Cameras or Imaging devices. A warning icon means the driver has a problem. Right-click the camera to update the driver, or to roll it back if the problem began after an update. Most webcams on macOS need no separate driver, so a restart is usually the fix there.
For an external camera, unplug it, wait ten seconds and plug it back in. Use a port directly on the computer rather than a hub, because a hub can fail to supply enough power. If the camera works on another computer, the fault is more likely in the first computer's software or ports.
Step 6: Light and resolution
A picture that shows but looks dark or grainy has too little light. A bright window behind you turns you into a silhouette, so put the light in front of you. Low light makes the camera slow its frame rate, so the picture looks jerky. A slow internet connection also makes call apps reduce video quality automatically, so close large downloads and check the video setting in the call app.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Try first |
|---|---|---|
| Black picture in every app | Shutter, switch or driver | Steps 4 and 5 |
| Works in the test, not in a browser call | Site permission | Step 2 |
| Works until another app starts | Camera in use elsewhere | Step 4 |
| Camera missing from the list | Connection or driver | Step 5 |
| Dark, grainy or jerky picture | Light, or a slow connection | Step 6 |
Quick answers
Why does my webcam work in one app but not another?
The other app may lack permission, or it may be set to use a different camera. Check that app's video settings and the operating system's camera permission list.
Do I need to restart after changing permissions?
Usually closing and reopening the app is enough. Restart the computer only if nothing changes.
Is my camera broken if the screen stays black?
Not necessarily. Check for a shutter, a switch and another app holding the camera before you assume a hardware fault.
For the audio side of the same call, see why the microphone is not working. You can also test your mic on its own.
