Microsoft Teams camera not working again? We’ve all been there. In fact, issues with camera functionality are among the most common problems faced by Teams users.
Most of the time, the standard IT fix of “Turning it off and on again” will usually fix the problem. But if you follow this strategy religiously and still have issues, don’t panic. There are plenty of ways you can troubleshoot and fix camera problems.
Here, I’ll walk you through all of the easiest, most effective fixes for camera issues. The only bad news is that, by the time you’re done reading, you won’t be able to use the “camera not working” excuse the next time you forget to brush your hair before a meeting.
Microsoft Teams Camera Not Working: Common Fixes
Cameras not working as they should with video conferencing tools is a pretty common problem. Microsoft has even shared its own guide that walks you through some of the reasons this might happen (such as not updating Microsoft Teams). But it’s not very comprehensive.
The truth is that video issues can arise for many reasons. You might have made a simple mistake, like not plugging your camera in properly, or your drivers might not be up-to-date. There may even be other apps running on your computer that prevent your camera from working.
Here are the quick fixes you can use to get your meeting back on track.
1. Disable other Programs and apps Using the Camera
The thought of accidentally leaving a webcam running in the background on another app, such as Zoom, is enough to put most of us in a cold sweat. Unfortunately, it does happen. That’s one of the reasons I actually disconnect my camera when I stop using it (mostly, I’m just paranoid).
If your camera is running on another app, whether you’re recording content for personal reasons or you forgot to switch it off after your last meeting, it won’t work on Microsoft Teams.
Before you launch your Microsoft Teams meeting, quickly check through all of your tabs and programs to ensure nothing else is claiming camera access. In addition to double-checking any apps that actively use your camera, make sure you check your antivirus and firewall software, too.
Though these tools are crucial for preserving security (particularly in the hybrid workplace), they can sometimes restrict certain apps from accessing devices. Load up your antivirus tool and check the “Privacy Protection” section to see if any apps are being prevented from accessing your camera.
2. Disconnect Additional Devices
Most smartphones, laptops, tablets, and desktop computers have built-in webcams these days. However, they’re not always the best option for video conferencing. There are plenty of great AI-powered cameras out there and tools you can use to upscale your video (and audio).
However, if you’re using an external camera for a meeting, that can cause some confusion for Microsoft Teams. The first step to overcoming this problem is choosing the specific camera you want Microsoft Teams to use. You can do this by logging into Teams and clicking on the menu next to your profile picture to access the Settings menu.
In Settings, choose the Devices tab, scroll down to the camera option, and select the camera you want to use from the drop-down menu. You can use the “Preview” option to confirm the camera you choose is working.
If the camera still doesn’t work after you select it, you can always try disabling extra devices. For a plug-in camera, simply remove the USB cable. If you want to disable a built-in camera, you’ll need to find the Device Manager on your computer and search for the Cameras option.
Right-click on the camera you want to disable and click Disable Device. Then, try shutting down and relaunching Microsoft Teams to see if the problem resolves itself.
3. Enable Media Access for Microsoft Teams Camera
If you only have access to a single camera, and your Microsoft Teams camera’s not working anyway, then there could be a problem with your access permissions. Typically, most computers and other devices won’t allow desktop and web apps to access your camera automatically. That would be a huge privacy risk. Instead, you need to explicitly allow access.
The good news is that enabling media access is pretty simple. If you’re using the desktop version of Microsoft Teams for Windows, click the Start button, go to Settings, and then Privacy and Camera under App Permissions. Then, toggle the option to allow apps to access your camera.
On a Mac, you’ll need to go to the Apple Menu and System Settings then Privacy and Security. Click on the Camera option, and turn access to the camera “on” for Microsoft Teams.
If you’re using Microsoft Teams for the web, click the button next to the Teams website URL on your browser. It might look like two lines or a padlock. A menu should appear that shows you whether camera access is enabled on your browser for this URL.
If your camera has a built-in microphone, I recommend enabling app access for that, too, to avoid any extra issues. You can use the same steps above to do this; just look for Microphone instead of Camera when adjusting your settings.
4. Update the Microsoft Teams Application (and clear the cache)
One of the most common suggestions you’ll find when you Google “Microsoft Teams camera not working” is to update your app. Keeping your app up-to-date isn’t just a great way to access new features and secure Microsoft Teams. It’s also crucial for mitigating common bugs.
Companies regularly patch common technical issues in small app updates, and if your app is outdated, these issues could prevent certain features from working.
Microsoft usually installs updates automatically, but you can always check if any are available. Log into your Microsoft Teams app, click the menu button next to your profile picture, and select Check for updates.
If there are any updates, they’ll be installed automatically; then, you can close and relaunch your Microsoft Teams app to enable them.
While you’re implementing updates, it might be a good idea to clear the cache on Microsoft Teams, too. A cluttered cache can cause many problems, including making your app run slower or stopping features from working. Here’s how you can clear your cache.
