Camera Test

Camera not working? How to fix it

If your webcam won't turn on, shows a black screen, or an app says 'no camera found', the cause is almost always permissions, another app hogging the device, or a driver problem. Work through this list in order.

Written by Chhandita ShitReviewed by Buddheswar DandapatLast updated 2026-07-28

Quick checks first

  1. Check for a physical privacy shutter or lens cap covering the camera.
  2. Close every other app that might be using the camera, including Zoom, Teams, Slack and browser tabs with other video calls open.
  3. Restart the app you're trying to use the camera in. Many camera bugs are just a stuck session.
  4. Try a different app or website. Run our Camera Test on the homepage to see if the camera works at all outside your usual app.
  5. Restart your computer. This clears out any app that's silently still holding the camera device open.

Check browser and app permissions

Most "camera not working" reports are a blocked permission, not a hardware fault. Browsers and operating systems both gate camera access, and either one can be the blocker.

In your browser

  1. Click the padlock or camera icon in the address bar.
  2. Make sure Camera is set to Allow for the site you're using.
  3. If it's set to Block, change it to Allow and reload the page.
  4. Use our Permissions Test to see exactly what your browser has already granted or denied to this site.

Windows 11

  1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
  2. Make sure "Camera access" and "Let apps access your camera" are turned on.
  3. Scroll down and confirm your browser or app is individually allowed.
  4. If you don't see the camera listed anywhere, it may not have installed correctly, see the driver section below.

macOS

  1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.
  2. Check that your browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.) has the toggle switched on.
  3. If you just enabled it, fully quit and reopen the browser, macOS won't apply the change to an already-running app.

Chromebook

  1. Open Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Camera.
  2. Confirm the site isn't listed under "Not allowed to use your camera".
  3. Remove any block entry and reload the page.

iPhone

  1. Open Settings, scroll to the app (or Safari) in question.
  2. Tap into it and make sure Camera access is enabled.
  3. For Safari specifically, go to Settings > Safari > Camera and set it to Ask or Allow.

Android

  1. Open Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions.
  2. Set Camera to Allow.
  3. For Chrome, open Chrome > Settings > Site settings > Camera and check the site isn't blocked.

Fix a black screen or frozen picture

If the camera light is on but you only see a black or frozen frame, the permission is likely fine and something else is wrong.

  • Try switching to a different resolution or camera source in the app's video settings.
  • Disable any virtual camera software (OBS, Snap Camera, ManyCam) that might be intercepting the feed.
  • Check that low light isn't the culprit, point the camera at a bright window and see if the image appears.
  • On laptops, check for a hardware camera kill switch or function key (often F9 or F10 with a camera icon).

Update or reinstall the camera driver (Windows)

  1. Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand "Cameras" or "Imaging devices".
  3. Right-click your webcam and choose "Update driver", then "Search automatically".
  4. If that finds nothing new, right-click again and choose "Uninstall device", then restart your PC, Windows will reinstall it automatically.
  5. If it's a USB webcam, unplug it, wait ten seconds, and plug it into a different USB port.

External USB webcams

  • Try the webcam on another computer if you can. If it doesn't work there either, the camera itself is likely faulty.
  • Avoid USB hubs where possible, plug directly into the computer.
  • Check the manufacturer's site for a dedicated driver or companion app, some webcams need one to expose full resolution options.

When it's a hardware fault

If the camera doesn't show up in Device Manager (Windows) or System Information (Mac) at all, and no troubleshooting step above changes that, you're likely looking at a hardware failure, a disconnected internal ribbon cable, or a dead sensor. At that point:

  • For laptops, a service center can check the internal camera connector cheaply, it's a common loose-cable issue after a repair or drop.
  • For desktops with no built-in camera, a $20-30 USB webcam is a reliable fix.
  • If the camera works on one account or browser profile but not another, it's software, not hardware, create a fresh browser profile to confirm.

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