The fastest way to test your webcam

Open the camera app built into your operating system. On Windows 10 and 11, search for "Camera" in the Start menu and click the app — it will show your live feed when ready. On Mac, open Launchpad, search for "Photo Booth," and click it to see yourself on screen. If you see a clear image of yourself or your surroundings, your webcam is working.

If the app shows a black screen or says "no camera found," your webcam either isn't connected properly, isn't installed, or has a hardware problem. The sections below walk you through testing more thoroughly and fixing common issues.

Key Takeaways

  • Your operating system's built-in camera app is the quickest test — if it shows your image, the webcam works.
  • Windows Device Manager and Mac System Report both show whether your webcam is recognized by your computer at all.
  • A black screen usually means the camera app doesn't have permission to use the webcam, not that the hardware is broken.
  • Restarting your computer and unplugging and replugging a USB webcam fix most connection problems.
  • If your webcam works in the camera app but not in Zoom or Teams, the problem is that app's permission settings, not the webcam itself.

Check Windows Device Manager to see if your webcam is recognized

Device Manager shows every piece of hardware Windows knows about. Right-click the Start button, select "Device Manager," and look for a section called "Cameras" or "Imaging devices." Click the arrow next to it to expand the list. If you see your webcam's name there with no warning symbol, Windows recognizes it and the drivers are installed.

If the section doesn't exist or your webcam has a yellow exclamation mark next to it, the drivers aren't working. Right-click the device and select "Update driver," then choose "Search automatically for updated driver software." Windows will read and install the correct version. Restart your computer after the update finishes.

If Device Manager shows nothing under Cameras and your webcam is external (plugged in via USB), unplug it, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Windows will detect it and install drivers automatically. This fixes most connection problems with external webcams.

Check Mac System Report to see if your webcam is recognized

On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left, select "About This Mac," then click "System Report." In the left sidebar, scroll down and click "USB" under Hardware. Look through the list for your webcam — it will usually say "USB Camera" or include the manufacturer's name. If it appears in the list, macOS recognizes it.

If your webcam doesn't appear in the USB list, try unplugging it and plugging it back in, then check System Report again. If it still doesn't show up, the webcam may have a hardware problem or may not be compatible with your Mac.

Built-in MacBook cameras don't appear in the USB section because they're integrated into the computer. If a built-in camera isn't working, skip to the permissions section below.

Fix permission problems on Windows

If Device Manager shows your webcam but the Camera app displays a black screen, Windows is blocking the app from using it. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to "Privacy & security" on the left sidebar. Click "Camera," and make sure the toggle at the top that says "Camera access" is turned on.

Below that, check whether the Camera app itself has permission. Look for "Camera" in the list of apps and make sure its toggle is on. If it's off, click it to turn it on, then open the Camera app again.

If you're testing a different app like Zoom or Teams, scroll down in the Camera permissions page and find that app's name. Make sure its toggle is on as well. Many users think their webcam is broken when the app straightforward doesn't have permission to use it.

Fix permission problems on Mac

If Photo Booth or another app shows a black screen, macOS is blocking camera access. Open System Settings (click the Apple menu and select "System Settings"), then click "Privacy & Security" in the sidebar. Click "Camera," and you'll see a list of apps that have requested camera access.

If the app you're testing isn't in the list, it hasn't asked for permission yet. Open the app and try to use the camera — it will prompt you to allow access. Click "Allow."

If the app is in the list but the toggle next to it is off, click the toggle to turn it on. Close and reopen the app. If you're testing a built-in app like Photo Booth and it's not in the list, restart your Mac — sometimes the permission prompt doesn't appear until after a restart.

Test your webcam in a video call app

If your webcam works in the Camera app but not in Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, the problem is that app's permission settings, not your webcam. Open the app and look for settings or preferences. In Zoom, click your profile picture, select "Settings," then click "Video" on the left. You should see a dropdown menu that says "Camera" — click it and select your webcam by name.

In Microsoft Teams, click your profile picture, select "Settings," then click "Devices" on the left. Under "Audio devices," find the "Camera" dropdown and select your webcam. In Google Meet, click the three dots in the top right during a call, select "Settings," click the "Camera" tab, and choose your webcam from the dropdown.

If your webcam doesn't appear in any of these dropdowns even though it works in the Camera app, restart the app and try again. If it still doesn't appear, restart your computer.

What to do if your webcam still doesn't work

If your webcam shows up in Device Manager or System Report but still displays a black screen everywhere, try these steps in order: first, restart your computer. Second, unplug the webcam (if external) and plug it back in. Third, check that no other app is using the camera — close all browser tabs, video call apps, and photo apps, then try the Camera app again.

If none of that works, the webcam may have a hardware problem. External USB webcams sometimes fail after a few years of use. If you have access to another computer, plug the webcam into it to test whether the problem follows the camera or stays with your computer. If the camera works on another computer, your computer's USB port or drivers have a problem. If it doesn't work on another computer, the webcam itself is likely broken and will need to be replaced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my webcam show a black screen in Zoom but works in the Camera app?

Zoom doesn't have permission to use your camera. On Windows, open Settings, go to Privacy & Security, click Camera, and turn on the toggle next to Zoom. On Mac, open System Settings, click Privacy & Security, click Camera, and make sure Zoom is in the list with its toggle on. Close and reopen Zoom.

My external webcam was working yesterday but now shows "no camera found" — what happened?

The USB connection probably came loose. Unplug the webcam completely, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. If that doesn't work, try a different USB port on your computer. If it works in the other port, the first port may be damaged.

How do I know if my webcam is actually broken or just not working right now?

Test it on another computer if you can. If it works on a different computer, your computer has the problem. If it doesn't work on any computer, the webcam is broken. You can also check whether it appears in Device Manager (Windows) or System Report (Mac) — if it doesn't show up at all, it's usually a hardware problem.

Can I test my webcam without opening any apps?

Not really — you need an app to display the camera feed. The Camera app on Windows and Photo Booth on Mac are the simplest options because they come built in and have no settings to configure. They're the best first test.

My laptop has a built-in camera that stopped working — can I just buy an external one instead?

Yes. External USB webcams work independently of the built-in camera. Plug it in, install any drivers if Windows or Mac prompts you, and it will show up as a separate camera in your apps. You can then select it from the camera dropdown in Zoom, Teams, or any other app.