How to Fix Webcam Not Working On Zoom

Is your webcam not working on Zoom?

Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing apps in the world alongside Google Meet. 

But this does not exempt Zoom from occasional errors. One complaint that we regularly see from users is their webcam not working during calls. 

This can be annoying since it renders the video conferencing app useless.

To help out, we’ve decided to make a guide for fixing your webcam if it’s not working on Zoom. 

Let’s begin!

1. Restart Your Computer. 

Before changing your configurations, we suggest restarting your computer first. This should reload your system resources, ensuring that all apps are initialized properly. 

Restarting your computer should also clear corrupted and unused data from the system memory. 

If you are on Windows, follow the steps below:

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open Start Menu. 
2. Next, access the Power Options tab. 
3. Choose Restart from the menu and wait for your system to reboot. 

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For Mac users, here’s how you can restart your device: 

1. Click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Select Restart from the drop-down menu. 
3. When prompted, click Restart in the dialog box to confirm your action. 

Once done, go back to Zoom to check if your webcam works. 

2. Check Your Webcam. 

Before changing your configurations, ensure your camera is connected and turned on. 

If you are using an external webcam for Zoom, check the cable and USB connector for damage. Try connecting it to a different USB port if possible. 

For wireless cameras, double-check your Bluetooth settings and ensure that your webcam is connected. Try charging your webcam as well to ensure that it has enough charge. 

Related: How to Fix Zoom App Not Working on iPhone 14 Pro

3. Ensure the Correct Camera Is Selected. 

If your computer has a built-in camera but you are using an external one, we suggest checking your in-app settings. 

Possibly, Zoom is using your built-in camera, explaining why your external webcam is not working. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Open Zoom on your computer. 
2. Now, enter a meeting. 
3. Click the Up Arrow beside the Camera icon. 
4. Find your external camera and ensure that it is selected. 

Proceed to the next solution if your webcam is still not working. 

4. Close Unused Applications. 

Some applications on your computer could be using your webcam, preventing Zoom from accessing it. 

To rule this out, we suggest closing unnecessary applications running in the background. 

For Windows users, here’s what you need to do: 

1. On your keyboard, press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to open the Task Manager. 
2. Now, click on Processes. 
3. Go through your apps and identify the ones you are not using. 
4. To close an app, click on it and click the End Task button in the lower right corner of the window. 

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If you are using a Mac, follow the guide below:

1. Press Command + Space on your keyboard to open Spotlight. 
2. Look for Activity Monitor and hit Return to open it. 
3. Now, go through all your apps and identify the ones you don’t need. 
4. To close an app, click on it and click the Stop icon in the upper left corner of the window. 

Restart Zoom afterward and see if your webcam works. 

5. Check Permissions. 

Zoom needs permission from your system to access the webcam. If your webcam is still not working, check your permission settings to ensure Zoom is allowed to use your camera. 

If you’re using a Windows computer, follow the steps below: 

1. Open Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I on your keyboard. 
2. Go to Privacy > Camera. 
3. Find the ‘Allow Apps to Access Your Camera’ option and enable it. 

4. Lastly, scroll down and enable the ‘Allow Desktop Apps to Access Your Camera’ option. 

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For Mac users, see the guide below to check your permissions: 

1. Access the Apple Menu in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, click on System Settings. 
3. Go to Privacy & Security > Camera. 
4. Find Zoom and turn on the toggle switch beside it. 

Go back to Zoom and check if your webcam works. 

6. Update Your Computer. 

Outdated software can also cause issues with Zoom and your webcam. 

To rule this out, check if there are available updates for your computer and install them to patch bugs and errors. 

If you’re using a Windows computer, here’s what you need to do: 

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu. 
2. Now, click the Gear icon to open Windows Settings. 
3. Go to Update & Security (Windows 10). 
4. Click on Windows Update in the side menu. 
5. Lastly, click Check for Updates and follow the prompts if a new version is available. 

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For Mac users, follow the steps below to update your device: 

1. In the upper left corner of your screen, click the Apple icon to open the Apple Menu. 
2. Now, click on System Settings. 
3. Inside settings, navigate to General > Software Update. 
4. If a new version is detected, follow the prompts to install the update. 

Once done, try using your webcam on Zoom to check if the problem is solved. 

Related: How to Fix Zoom Error Code 5003

7. Update Your Drivers (Windows). 

You can also try updating your webcam drivers if it’s still not working on Zoom. 

The driver your webcam uses might not be compatible with the latest version of Zoom, preventing it from working properly. 

Check out the steps below to update your driver: 

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open Start Menu. 
2. Look for Device Manager and click Open. 
3. Now, expand the Cameras tab or Imaging Devices. 
4. Right-click on your webcam and select Update Driver. 
5. Follow the prompts to continue. 

Restart your computer and see if your webcam works on Zoom. 

8. Reinstall Zoom. 

If you still encounter issues with your webcam on Zoom, try reinstalling the app. 

An error may have occurred on the app, causing some resources to corrupt. It’s also possible that Zoom was not installed properly on your computer.

For Windows users, follow the guide below to uninstall Zoom: 

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key to open Start Menu. 
2. Look for Control Panel and click Open to launch it. 
3. Now, click on Uninstall a Program. 
4. Find Zoom and right-click on it. 
5. Choose Uninstall and follow the prompts to delete the app. 

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If you’re using a Mac, here’s how you can delete Zoom: 

1. Open Finder on your Mac. 
2. Go to the Applications tab and find Zoom. 
3. Drag the app to the Trash. 

Install the latest version of Zoom and see if your webcam will work. 

That ends our guide for fixing your webcam if it’s not working on Zoom. If you have questions, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it!