Webcam not working? How to fix it on Windows and Mac
Open the privacy shutter, check any camera key or switch, and close other apps that may be using the camera. On Windows 11, run the camera troubleshooter, allow access in Privacy & security and check the driver; on a Mac, update macOS and check Screen Time and the camera privacy setting. Test after each step.
This guide is for a camera that is missing, black or not working in any app. If your browser says the camera is blocked, start with how to allow camera and microphone access instead. Check the result after each step with the Webcam Test.
Common webcam problems
| Problem | What it usually means | Where to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Dark or grainy image | Webcam sensors are small and need plenty of light; in a dim room they boost the signal, which adds grain | Why your webcam looks dark, grainy or blurry |
| Wrong camera selected | The app or browser uses another camera, or a virtual camera from software that is not running | It works in one app but not in another |
| Camera in use by another app | Another program has the camera open. Microsoft lists it as error 0xA00F4243: “Another app or process is using the camera.” | First checks on any computer, step 2, and when the camera is in use by another app |
| No camera found | The camera is switched off, disconnected or not detected by the system | First checks on any computer, then On Windows 11 or On a Mac |
| Frozen picture | The picture stops updating. Microsoft lists a camera that freezes under low system resources and the camera driver | Close other apps as in First checks on any computer, restart, then update the driver in On Windows 11 |
First checks on any computer
- Open the privacy shutter or remove any cover. Some laptops also have a camera key, often on a function key, or a switch on the side that turns the camera off.
- Close other apps that may be using the camera, such as call apps and other browsers, then try again.
- For a USB webcam, plug it straight into the computer rather than a hub, try another USB port and, if you can, another computer.
On Windows 11
Microsoft’s fixes, in its order:
- Run the camera troubleshooter: Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, then Run next to Camera.
- Check the camera switch or key, as above.
- Allow access in Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera: turn on Camera access, Let apps access your camera and Let desktop apps access your camera. Microsoft notes that browsers and many video call apps are desktop apps that need this last switch.
- Open the Camera app. If it shows a picture but your browser or call app does not, the problem is in that app’s settings or permissions.
- Install updates in Settings > Windows Update, including any optional updates offered for the camera.
- Check your antivirus settings, which can block the camera.
- In Device Manager, choose Action > Scan for hardware changes. If the camera is listed with a problem, roll back or uninstall its driver, then restart.
- If it still fails, update the camera’s driver in Device Manager and pick USB Video Device, the standard driver built into Windows.
On a Mac
Apple’s steps for a built-in camera:
- Update macOS in System Settings > General > Software Update.
- If you use Screen Time, open System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > App Restrictions and make sure Camera is allowed.
- Allow your browser or app in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.
- Restart the Mac. On a Mac with an Intel processor, Apple suggests resetting the SMC instead.
- If the camera still doesn’t work, or the green light next to the camera flashes, Apple says the Mac might need service.
It works in one app but not in another
- Choose the camera in that app’s own settings. It may be set to another camera, or to a virtual camera from software that is not running.
- Close the other app. On Windows, a camera that one app is using often cannot be opened by another at the same time.
- If only your browser fails, the site is probably blocked: see how to allow camera access in each browser.
Check the picture once it works
Once a picture appears, the Webcam Test shows the resolution and frame rate your browser receives, and the Webcam Resolution Test lists every size the camera delivers. Before a call or an exam, the Webcam and Mic Test checks the camera, microphone and speakers together.
Sources
The official pages this guide follows, last checked on . Found something out of date? See Contact.
Tests used in this guide
Webcam Test
Start a live preview to check that your camera works and see the resolution and frame rate it delivers.
Webcam Resolution Test
Ask your camera for six common sizes, from 320 × 240 to 4K, and see which ones it delivers.
Webcam and Mic Test
Check your camera and microphone together before a call: a live preview and a mic level meter.
More guides
- Camera or microphone blocked? How to allow accessAllow the site from your browser’s address bar or site settings, then check that Windows, macOS or your phone lets the browser itself use the camera and microphone. If it still fails, close other apps using the device and check shutters, mute keys and cables.
- Camera or microphone blocked in an in-app browser? How to fix itApps such as Facebook, Instagram, Gmail and Telegram can open links in their own built-in browser. There the app, not your browser, decides whether a page may use the camera or microphone, and it may not pass access on. Open the page in your default browser, allow access when asked, then test it.