Fix · Google Meet

Google Meet camera not working, or showing black

When the camera does not work in Google Meet, Google’s own checklist starts with the simple things: the right camera, another app holding it, and permission in the browser and the computer.

What you are seeing

In Google Meet your camera shows nothing, shows black, or the camera icon is crossed out.

The likely causes, most common first

Work down the list; most people find theirs in the first two.

1. Another app is using the camera

  1. Close Zoom, Teams, FaceTime or any other app that uses the camera, then reload Meet.

Google: “Close other apps that use the camera, then reload Meet.” — support.google.com/meet/answer/10621292

2. The wrong camera is chosen

  1. In Meet’s video settings, choose your camera — not a screen, a phone or a virtual camera.

Google: “Choose the correct camera, not a screen or other devices.” — support.google.com/meet/answer/10621292

3. The browser was not allowed the camera

  1. Click Camera in the address bar, turn it on, and choose Allow on every visit.
  2. Then allow it on the computer too: on a Mac in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera; on Windows in Settings → Privacy & security → Camera.

Google: “Allow on every visit” — support.google.com/meet/answer/10621292

4. The camera is covered or switched off

  1. Many laptops and webcams have a sliding cover or a privacy switch. A black picture is often just that.

Google: “check and adjust the camera cover or privacy switch” — support.google.com/meet/answer/10621292

5. The browser is out of date

  1. Update your browser and try again.

Google: “Make sure your browser is updated.” — support.google.com/meet/answer/10621292

Every quote above is from Google’s own help pages, read on 10 November 2026. Something changed? Tell us.

Other Google Meet problems

Transcript missingA Google Meet transcript is saved to the organiser’s Drive, only starts from a computer or an Android phone, and waits for the host to join on the web.Recording missingGoogle Meet saves recordings to the organiser’s Drive, only records from a computer or an Android phone, and stops by itself after eight hours.Notes or summary missingGoogle’s automatic notes need an eligible plan, a meeting of about fifteen minutes or more in one supported language, and somebody from the host’s organisation to start them.Breakout rooms missingBreakout rooms in Google Meet need an eligible Workspace edition and a host on a computer, and Google never records what happens in them.No sound, or people cannot hear youMost Google Meet sound problems are one of four things: the browser was not allowed the microphone, you are muted somewhere, the wrong speaker is chosen, or you joined in Companion mode.Screen share not workingWhen you cannot present in Google Meet it is usually the Mac’s screen permission for your browser, a host or admin who turned presenting off, or a shared window where a shared tab — with its sound — was needed.

Every fix →

Try Meetful

Meetings that take their own notes

Free video meetings in the browser: every line of the transcript under the name of who said it, and the summary and action items when you hang up. Nothing to install — guests just open the link.

Try Meetful freeSee what it does