How to Fix Zoom Camera Not Working: 5 Ways

2022-05-28 11:14:00 By : Ms. Lidan Bu

Is your Zoom camera not working? Here are some ways to resolve common troubleshooting issues.

Whether you have a daily meeting with your team, pitching to clients, or doing online classes, Zoom calls have now become an integral part of many peoples’ lives. Since this type of meeting relies on technology to function, some will inevitably encounter technical difficulties, such as the camera not working, with one of their calls.

If you’re having trouble with your Zoom camera, don’t panic. There are many reasons why this could happen. So, to help you out, we have listed different ways to fix this issue so that you can go on with your busy day.

Before you start changing any settings on your computer, the first thing you need to do is to ensure that webcam is connected or working correctly on your PC. If you’re using an external camera, check if there’s any physical damage to it. You could also try to connect it to a different port, if available, check if it’s working with another computer.

For wireless cameras, ensure that both of your devices’ Bluetooth is functioning. In some cases, Bluetooth webcams lose their connection while you’re in a Zoom session if it runs out of battery, or you accidentally turn off your computer’s Bluetooth. Check your settings and reconnect the device.

Related: How to Fix the No Camera Attached 0xa00f4244 Error Code in Windows 10

If you’re using a laptop, make sure that there’s no obstruction in the camera. Some users forget that they’ve taped over something on their camera, which could be the reason why it’s not showing anything in your Zoom. If there’s no obstruction, open your computer’s camera app and check it’s working. If it is, do the following troubleshooting steps.

Once you’ve established that your web camera is working, the next step you should do is to check the camera settings of your Zoom app. When you join a meeting, you'll see a prompt saying: Turn off my video.

If you check this box, you’ll enter a meeting without a camera. Just manually turn on the camera when you’re in a meeting by pressing the Start Video icon on the bottom-left part of the screen. Alternatively, you can press and hold Alt + V to turn it on.

But if you didn’t check this box, and you’re still not getting feedback from the camera, make sure that all the apps using your camera are closed. You also need to ensure that you're using the correct camera for your call. To check this, press the up arrow beside the Start Video icon and choose the device you want to use.

Related: How to Improve the Video and Picture Quality in Zoom Meetings

In some cases, your system is blocking the app from accessing your device's camera. If you haven’t allowed Zoom to use your system’s camera, it won’t turn on at all, even if all your app settings are correct. You need to enable camera permissions to fix the camera issue.

We have listed below how you can do this on different devices:

Related: How Do Android App Permissions Work? What You Need to Know

Updating your apps is critical to ensure that it runs smoothly and without issues. If you are running an outdated Zoom, it could be why your camera is not working during meetings. For Zoom apps on your Windows or macOS computer, visit the official download page to download the latest update.

You can also use the same website to download the latest version on your tablet or mobile phone, or visit your App Store and Play Store to update the app.

Related: How to Automatically or Manually Update the Apps on Your iPhone

If all the fixes above fail, it’s time to completely remove the app from your device and install a new one. Downloading a fresh copy of Zoom allows you to start over, removing any modifications or settings that could cause the issue. Here’s how you can do it:

Related: How to Download and Install Zoom on Linux

If you’re always using Zoom for work or school, you need to learn different troubleshooting steps in case you face any technical issues during a call.

In addition, you can also master other skills, such as learning how to take notes when using Zoom.

Kim is a technical writer who is passionate about animal welfare and the environment. A writer by day and a reader at night, she takes pleasure in acquiring new knowledge. She is an experienced researcher and advertising executive. In an alternate universe, she is a professional model.

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