Webcam Not Working on Zoom? Here's How to Fix It

You join a Zoom meeting and everyone sees a black screen or a message saying "Camera not detected". This is one of the most common video call problems — and almost always fixable in under 2 minutes.

Quick Fixes to Try Right Now

1. Close other apps using your camera

OBS, Teams, Meet, Skype, Discord or any browser tab with camera access. Only one app can use the camera at a time on most systems.

2. Check the Zoom camera selector

In Zoom: click the arrow next to the video icon → Video Settings → Camera. Make sure the correct camera is selected, not "None" or an old virtual camera.

3. Restart Zoom completely

Close Zoom entirely (check the system tray), then reopen. A fresh session re-initializes the camera.

4. Check your browser permissions (Zoom web)

If using Zoom in a browser, click the 🔒 icon in the address bar and make sure camera access is allowed for zoom.us.

Advanced Fixes (Drivers & Privacy)

• Windows: Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → make sure camera access is ON and Zoom is allowed.
• Update the webcam driver: Device Manager → Cameras → right-click → Update driver.
• Mac: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → check Zoom is enabled. Restart with sudo killall VDCAssistant if needed.
• If you have a built-in camera, check the Fn key / physical shutter switch on your laptop.
• Test with our free tool first to confirm the camera hardware itself works.