Why is my camera or microphone not working on a call?

Camera and microphone failures are almost never hardware. Operating systems now require explicit permission per application, and devices are exclusive — one program using the camera locks out every other.

What you'll need

• Your device
• Another app to test with (optional)

Step by step

1. Close every other app that could be using the camera.Other video call apps, browser tabs with a call open, camera software. Only one can hold the device at a time, and this is the most common cause.
2. Check the app has permission.Windows: Settings, Privacy, Camera and Microphone. Mac: System Settings, Privacy and Security. Permissions are per-app and often denied on first use by accident.
3. Check the correct device is selected within the app.Most call apps have their own camera and microphone selection in settings, independent of the system default.
4. Check for a physical privacy cover or switch.Many laptops have a sliding shutter or a function key that disables the camera. This catches people out regularly.
5. Test in another application.The built-in camera app, or a browser-based test. If it works there, the problem is the first app's settings.
6. Check the mute state on the app and on headphones.Some headsets have their own mute switch that the computer cannot see, so the app shows unmuted while nothing is transmitted.
7. Restart the app, then the device.Camera and audio devices get held by crashed processes. A restart releases them.
8. Check for updates to the app and the operating system.Permission models change with OS updates and older app versions sometimes lose access until they are updated.

Tips

• Join calls a couple of minutes early to test. Every conferencing app has a device preview in its settings.
• External webcams and headsets are usually better than built-in hardware and can be moved to better light and position.
• If you appear dark on camera, the fix is light in front of you rather than any setting — a window or a lamp facing you.

Common mistakes

• Not closing the previous call app — The camera is exclusive to one application. A browser tab with a call still open blocks everything else.
• Checking only the app's settings — System-level privacy permissions sit above the app and will block it regardless of what the app is set to.
• Assuming the hardware has failed — Permissions and device conflicts explain the overwhelming majority of cases, and both take a minute to rule out.

Questions people ask