15 Fixes for When Your Camera Isn't Working in Teams

Easy troubleshooting steps to fix a camera that's not working on Teams

Written by Stan Kats | Edited by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: January 22, 2026 Fact Checked

It can be frustrating when you need to attend a video conference, but your camera isn’t working. There are many reasons why your camera might not be working in Teams. It could be another app, your settings, a driver issue, or a minor glitch with your app. Luckily, there are several things you can do to troubleshoot the issue. This wikiHow article teaches you how to troubleshoot a camera not working in Microsoft Teams.

Quick Troubleshooting

Make sure your camera is turned on and connected. Check to see if any other apps are using your camera. Make sure Teams has permission to access your camera. Restart your computer. Make sure your computer and camera drivers are up-to-date. See if your camera works in other apps.

1

Make sure your camera is turned on.

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Your camera may be turned off. If you have an external camera, check to see if it has an on/off switch. Make sure it is turned on. If it requires an external power supply, make sure it is plugged in. If you have an internal/laptop webcam, check your keyboard to see if there is a button that resembles a camera or a camera with a line through it. Press this button to make sure your camera is turned on. It may be at the top in the F key row.
- If you need assistance, check the user’s manual for your laptop for instructions on how to turn the camera on and off.

2

Make sure no other apps are using your camera.

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Your camera may be in use by another app. If other apps that use your camera are running, Teams will not be able to access your camera. If you are using any other apps that use the camera (Zoom, FaceTime, OBS Studio, Camera, Messenger, etc), close those programs. Also, check to make sure there are no web applications open in a web browser that use your camera:^{[1]
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- Windows: Press Ctrl + Alt + Del and click Task Manager. Check to make sure there are no background processes running that use your camera. If there are, select the app and click End Task.
- Mac: Click the Spotlight/Magnifying glass icon and search “Activity Monitor.” Open the Activity Monitor. Check if any background apps are open that use your camera. Select any apps that use your camera and click Force Quit. ^{[2]
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3

Make sure your camera is connected.

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If you are using an external camera, check to make sure it is securely connected to a USB port. If so, try using a different USB port. Inspect the cord and the plug for damage.

4

Check with the meeting host and/or admin.

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If you are in a meeting, ask the host if cameras are allowed during the meeting. If you are signed into Teams with a work-related account, your administrator may have set a policy that disallows cameras for your company.^{[3]
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5

Make sure you have the right camera selected.

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If you have had different camera devices connected to your computer, you may have the wrong camera selected. While in a meeting, click the arrow pointing down next to the camera icon at the top of the screen. Make sure you have selected the correct camera you want to use.

6

Check if anything is obstructing the camera.

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If you are getting a black screen in Teams, check to make sure your camera doesn’t have a cover or tape covering it. Make sure it isn’t behind something. Remove anything obstructing your camera.

7

Restart Teams.

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There may be a minor glitch with Teams. Restarting applications can fix minor glitches with them. Use one of the following steps to restart Teams:
- Windows: Press Ctrl + Alt + Del and click Task Manager. Select Teams and click End Task. Then launch Teams and try again.
- Mac: Click the Spotlight/Magnifying glass icon and search “Activity Monitor.” Open the Activity Monitor. Select Teams and click Force Quit. Then launch Teams and try again.

8

Restart your computer.

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Restarting your computer can fix minor, temporary glitches that arise with your computer’s operating system. It will also restart any apps that are running, and potentially close any background programs that may be using your camera.

9

Check your camera permissions.

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Teams may not be allowed access to your camera on your device. You can check your camera permissions in the Settings menu. Make sure Teams wasn’t accidentally disallowed access to your camera. Use one of the following steps to check your permissions setting:
- Windows: Press Win + I to open Settings. Click Privacy & Security > Camera. Ensure the toggle switch next to “Camera Access” is on. Then ensure the toggle switch next to “Teams” is on.
- Mac: Click the Apple Icon and click System Settings (or System Preferences) > Privacy & Security > Camera. Ensure the toggle switch next to “Teams” is turned on.^{[4]
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10

Uninstall and Reinstall Teams.

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Teams may not be working properly. It’s possible your installation of Teams may have become corrupted. It’s also possible you may not have the latest version of Teams. Uninstalling Teams and reinstalling it will ensure you have the latest stable version of Teams. Use one of the following steps to uninstall and reinstall Teams:
- Windows: Press Win + I to open Settings. Click Apps > Installed Apps. Click the icon with three dots (•••) next to Teams. Click Uninstall and follow the prompts. Download Teams from the official download site or from the Microsoft Store.
- Mac: Open the Applications folder in Finder. Drag the Teams app to the trash. Download Teams from the official download site or the App Store.

11

Check for updates.

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Your computer may be outdated. When you update your computer, it usually updates drivers as well. Making sure your camera drivers are updated may fix any issues you are having. Use the following steps to check and make sure your computer is up-to-date.
- Windows: Press Win + I to open Settings. Click Windows Update. Click Check for updates. If an update is available, click Download & Install.
- Mac: Click the Apple Icon and click System Settings > General > Software Update. Click Update Now if an update is available.

12

Update drivers manually (Windows only).

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Your drivers may not be up-to-date. If you purchased an external camera, you may need to download drivers or software from the manufacturer’s website. You can also use the following steps to update your camera’s drivers manually on Windows:
- Right-click the Windows Start menu.
- Click Device Manager.
- Expand Cameras.
- Click Update drivers.
- Click Search automatically for drivers.
- Follow the prompts if any drivers are found.

13

Run the camera troubleshooter (Windows only).

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There may be a problem with your Windows software. Luckily, Windows has built-in troubleshooters you can run to try to fix issues with your devices. Use the following steps to run the camera troubleshooter on Windows:
- Press Win + I to open the Settings menu.
- Click System.
- Click Troubleshoot.
- Click Other troubleshooters.
- Click Run next to “Camera.”
- Follow the prompts.

14

Try the camera in other applications.

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If there is a hardware issue with your camera, it probably won’t work in any application. Try using the camera in different applications (i.e., Camera, Zoom, OBS Studio, etc). See if your camera works in any other application. If it doesn’t work in any app, it may not work anymore.

15

Try a different camera.

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If your camera is no longer working, you will need to purchase a new one. Try using a different camera. If you have an internal camera, try using an external USB camera. If Teams works with a different camera, your old camera is most likely the problem.