Camera Not Working in a Video Call? Quick Fixes for Phones and PCs
A black rectangle where your face should be is embarrassing and easy to fix. Work through these checks in order and you will usually have video again within minutes.
You join the meeting, and where your face should be there is a black rectangle, a spinning circle or a message about the camera being blocked. Nearly everyone has been through it, often in the last minute before a call. Fortunately, camera problems fall into a small number of categories, and you can work through them in a few minutes.
The quick checks
- Is the camera switched on in the call? Look for the camera icon and see whether it has a line through it.
- Is a privacy shutter closed? Many laptops have a sliding cover, and some have a keyboard key that turns the camera off. Check both.
- Is something covering the lens? A sticker, a case or a finger will give you a black picture.
- Is the room dark? In very low light, a camera can give an almost black picture. Turn on a lamp.
Permissions
Browsers and phones keep the camera behind a permission, as they should. If the permission was refused once, the camera stays off.
- In a browser, click the camera or lock icon next to the address, and set the camera to Allow. Reload the page.
- In the PeerFlow app, open the permission checklist in Settings. It shows whether the camera is allowed and offers to ask again, or to open the right settings page.
- On a phone, open the app's page in the system settings and allow the camera.
- On Windows, check the privacy settings for the camera, which can block apps or browsers altogether.
PeerFlow only switches the camera on when you start or accept a video call, or join a meeting with video on. See the video calls page for how it works.
Another program is using the camera
On many systems only one program can use the camera at a time. If another call program, a recording tool or a browser tab has the camera, your call will see a black picture or an error. Close other programs that might use it, including tabs with other video calls, then rejoin.
The wrong camera is selected
Laptops with an external webcam, a phone that is connected as a camera, or a virtual camera from a streaming tool can confuse the call. Open the device settings in the call and choose the camera you want. In PeerFlow meetings you can pick the camera before you join and see a preview, which is the best time to fix this.
Restart things in the right order
- Leave the call.
- Close the browser tab or the app completely.
- Unplug and replug an external webcam.
- Reopen the app and join again.
If that does not work, restart the computer. Camera drivers sometimes get stuck, and a restart clears them.
Drivers and updates
On computers, an outdated or damaged camera driver can leave the camera invisible to programs. Update your system, check for driver updates from the manufacturer, and look at the device manager to see if the camera is listed. On phones, update the system and the app.
Phones
- Check which camera is active. A phone has a front and a back camera, and the call may be using the one pointing at the table.
- Close the camera app, since it may be holding the lens.
- Free some memory. A phone short of memory may refuse to start the camera in a call.
- Allow the permission in the app's settings page.
Poor quality, not a black screen
If the picture appears but is dark, grainy or choppy, the cause is usually light or network. Face a window, turn on a lamp, and close other programs that use the internet. Read about the bandwidth a video call needs.
Quick reference
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Black screen | Privacy shutter or another program | Open shutter, close other apps |
| "Camera blocked" | Permission refused | Allow in browser or app settings |
| Wrong camera | Several cameras present | Choose it in the device settings |
| Camera in use | Another program holds it | Close the other program |
| Dark picture | Low light | Add light in front of you |
| No camera in list | Driver or connection | Reconnect, update, restart |
When all else fails
Try another browser, another device or another network. If a different device works, the first one has a hardware or driver problem. You can still join with audio only and share your screen, and fix the camera later. For sound problems, read no sound in a video call. Get the latest Android and Windows apps for the permission checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my camera show a black screen?
Another program may be using it, a privacy shutter may be closed, or the wrong camera may be selected. Check these three first.
Why does the browser say the camera is blocked?
A permission was refused earlier. You can allow the camera again in the browser’s site settings, or in the app’s permission checklist.
Does PeerFlow turn my camera on without asking?
No. The camera is switched on only when you start or accept a video call or join a meeting with video on.
What if my phone’s camera works in other apps but not in the call?
The call app needs its own camera permission. Allow it in the app’s settings and restart the call.