Test your webcam in Windows, Mac, or Linux before troubleshooting
The fastest way to test a webcam is to open the app that uses it—Zoom, Google Meet, or your video chat software—and look for a camera preview before you join a call. If you see your face or the room behind you, the webcam works. If the preview is black, frozen, or shows an error message, you have found the problem.
If you want to test the webcam without opening a video app, Windows and Mac both have built-in tools. On Windows 10 or 11, open the Camera app from your Start menu; on Mac, open Photo Booth from Applications > Utilities. Both will show a live feed from your webcam when ready. If either app shows a black screen or says the camera is not found, the webcam itself may be disconnected, disabled, or not recognized by your computer.
Linux users can test a webcam using the terminal command cheese (if installed) or by opening a video app like Jitsi Meet in a browser. Browser-based video apps work on any operating system and will ask permission to use your camera the first time you try them.
Key Takeaways
- The simplest test is to open Zoom, Google Meet, or another video app and check the camera preview before joining a call.
- Windows has a built-in Camera app and Mac has Photo Booth; both show whether your webcam is working in seconds.
- A black screen usually means the webcam is disabled in settings, blocked by privacy software, or not physically connected.
- If the camera works in one app but not another, the problem is usually a permission setting for that specific app, not the webcam itself.
- Restarting your computer fixes most webcam problems because it resets the connection between the camera and the operating system.
Check Windows camera permissions and privacy settings
Windows 10 and 11 let you turn off camera access for all apps or for individual programs. If your webcam works in the Camera app but not in Zoom or Teams, the problem is usually a permission you need to grant.
Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera. You will see a toggle for "Camera access"—make sure it is turned on. Below that, you will see a list of apps with camera permission. Find the app you want to use (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Discord, or whatever you are testing) and turn its toggle on. If the app is not listed, it has never asked for permission; open the app, try to start a video call, and it will prompt you to allow camera access.
If you have turned on camera access but the app still shows a black screen, restart the app completely—close it and open it again. Windows sometimes does not set up the camera until the app requests permission a second time.
Check Mac camera permissions and privacy settings
Mac requires you to grant camera permission to each app individually, and the permission is harder to find than on Windows. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera. You will see a list of apps that have asked for camera access. Find the app you want to test and make sure the checkbox next to it is checked.
If the app is not on the list, it has never asked for permission. Open the app, try to start a video call, and macOS will show a dialog asking whether to allow camera access. Click "Allow" and the app should see the camera when ready.
If you have granted permission but the camera is still black, restart the app. On some versions of macOS, the camera does not set up until the app requests permission after being restarted.
Restart your computer to reset the camera connection
Restarting your computer fixes most webcam problems because it resets the connection between the camera hardware and the operating system. Many webcam issues—a frozen image, a black screen that should show video, or an app that says "camera not found"—go away after a restart.
Shut down your computer completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Once it has fully booted, open your video app and test the camera again. If it now works, the problem was a temporary software glitch, not a hardware failure.
If the camera is still black after a restart, move to the next step.
Check whether the webcam is physically connected
If your webcam is external (plugged in with a USB cable), make sure the cable is fully inserted into both the camera and your computer. Wiggle the cable gently at both ends to confirm it is seated. If the cable looks damaged—bent, frayed, or discolored—try a different USB cable if you have one.
Unplug the webcam completely, wait 5 seconds, and plug it back in. Windows and Mac will recognize it as a new device and may install drivers automatically. Open the Camera app or your video software and test again.
If you have a laptop with a built-in webcam, you cannot unplug it, but you can check whether it is disabled in your BIOS or UEFI settings. Restart your computer and press Delete, F2, or F10 during startup (the key varies by manufacturer). Look for a setting called "Integrated Camera" or "Internal Camera" and make sure it is enabled. If you are not comfortable in BIOS, skip this step and move to the next one.
Update or reinstall your webcam driver
A webcam driver is the software that lets your operating system talk to the camera hardware. If the driver is outdated or corrupted, the camera will not work even if it is physically connected.
On Windows, right-click the Start button and open Device Manager. Look for "Cameras" in the list and click the arrow next to it to expand it. You should see your webcam listed by name. Right-click it and select "Update driver." Windows will search for a newer version online. If one is found, it will install automatically.
If updating does not work, right-click the camera again and select "Uninstall device." Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it boots. This fixes many driver problems because it forces Windows to recognize the camera as new hardware.
On Mac, drivers usually update automatically through System Updates, so you do not need to do this manually. If your Mac webcam is not working, make sure you are running the latest version of macOS by opening System Settings > General > Software Update.
Test the webcam in a browser if the app is the problem
If your webcam works in the Camera app or Photo Booth but not in a specific video app like Zoom or Teams, the problem is usually that app's permission settings, not your webcam. To confirm, test the camera in a web browser instead.
Open Google Meet (meet.google.com) or Jitsi Meet (meet.jit.si) in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Both will ask permission to use your camera the first time you visit. Click "Allow" and you should see a live preview of your webcam. If the preview appears, your webcam is working fine and the problem is with the desktop app you were testing.
If the browser also shows a black screen, the problem is your webcam or its connection, not the app. Go back and check the steps above: permissions, restart, physical connection, and driver updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my webcam show a black screen even though the app says it is connected?
A black screen usually means the app has permission to use the camera but the camera is not actually sending video. Restart the app first. If that does not work, unplug the webcam (or restart your computer if it is built-in), wait 5 seconds, and plug it back in or restart again. If it is still black, update the driver in Device Manager on Windows or check for a macOS update on Mac.
How do I know if my webcam is disabled in BIOS?
You do not need to check BIOS unless your webcam is not showing up in Device Manager on Windows or System Report on Mac. If the camera appears in those lists but does not work, the problem is software (permissions or drivers), not BIOS. Only go into BIOS if the camera is completely missing from your system.
Can I test my webcam without opening a video app?
Yes. On Windows, open the Camera app from your Start menu. On Mac, open Photo Booth from Applications > Utilities. Both show a live feed from your webcam when ready. If either shows a black screen, your webcam is not working or is disabled.
What if my webcam works in one app but not another?
The problem is almost always a permission setting for that specific app. Open your privacy settings (Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera on Windows, or System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera on Mac) and make sure the app has camera permission turned on. If it does, restart the app completely and try again.
Should I uninstall and reinstall my video app if the camera is not working?
Not yet. Uninstalling the app will not fix a camera problem unless the app itself is corrupted, which is rare. First check permissions, restart your computer, and test the camera in another app or in a web browser. If the camera works elsewhere, the problem is the app's settings, and reinstalling will not help. If the camera does not work in any app, the problem is your webcam or its driver.