How to Fix a Webcam That Is Not Working on Your PC

2026-10-14 · LC Repair

You open a video call or camera application and the webcam shows a black screen, an error message, or is not detected at all. The camera worked before or this is a new webcam that will not start. Webcam failures are most commonly caused by Windows privacy settings blocking camera access, the wrong camera being selected in the application, a driver problem, or another application holding exclusive access to the camera.

Check Windows camera privacy settings

• Windows has a privacy setting that controls which applications can access the camera. If this is turned off, no application can use the webcam. Open Settings, Privacy and Security, Camera. Ensure Camera Access is turned on at the top of the page
• Below the main toggle, check Let Apps Access Your Camera and make sure the specific application you are using (Teams, Zoom, Skype, Chrome, or your video software) has camera access enabled in the list
• Desktop applications (programs not installed from the Microsoft Store) have a separate toggle: Let Desktop Apps Access Your Camera. This must be on for Chrome, Firefox, Zoom, OBS, Discord, and most traditional software. If this toggle is off, these programs cannot access the webcam even though the main camera toggle is on

Check which camera is selected

• If your computer has multiple cameras (a built-in laptop webcam and an external USB webcam), the application may be using the wrong one. In your video call application, go to settings and check the camera selection. In Zoom, go to Settings, Video. In Teams, click the three dots in a call and select Device Settings
• Some applications default to the most recently connected camera. If you plugged in a USB webcam but want to use the built-in one (or vice versa), change the selection in the application settings

Close other applications using the camera

• Most webcams can only be used by one application at a time. If another application has the camera open, your video call shows a black screen or a camera in use error. Close any other applications that might be using the camera: other video call apps, camera preview apps, streaming software, or security camera software
• Check the system tray for camera-related applications running in the background. Manufacturer camera utilities, Windows Camera app, and OBS Studio can hold the camera open even when minimized. Close them completely (right-click the tray icon and select Exit or Quit)
• If you cannot identify which application has the camera locked, restart the computer. This releases all camera handles and ensures the camera is available for the application you want to use

Test with the Windows Camera app

• Open the Windows Camera app from the Start menu. If the camera works in this app, the webcam hardware and driver are fine, and the problem is specific to the application you were trying to use. Check that application camera settings and permissions
• If the Camera app also shows a black screen or an error, the problem is at the system level: the driver, the privacy settings, or the hardware. Continue with driver and hardware troubleshooting

Update or reinstall the webcam driver

• Open Device Manager and expand Cameras or Imaging Devices. Find the webcam entry, right-click it, and select Update Driver. Choose Search Automatically. If an update is available, install it and test the camera
• If updating does not help, uninstall the driver completely. Right-click the webcam in Device Manager, select Uninstall Device, and check Remove Driver Software if that option appears. Restart the computer. Windows detects the camera and installs a fresh driver
• For external USB webcams, also try downloading the driver from the webcam manufacturer website. The manufacturer driver may include features and compatibility fixes not present in the generic Windows driver
• If the webcam stopped working after a Windows Update, the update may have replaced the working driver. Roll back in Device Manager: open the webcam properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver

Check for physical issues

• Many laptops have a physical privacy shutter or slider that covers the webcam lens. If the shutter is closed, the camera appears to work but shows only black. Look for a small slider near the camera lens and slide it open
• Some laptops have a keyboard shortcut that disables the webcam (usually Fn plus a function key with a camera icon). Press the shortcut to toggle the camera on. The laptop may show a brief on-screen notification confirming the camera status
• For USB webcams, try a different USB port. Unplug the webcam, wait a few seconds, and plug it into a different port directly on the computer (not through a hub). If the webcam has an indicator light, it should turn on when plugged in and a camera application is open

Check the BIOS

• Some laptop BIOS versions have a setting to enable or disable the built-in webcam. If the camera does not appear in Device Manager at all, enter the BIOS during startup and look under an Advanced, Security, or Devices section for a camera or webcam setting. Ensure it is enabled
• BIOS settings can reset after a BIOS update, battery removal, or CMOS reset. If the webcam stopped working after any of these events, check the BIOS camera setting

Fix webcam in specific applications

• If the webcam works in the Windows Camera app but not in a browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox), check the browser camera permission. In the browser address bar, click the lock icon and check camera permissions for the specific website. Ensure the camera is set to Allow
• In Chrome, also check overall camera settings: go to Settings, Privacy and Security, Site Settings, Camera. Ensure the correct camera is selected and sites are allowed to ask for camera access
• For Zoom, if the camera shows a black screen, try disabling hardware acceleration in Zoom Video Settings. Some GPU and driver combinations cause a black frame when hardware acceleration is enabled

Reinstall the camera application

• If the Windows Camera app itself is broken, you can reinstall it. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run the command to reinstall all built-in apps, or search for Camera in the Microsoft Store and reinstall it from there
• For third-party applications that cannot access the camera, try uninstalling and reinstalling the application. Some applications store camera configuration that can become corrupted. A fresh install resets these settings

Need help with your webcam?

If your webcam is not working and the troubleshooting steps above have not resolved the issue, LuxuriousComputers Repair can diagnose camera hardware problems, fix driver and permission issues, configure camera settings, and restore full webcam functionality on your computer.