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If your Zoom camera is not working, first check which camera Zoom selected, whether video is on, and whether the camera is connected. Then check camera permissions and close apps that may be using it. These steps can help pinpoint whether the problem is Zoom, your operating system or browser, or the camera itself—before you consider reinstalling anything.
1. Select the intended camera in Zoom
Zoom may be using a different camera than the one you expect, especially if your computer has a built-in camera and an external webcam. In a meeting, click the arrow beside Start Video or Stop Video, then open Video Settings. Choose the intended device from the Camera list. If more than one camera appears, select another to see whether it produces video.
If the camera you want does not appear in the list, continue with the connection and permission checks below.
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Confirm that your video is on in the meeting and that the camera is powered and connected. For a USB webcam, check that its cable is firmly connected; if practical, try another USB port. Zoom lists a disconnected camera or a disabled camera setting among possible reasons it cannot detect a camera.
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3. Allow Zoom to use the camera
On macOS
For macOS 10.14 or later, open System Settings > Privacy & Security, select the camera privacy permission, and enable Zoom. The exact labels can differ between macOS releases. Restart Zoom if the system prompts you to do so. See Zoom’s macOS permission instructions.
On Windows
Open your Windows Camera privacy settings and verify that camera access is allowed for Zoom. Menu names and locations vary by Windows version, so use the settings search for Camera privacy settings if needed. Zoom’s camera-detection guidance identifies privacy controls as a possible cause, but does not establish one click-by-click path for every Windows release.
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In a browser
If you joined through the Zoom Web App, the browser also needs permission to use the camera, in addition to the operating system’s permission. Check the camera permission for the Zoom meeting site in your browser’s site settings; browser controls differ. Zoom explains this distinction in its Web App permission guide.
4. Close other apps that may be using the camera
Quit other meeting software, camera apps, and browser pages that could be using the camera. Another program or device can interfere with Zoom’s access. After closing them, return to Zoom and check the video again.
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5. Restart Zoom, then restart your device
Quit and reopen Zoom first. If the camera still does not work, restart the computer and try again. Zoom recommends restarting the computer as a general troubleshooting step for camera detection and video issues.
6. Test the camera in another app
Open another app that uses the camera. On a Mac, Zoom specifically suggests testing with Photo Booth or FaceTime when video freezes or Zoom crashes.
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- It works in another app: The camera can function on the device, so focus next on Zoom’s camera selection, permissions, or app behavior.
- It fails in other apps too: The issue may be at the operating-system or device level. For a Mac camera that fails across apps, Zoom advises contacting Apple support; for other devices, consult the manufacturer’s support resources.
This test helps separate a Zoom-specific problem from a broader camera issue, though it does not identify every possible cause on its own.
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For a Windows camera
If the basic checks have not helped, Zoom recommends checking the camera or computer manufacturer’s website for an appropriate camera-driver update. Driver instructions depend on the device and manufacturer.
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For Zoom
If the camera works elsewhere but continues to fail in Zoom, consider uninstalling Zoom and reinstalling the latest app from Zoom’s official download source. Save this for after you have checked the camera selection, connections, permissions, other apps, and a restart.
How to tell whether the problem is Zoom or the camera
Use the checks you have just completed to narrow down where the failure occurs:
- The camera appears in Zoom’s selector but shows no video: Check that video is on, Zoom has permission, and another app is not occupying the camera.
- The camera is missing from Zoom’s selector: Check its connection and device-level camera access. If you use the Web App, check browser permission as well.
- The camera works in another app: Concentrate on Zoom’s selection, permissions, and app installation.
- No app can use the camera: Investigate the operating system, connection, or camera hardware; consult the device maker if necessary.
- A different camera works on the same device: The original camera or its connection may be the problem rather than Zoom.
When an external webcam makes sense
A USB webcam is supported hardware for Zoom, but buying one is only a reasonable next step if the existing camera is absent or has failed. It will not resolve a Zoom permission block or an incorrect camera selection. Check the device maker’s support guidance before replacing hardware.
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