Test your camera before you need it
The fastest way to check your laptop camera is to open the camera app built into your operating system. On Windows, search for "Camera" in the Start menu and click the app — if your camera works, you will see a live video feed of yourself. On Mac, open Photo Booth (in Applications > Utilities) or use the Camera app in Launchpad. If the camera lights up and shows video, it is working.
If nothing appears after 10 seconds, or if you see a black screen, the camera may be disabled, blocked by privacy settings, or not working. The steps to fix it depend on which problem you have, and testing narrows down which one it is.
Key Takeaways
- Open your operating system's built-in camera app (Camera on Windows, Photo Booth on Mac) to see if video appears within 10 seconds.
- A black screen usually means the camera is disabled in settings, blocked by privacy controls, or covered by a physical obstruction.
- Check Device Manager on Windows or System Report on Mac to see whether your computer recognizes the camera hardware at all.
- If the camera works in the system app but not in a video call, the problem is usually that the app does not have permission to use the camera.
Windows: checking the camera app and Device Manager
On Windows 10 or 11, press the Windows key and type "Camera" — the Camera app will appear at the top of the results. Click it. The app will ask for permission to use your camera the first time you open it; click "Yes". Within a few seconds, you should see live video. If you see yourself, the camera is working.
If the Camera app shows a black screen or says "We can't find your camera", open Device Manager to check whether Windows recognizes the camera hardware. Press Windows key + X and click "Device Manager". Look for "Cameras" in the list. Click the arrow next to it to expand the section. If you see your camera listed (often called "Integrated Camera" or the manufacturer name), right-click it and select "Enable device" if that option appears. If the camera has a yellow warning triangle, right-click it, select "Update driver", and choose "Search automatically for updated driver software".
If there is no "Cameras" section in Device Manager at all, the camera hardware may not be recognized by Windows, which usually means a driver is missing or the camera is physically disconnected inside the laptop.
Mac: checking Photo Booth and System Report
On Mac, open Photo Booth by clicking the Launchpad icon in the dock, typing "Photo Booth", and pressing Enter. The app will open and show a live camera feed if the camera is working. You will see yourself in the preview window. If you see video, your camera is on.
If Photo Booth shows a black screen or says the camera is not available, check System Report to see whether macOS recognizes the camera. Click the Apple menu, select "About This Mac", then click "System Report". In the left sidebar, click "Hardware". Scroll down to find "Camera" in the list. If it appears and shows a name (usually "Built-in Isight" or similar), the hardware is recognized. If Camera does not appear in the list, the system does not see the camera hardware.
Privacy and permission settings that block the camera
On Windows 11, open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to "Privacy & security" in the left sidebar, then click "Camera". Make sure the toggle next to "Camera access" is turned on. Below that, check that the toggle next to "Allow apps to access your camera" is also on. If both are off, turn them on. Then scroll down to see which individual apps have permission to use the camera — if an app you want to use shows "off", click it and turn it on.
On Windows 10, the path is slightly different: open Settings, go to "Privacy", click "Camera" in the left sidebar, and make sure "Allow apps to access your camera" is on. Then check individual app permissions below.
On Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click "Privacy & Security" in the sidebar, then click "Camera". You will see a list of apps that have requested camera access. If an app is not listed but you want it to use the camera, you may need to open that app and grant permission when it asks, or add it manually by clicking the plus button and navigating to the app.
Physical obstructions and hardware checks
Before assuming the camera is broken, check whether something is blocking the lens. Many laptops have a small camera at the top of the screen, centered above the display. Look closely at that spot — some people place a sticker, tape, or a sliding privacy cover over the camera. Remove anything blocking it and test again.
If the lens is clear and the camera still does not work in the system app, the camera hardware may be disconnected or damaged. This usually requires opening the laptop, which is not something to attempt unless you are comfortable with hardware repair. If your laptop is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer's support line instead.
Testing the camera in a video call app
Sometimes the camera works in the system app but not in Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, or another video call program. This almost always means the app does not have permission to use the camera. The fix depends on which app you are using.
In Zoom, open the app, click your profile picture in the top right, select "Settings", click "Video" in the left sidebar, and look for a dropdown menu that says "Camera". If it says "No Camera Selected" or shows a camera you do not want, click the dropdown and choose the correct camera. In Microsoft Teams, click your profile picture, select "Settings", go to "Devices" in the left sidebar, and check the "Camera" dropdown. In Google Meet, start a call, click the three dots in the bottom right, select "Settings", click the "Camera" tab, and make sure the correct camera is selected in the dropdown.
If the dropdown shows no cameras at all, the app does not have permission. Go back to your operating system's privacy settings (Windows Settings or Mac System Settings) and make sure the app is listed under Camera permissions and is turned on.
What to do if the camera does not work anywhere
If the camera app shows a black screen, Device Manager or System Report does not list the camera, and you have checked privacy settings, the camera is likely not working at all. Before you assume it is broken, restart your laptop — sometimes a camera driver fails temporarily and a restart fixes it. Shut down completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn the laptop back on. Then test the camera app again.
If the camera still does not work after a restart, the hardware is probably faulty or the driver is corrupted beyond a straightforward update. On Windows, you can try uninstalling the camera driver and letting Windows reinstall it automatically: open Device Manager, right-click the camera, select "Uninstall device", check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver software for this device", and click "Uninstall". Restart the laptop. Windows will reinstall the driver on startup. If that does not work, contact your laptop manufacturer's support — they can tell you whether the camera is under warranty and what repair options are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my camera work in the system app but not in Zoom?
The app does not have permission to use the camera. Go to your operating system's privacy settings (Windows Settings > Privacy & security > Camera, or Mac System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera) and make sure Zoom is listed and turned on. Then restart Zoom and try again.
My camera has a green light on but shows a black screen. Is it broken?
Not necessarily. The light means power is reaching the camera. A black screen usually means the camera is disabled in privacy settings, the driver is not working, or something is physically blocking the lens. Check privacy settings first, then look at the lens to make sure it is not covered. If both are clear, try restarting your laptop.
How do I know if my laptop even has a built-in camera?
Look at the top of your laptop screen, centered above the display. Most laptops have a small circular or rectangular lens there. If you do not see anything, check your laptop's manual or the manufacturer's website — some business laptops do not include a camera. You can also check Device Manager (Windows) or System Report (Mac) to see whether the system recognizes a camera.
Can I test my camera without opening any apps?
Not really. The only way to confirm the camera is working is to see video appear on screen, which requires opening an app. The built-in system apps (Camera on Windows, Photo Booth on Mac) are the simplest and fastest options because they do not require any setup or permissions.