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Home / Fix guides / Zoom Camera Not Working

Zoom Camera Not Working

A camera that works everywhere except Zoom is almost always a privacy permission or driver conflict — not a broken camera. These fixes resolve 95% of Zoom video issues.

Common causes

Windows or Mac privacy settings are blocking Zoom's access to the camera
Another app (Teams, Skype, Google Meet) has the camera locked and Zoom can't access it
The Zoom app needs to be updated
The webcam driver needs to be updated or reinstalled

Step-by-step fix

1
Check privacy settings
On Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Camera → make sure 'Camera access' is on AND 'Let desktop apps access your camera' is on AND Zoom is listed and toggled on. On Mac: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → make sure Zoom is checked.
2
Close all other video apps
Close Microsoft Teams, Skype, Google Meet, FaceTime, or any other app that uses the camera. Only one app can use the camera at a time. After closing them, in Zoom go to Settings → Video → select your camera from the dropdown and check if the preview appears.
3
Select the right camera in Zoom
In Zoom, click the arrow next to the video button → Video Settings → Camera dropdown. If you have multiple cameras (including virtual camera software), switch between them to find the right one. If you see 'OBS Virtual Camera' or similar and didn't set that up intentionally, that's the problem — switch to your real webcam.
4
Update Zoom
Click your profile picture in Zoom → Check for Updates. Zoom releases fixes for camera bugs frequently — running an old version is a common cause. After updating, restart Zoom completely (quit from the system tray, not just close the window).
5
Update or reinstall your webcam driver
In Device Manager (right-click Start → Device Manager), expand Imaging Devices or Cameras, right-click your webcam → Update driver → Search automatically. If that finds nothing, go to your laptop or webcam manufacturer's website and download the latest driver. For built-in webcams, check your laptop manufacturer's support page by model number.

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