Laptop camera not working in Zoom or Teams

Your laptop camera stays black in Zoom or Teams, or the app says it can’t find a camera. The fastest way to narrow it down is to test the camera outside the meeting app. That tells you whether the issue is with the camera itself, or with app permissions and settings.

The Camera Test shows a live preview and reports the camera’s resolution and frame rate. It runs in your browser, so you can check the camera without joining a call.

Test the laptop camera

Open the Camera Test in your browser.
When the browser asks to use the camera, choose Allow. If you see a choice of cameras, select the laptop’s built-in camera.
Look for a live preview. Move your hand in front of the lens to check that the image updates.
Note the resolution and frame rate shown by the test. If the preview works, the camera is sending video to the browser.

If the test cannot start the camera, close Zoom, Teams, and any other video app, then reload the test. Some devices or drivers allow only one app to use the camera at a time.

What the result means

The preview works, but Zoom or Teams shows a black screen

The camera can provide video, so check which camera the meeting app selected and whether that app has permission. A laptop may list its built-in camera and a virtual camera, external webcam, or phone camera as separate choices.

The preview works, but the image is dark or blocked

The camera is responding, but something may cover the lens or limit the picture. Check for a privacy shutter, a sliding cover, or a piece of tape. Also check the camera’s position and lighting before changing app settings.

The test cannot show a preview

The browser may not have permission, the camera may be in use, or the operating system may not be detecting it. Work through the fixes below, then test again.

The camera does not appear in the app’s camera list

Check system camera access and close other apps that might be using it. If the camera is also missing from your operating system’s camera app, the issue is likely below Zoom or Teams, such as a disabled device or driver problem.

How to fix it

Open the camera cover. Look for a physical shutter near the lens. Some laptops also have a camera privacy key or switch. Check the laptop’s key labels and hardware controls, and make sure the camera is not disabled there.
Allow camera access in the operating system. In Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Camera. Turn on Camera access and Let desktop apps access your camera. On a Mac, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera and allow Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Quit and reopen the app after changing this setting.
Allow camera access in the browser if you use the web app. Click the site controls icon next to the address bar and set Camera to Allow. Reload the meeting page. This permission is separate from the permission for the installed Zoom or Teams app.
Select the laptop camera in Zoom. Open Zoom’s settings and go to Video & effects or Video, depending on the version. Choose the built-in camera from the camera list and check whether its preview appears.
Select the laptop camera in Teams. Open Teams settings, choose Devices, and select the built-in camera under Camera. If you are already in a meeting, check the camera selection in the meeting’s device settings too.
Close other camera apps and browser tabs. Quit other meeting, recording, or camera apps, including any that are running in the background. Then fully quit and reopen Zoom or Teams.
Restart the laptop. This can release a camera that an app stopped using incorrectly. After restarting, open only one video app and test the camera again.
Check for system and driver updates. On Windows 11, open Settings › Windows Update and install available updates. If the camera still does not appear, check Device Manager › Cameras for a disabled camera or a device warning. On a Mac, install available updates from System Settings › General › Software Update.

When it may be a hardware problem

If the camera fails in the Camera Test and in the laptop’s built-in camera app, even after you check permissions and close other apps, the problem is probably not limited to Zoom or Teams. If the camera is missing from system settings or Device Manager, it may be disabled, disconnected internally, or faulty.

For a laptop under warranty, contact the manufacturer before opening the case. If it is out of warranty, a repair shop can check the camera cable and module. An inexpensive USB webcam can be a practical replacement if you need video calls while arranging a repair.

Why the browser test helps

Zoom, Teams, and a browser each have their own camera permissions and camera selection. A camera working in the browser does not automatically mean that Zoom or Teams has permission, or that the app chose the same camera. The test separates those issues: a working preview points you toward app settings, while a failed preview means you should first check browser and system access.

The Camera Test requests permission before showing video. Nothing you record is uploaded, and the test does not record a video.