The fastest way to test your webcam right now

The quickest check is to open your operating system's built-in camera app. On Windows 10 or 11, search for "Camera" in the Start menu and click the app—if your webcam works, you'll see a live video feed of yourself within a few seconds. On Mac, open Photo Booth (search for it in Spotlight), and you'll see the same thing. If you see a black screen or an error message instead, your webcam either isn't connected properly, isn't turned on, or has a driver problem.

If the camera app opens but shows nothing, try these steps in order: unplug the webcam (or restart your computer if it's built-in), wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in or restart. Then open the camera app again. If it still doesn't work, move to the sections below.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows and Mac both have free camera apps built in—Camera on Windows and Photo Booth on Mac—that show whether your webcam is working in seconds.
  • If the camera app shows a black screen, restart your computer or unplug and replug the webcam before assuming it's broken.
  • Check your device settings to see whether the webcam is disabled in BIOS (on desktop computers) or in privacy settings (on Windows and Mac).
  • Video call apps like Zoom, Google Meet, and Skype have their own camera tests that let you see a preview before you join a meeting.
  • If your webcam works in the camera app but not in a specific program, that program may not have permission to use the camera.

Check your privacy and permission settings

On Windows 10 or 11, your webcam might be disabled in privacy settings even if the hardware is fine. Open Settings, go to Privacy & Security, then Camera. Make sure the toggle next to "Camera access" is turned on. Below that, check whether the specific app you want to use (Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or whatever you're testing) has the toggle switched on. If it's off, turn it on and try the app again.

On Mac, open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, then Camera. You'll see a list of apps that have asked for camera access. If the app you want to use isn't there, it will ask for permission the next time you try to use the camera—click Allow. If it's already listed but the checkbox is unchecked, click the checkbox to turn it on.

Test your webcam in a video call app

Zoom, Google Meet, and Skype all have built-in camera previews that work even if you don't join a call. In Zoom, click your profile picture in the top right, go to Settings, then Video—you'll see a preview of your camera feed. In Google Meet, go to meet.google.com, and you'll see a preview on the join screen before you click anything. In Skype, click your profile picture, go to Settings, then Audio & Video, and you'll see a camera preview there.

These previews are useful because they tell you whether the problem is with your webcam itself or with a different app's settings. If your camera works in Zoom but not in Google Meet, the issue is Google Meet's permissions, not your hardware.

Check whether your webcam is disabled in BIOS

On desktop computers, your webcam can be disabled in BIOS (the firmware that runs before Windows starts). This is less common on laptops but still possible. To check, restart your computer and watch for a message during startup that says "Press F2" or "Press Delete" to enter Setup—the exact key varies by manufacturer. Press that key repeatedly as the computer starts.

Once you're in BIOS, look for a section called Integrated Peripherals, Onboard Devices, or something similar. Find an option for USB or Camera and make sure it's set to Enabled rather than Disabled. The menu is usually navigated with arrow keys and Enter. If you're not sure what you're looking at, take a photo with your phone and post it to a tech forum—don't change anything unless you're confident. When you're done, press F10 to save and exit.

Update or reinstall your webcam driver

A driver is software that tells Windows how to talk to your webcam. If the driver is old or corrupted, Windows won't recognize the camera even if it's plugged in. On Windows, right-click the Start button, click Device Manager, and look for Cameras or Imaging Devices. Click the arrow next to it to expand the list. Right-click your webcam and click "Update driver." Windows will search for a newer version online.

If updating doesn't work, right-click the webcam again and click "Uninstall device." Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it starts up. This often fixes problems that updating alone doesn't solve. If Device Manager shows a yellow exclamation mark next to your camera, that's a sign the driver is broken—uninstalling and restarting will usually fix it.

Check for physical obstructions or hardware problems

If your webcam is external (plugged in with a USB cable), make sure it's plugged into a USB port that's actually powered. Try a different USB port on your computer—some ports are faster or more reliable than others. If you're using a USB hub, try plugging the webcam directly into your computer instead. Hubs sometimes don't provide enough power.

Look at the camera lens itself. If it's covered by a lens cap, sliding cover, or sticker, remove it. Wipe the lens gently with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust or smudges. If your webcam has a light next to the lens, it should turn on when the camera is in use—if it never lights up, the hardware may be broken and you may need a replacement.

Test your webcam on a different computer or account

If you have access to another computer, plug your webcam into it (if it's external) and open the camera app. If it works there, the problem is with your original computer's settings or drivers, not the webcam itself. If it doesn't work on the second computer either, the webcam hardware is likely broken.

If you only have one computer, try creating a new user account on Windows or Mac and testing the camera from that account. Sometimes a corrupted user profile can block camera access. If the camera works in the new account, the problem is in your main account's settings, and you can copy your files to the new account and use that going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my camera app open but show a black screen?

A black screen usually means the app opened but can't find the camera feed. Restart your computer first—this fixes the problem about half the time. If that doesn't work, check your privacy settings to make sure the camera app has permission. If it does, unplug the webcam (or restart if it's built-in), wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in.

My webcam works in Zoom but not in Google Meet. What's wrong?

Google Meet doesn't have permission to use your camera. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and turn on the toggle for Google Meet. On Mac, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and check the box next to Google Meet. You may need to restart your browser after changing this.

Can I test my webcam without opening an app?

Not really—you need an app to display the camera feed. The built-in Camera app on Windows and Photo Booth on Mac are the simplest options. Video call apps like Zoom and Google Meet also show a preview without requiring you to join a meeting, so you can test there too.

What if my webcam worked yesterday but doesn't work today?

Check whether something is physically blocking the lens or covering the camera. If it's external, try a different USB port. Restart your computer. If it still doesn't work, go to Device Manager on Windows and look for a yellow exclamation mark next to your camera—if you see one, right-click it and uninstall the device, then restart.

Is my webcam broken if it doesn't work in Device Manager?

Not necessarily. Device Manager shows hardware that Windows recognizes, but a camera can be disabled in BIOS, blocked by privacy settings, or missing a driver. Try the steps in this guide first—updating the driver, checking BIOS, and restarting your computer fix most problems. If none of those work and the camera still doesn't appear in Device Manager, the hardware may be broken.