Fix · Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams camera not working, or showing black

When the camera fails in Teams, Microsoft’s checklist starts with another app holding the camera, then the computer’s permission, then the browser if you use Teams on the web.

What you are seeing

In Microsoft Teams your video shows nothing or shows black, or Teams says it cannot find a camera.

The likely causes, most common first

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

1. Another app has the camera

  1. Only one app can use the camera at a time. Close Zoom, FaceTime, Skype or any other tab with a call open, then try again.

Microsoft: “Close all other apps that might be using your camera” — support.microsoft.com/en-us/teams/meetings/my-camera-isn-t-working-in-microsoft-teams

2. The webcam needs reconnecting

  1. Unplug an external webcam and plug it back in. If nothing changes, restart the computer.

Microsoft: “If you’re using an external camera, try unplugging it and plugging it back in.” — support.microsoft.com/en-us/teams/meetings/my-camera-isn-t-working-in-microsoft-teams

3. Windows has not allowed Teams the camera

  1. Settings → Privacy & security → Camera: switch on camera access for apps and for Microsoft Teams. If it is on already, switch it off and on, close everything and restart.

Microsoft: “Turn the Let apps access your camera toggle on.” — support.microsoft.com/en-us/teams/meetings/my-camera-isn-t-working-in-microsoft-teams

4. The Mac has not allowed Teams the camera

  1. System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera, and make sure Microsoft Teams is ticked. Then quit your apps and restart.

Microsoft: “Make sure the Microsoft Teams (work or school) is selected.” — support.microsoft.com/en-us/teams/meetings/my-camera-isn-t-working-in-microsoft-teams

5. The browser blocks it, in Teams on the web

  1. In the browser’s site settings, allow the camera and choose the right one from the list.
  2. On a work computer, your IT admin may control some of these settings — ask them if you cannot change one.

Microsoft: “Some settings may be managed by your IT admin” — support.microsoft.com/en-us/teams/meetings/my-camera-isn-t-working-in-microsoft-teams

6. Something is out of date

  1. Install the latest Windows or macOS update and the newest version of Teams, then try again.

Microsoft: “Check for updates in Teams to make sure you're running the latest version.” — support.microsoft.com/en-us/teams/meetings/my-camera-isn-t-working-in-microsoft-teams

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

Other Microsoft Teams problems

Transcript missingOnly people from the organiser’s own company can start a Teams transcript; the organiser or their IT admin can switch it off altogether; and the file lives in the organiser’s OneDrive.Recording missingA Teams recording goes to the organiser’s OneDrive, or to the team’s SharePoint site for a channel meeting; if Teams cannot save it there, it is deleted after 21 days.Breakout rooms missingOnly the organiser of a Teams meeting, or a breakout room manager they chose, can run breakout rooms — and only from the Teams app on Windows or a Mac.No sound, or people cannot hear youMost Teams sound problems are a mute somewhere — in the meeting or on the headset — Teams not being allowed the microphone, or the wrong speaker picked.Cannot join the meetingMost people who cannot get into a Teams meeting are waiting in the lobby, using a phone’s browser, or blocked by a setting the organiser or their company chose.Captions in the wrong languageTeams captions follow the meeting’s one spoken language, which only some people can change, and translated captions need Teams Premium or Microsoft Copilot.

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