5. Update your Camera Drivers and Operating System
An outdated version of Microsoft Teams isn’t the only thing that can stop your camera from working properly. Outdated camera drivers and operating systems are also a major cause of problems. Usually, if your camera stops working mid-meeting, this is a sign that your drivers are outdated. Of course, sometimes, it just means there’s a Teams outage or your camera is broken.
To update your camera drivers on Windows, click Start and search for Device Manager. Double-click the Cameras option, right-click on the device you’re using, and select Update driver. Once the installation finishes, relaunch Teams.
On a Mac, to update drivers, you’ll need to open the Apple menu, select System Preferences, and click on Software Updates. This will show you if there are any updates available for your computer or connected devices.
You can also update your operating system while you’re here to ensure that it does not cause any extra issues with app functionality. If you want to update your operating system on a Windows computer, click on Start, then go to Settings, followed by Update and Security.
Select Download and Install for any updates available on your device. You might also need to restart your computer (and relaunch Teams).
6. Uninstall and Reinstall Microsoft Teams
Another common resolution to the “Microsoft Teams camera not working” problem is uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Teams. This is basically the next step after closing and restarting the app or turning your computer off and on.
Sometimes, a critical error with your download can cause the app to function incorrectly on your desktop, and uninstalling is the best option. On a Mac, all you need to do to uninstall an app is use the Finder tool to search for Microsoft Teams, select the file, and click Delete.
On a Windows device, click the Start key, go to Settings, and select Apps. Search for Microsoft Teams, select Uninstall, and confirm that you want to uninstall the app.
Once your uninstall process is complete, go to the Microsoft Teams installer website and download the desktop app again. After doing all this, you might need to reconfigure your settings.
Before you do, though, I recommend loading up a conversation with yourself on the Microsoft Teams app and clicking the video recorder button next to the send button underneath the messaging field. This will allow you to see if you can record a video clip using your camera.
7. Try Your Computer’s Troubleshooting Tool
All devices have technical issues sometimes. That’s why virtually every computer, tablet, and smartphone has its own built-in troubleshooting tools. Sometimes, these tools can alert you to issues you didn’t know about, such as problems with your firewall.
To troubleshoot any issues on a Mac device, you’ll use the Apple Diagnostics tool. There’s a slightly different process to follow depending on whether you’re using Apple Silicon or an Intel Processor. For instance, you need to turn your computer off with Apple Silicon. Here’s a guide on how to launch the Apple Diagnostics tool.
On a Windows device, troubleshooting is usually a little easier. In the Start menu search bar, search for Command Prompt and choose the option to run it as an administrator. Enter the command msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic, and hit Enter.
Click Next to start the scan. Windows should automatically inform you if your current device has any issues.
8. Experiment with Another Video Conferencing Platform
Finally, if all else fails, I recommend trying to use another video conferencing platform. This strategy ensures you can continue with your video conference elsewhere while you try to fix whatever is going on with Microsoft Teams.
Secondly, trying to use your camera with another tool can give you more information on what’s wrong. If your camera doesn’t work when you try to use it with Google Meet or Zoom, this indicates something is wrong with your device permissions or the camera itself.
If it’s exclusively your Microsoft Teams camera not working properly, this could mean there’s a problem with permissions for that specific tool, or Teams is suffering from an outage or technical issue. The extra insights you’ll gain here might help you take additional troubleshooting steps.
Microsoft Teams Camera Not Working: Other Tips
There’s a good chance one of the steps above will fix your camera issues on Microsoft Teams. However, if you’re still having problems, here are some other quick fixes you can try:
- Check the meeting settings: Hosts on Microsoft Teams can choose to turn camera access off for their participants. If your camera works for most meetings but suddenly stops working for one session, double-check that the cameras haven’t been disabled.
- Make sure you switch your camera on: It sounds pretty obvious, but it’s easy to overlook the little toggle on the Microsoft Teams meeting prep screen when you’re in a rush. Check you’ve actually switched your camera on for the meeting.
- Assess your internet connection: Limited bandwidth or a bad internet connection doesn’t just harm video and audio quality. Sometimes it can stop your camera from working entirely. Make sure you have a strong connection before you start troubleshooting.
- Use another version of Teams: If your Microsoft Teams camera doesn’t work on the desktop app, try using it on the web app instead, or vice versa. Sometimes, it might work for one version of Teams and not the other.
- Force close your camera: From the device manager on your computer, find your camera and click the “Force Close” option. This will reboot the camera and potentially fix any firmware issues that are stopping it from working properly.
- Uninstall and reinstall your camera: If you have to install it with specific software, try uninstalling and re-installing your camera. This could fix any software or firmware issues that are preventing the camera from working.
Microsoft Teams Camera Not Working? Fix It
Your Microsoft Teams camera not working during a crucial video meeting can be a frustrating issue, but it’s more common than you’d think. Teams might be one of the world’s favorite collaboration and meeting tools, but they still encounter regular technical issues.
Sometimes, a problem with your camera is caused by something silly you’ve done wrong or forgotten to do (like turning on the camera feed). Other times, issues with your software, hardware, or even operating system can get in the way of a great meeting.
Hopefully, one of the strategies above will work for you the next time you’re panicking about problems with your camera during a video meeting.
