The fastest way to check if your camera works

Open your camera app or video call software and look for yourself on screen. On Windows, search for "Camera" in the Start menu and click the Camera app — you should see a live preview within seconds. On Mac, open Photo Booth (search for it in Spotlight) or FaceTime and select your camera from the menu. If you see your face, your camera is working. If the screen stays black or shows an error, move to the troubleshooting sections below.

The reason to test before you need it is straightforward: discovering your camera is broken five minutes before a job interview or doctor's appointment leaves you scrambling. A quick test takes 30 seconds and tells you whether you have a real problem or just need to adjust settings.

Key Takeaways

  • The Camera app on Windows and Photo Booth or FaceTime on Mac will show you a live preview if your camera is working.
  • A black screen usually means the camera is disabled in settings, blocked by another app, or needs a driver update — not that the hardware is broken.
  • Check your privacy settings first: Windows and Mac both let you block camera access by app, and this is the most common reason for a black screen.
  • If the camera works in one app but not another, the problem is permissions for that specific app, not the camera itself.
  • External cameras (USB webcams) need to be selected in your app's settings — plugging them in does not automatically switch them on.

Testing on Windows 10 and 11

Search for "Camera" in the Windows Start menu and open the Camera app. You should see a live video feed of yourself within a few seconds. If you see your face, the camera is working. Take a screenshot or record a short video using the buttons in the app to confirm the camera captures images properly.

If the screen is black, check whether another app is using the camera. Close your browser, video call software, and any other programs that might access the camera, then try again. If it is still black, move to the privacy settings section below.

You can also test the camera in the app you plan to use — Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, or Discord. Open the app, go to settings or preferences, find the camera or video section, and look for a preview window. This tells you whether the camera works in that specific program.

Testing on Mac

Open Photo Booth by pressing Command + Space, typing "Photo Booth", and pressing Enter. You should see a live preview of your camera feed. Click the camera icon at the bottom to take a still photo, or select "Movie" from the menu and click the red record button to record a short video. If you see yourself on screen, the camera is working.

Alternatively, open FaceTime, click "Video" in the menu bar, and select your camera from the list. You should see a preview window with your face. If the preview is black, close FaceTime and try Photo Booth — if Photo Booth works but FaceTime does not, the problem is FaceTime's permissions, not the camera.

For video call apps like Zoom or Google Meet, open the app and look for settings or preferences. Find the camera section and look for a preview. If you see yourself, the app can access your camera.

Why your camera shows a black screen

A black screen does not mean your camera is broken. The most common reasons are that the camera is disabled in settings, another app is blocking it, or the app does not have permission to use it.

Check Windows privacy settings: Open Settings, go to Privacy & Security, and click Camera. Make sure "Camera access" is turned on. Then scroll down and check whether the app you want to use has permission — if the toggle is off, turn it on. Close the app completely and open it again.

Check Mac privacy settings: Open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, and click Camera. You should see a list of apps. If the app you want to use is not listed, it has never asked for permission — open the app and it should prompt you. If it is listed but the checkbox is unchecked, click the checkbox to allow it.

If you have turned on camera access and the screen is still black, restart your laptop. A restart clears temporary blocks and refreshes the camera connection.

Testing an external USB camera

Plug the USB camera into a port on your laptop. Wait 10 to 15 seconds for the system to recognize it. Open your camera app or video call software and look for a camera selection menu — on Windows, this is usually a dropdown in the Camera app or in settings. On Mac, go to System Settings, then Sound & Video, and look for the camera list.

Select the external camera from the list. You should see a live preview. If you do not see the external camera in the list, unplug it, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. If it still does not appear, the camera may need a driver — check the manufacturer's website for Windows drivers, or contact their support.

External cameras sometimes come with their own software. If the camera came with a disc or read link, install that software first, then plug in the camera. The software often includes its own camera app for testing.

When you need to update your camera driver

A camera driver is the software that lets Windows talk to your camera hardware. If your camera worked before but now shows a black screen, and privacy settings are turned on, the driver may need an update.

On Windows: Right-click the Start menu and open Device Manager. Look for "Cameras" in the list and click the arrow next to it. Right-click your camera and select "Update driver". Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software". Windows will search online and install any available updates. Restart your laptop when finished.

If you do not see a Cameras section, look under "Imaging devices" instead. If the camera has a yellow warning icon, right-click it and select "Update driver".

On Mac: Camera drivers are built into macOS and update automatically when you install system updates. Go to System Settings, click General, and select Software Update. If an update is available, install it and restart.

Testing before a video call or meeting

Test your camera in the same app you will use for the call. Open Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, or Discord, go to settings, find the camera or video section, and look for a preview. This tells you not just whether the camera works, but whether that app can access it.

Do this at least 15 minutes before the call. If the preview is black, you have time to troubleshoot. Check privacy settings, restart the app, and try again. If it works in the preview but not during the call, close other apps that might be using the camera — some programs lock the camera so only one app can use it at a time.

Position your camera so the light is in front of you, not behind you. A window or lamp behind you will make your face dark. If the preview looks too dark, move the lamp or close the curtains.

Frequently Asked Questions

My camera works in one app but not another — what does that mean?

The camera hardware is fine. The app that is not working does not have permission to use the camera. Go to your privacy settings (Windows Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, or Mac System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera), find the app in the list, and turn on the permission. Close the app completely and open it again.

I see a green light next to my camera — does that mean it is on?

The green light means the camera is actively recording or streaming. It turns on when an app is using the camera. If you see the light when no app should be using the camera, close all open programs and check your privacy settings to see which app has permission.

Can I test my camera without opening an app?

Not easily. The camera only works when an app requests access to it. The fastest test is to open the Camera app (Windows) or Photo Booth (Mac) and look for a live preview. If you see yourself, the camera is working.

My laptop camera is built in but I want to use an external camera instead — how do I switch?

Plug in the external camera and open your app's settings. Look for a camera or video section and find a dropdown menu listing available cameras. Select the external camera. The built-in camera will stay in the list but will not be used unless you select it again.

What if my camera still does not work after I have tried everything?

Restart your laptop completely — not just sleep mode, but a full shutdown and restart. If the camera still does not work after a restart, the hardware may be faulty. Contact your laptop manufacturer's support line with the model number and a description of what you have tried.