The fastest way to test your webcam

Open the Camera app built into Windows 11. Press the Windows key, type "Camera", and select the Camera app from the results. The app will ask permission to use your webcam the first time you open it — click "Yes". You should see a live video feed from your camera within seconds. If you see video, your webcam works.

If the Camera app shows a black screen or says "No camera found", your webcam either isn't connected properly, isn't turned on, or has a driver problem. The sections below walk through each of these possibilities in order.

Key Takeaways

  • The Camera app is the quickest test — open it, allow permissions, and watch for a live video feed.
  • A black screen usually means the camera is disabled in BIOS, unplugged, or blocked by another app.
  • Device Manager shows whether Windows recognizes your camera and whether the driver needs updating.
  • Restarting your computer fixes most webcam problems before you need to dig into settings.
  • If your camera works in Camera app but not in a video call, the problem is usually app permissions, not the hardware.

Check Device Manager to see if Windows recognizes your camera

Right-click the Windows Start button and select "Device Manager". Look for a section called "Cameras" — expand it by clicking the arrow next to it. You should see your webcam listed by name (often something like "USB Camera" or your manufacturer's name). If you see it and there is no yellow warning icon, Windows recognizes the camera and the driver is installed.

If the Cameras section does not exist, or if your camera has a yellow exclamation mark next to it, the driver is missing or broken. Right-click the camera name and select "Update driver". Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software" and let Windows search. Restart your computer after the update finishes, then test the Camera app again.

If Device Manager shows no Cameras section at all, your camera may be disabled in BIOS or physically disconnected. For a laptop, this usually means the camera is disabled in system settings. For a desktop, check that any external USB camera is plugged in firmly to a USB port on the back of your computer.

Restart your computer and try again

Before you change any settings, restart Windows. Many webcam problems — black screens, "camera not found" errors, and permission blocks — clear themselves after a restart. Shut down completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn the computer back on. Open the Camera app again and test.

A restart also closes any other app that might be using your camera. If another program (like Zoom, Teams, or OBS) is running in the background, it can lock the camera so the Camera app cannot access it. Restarting ensures no other app is holding the camera.

Allow camera permissions in Windows Settings

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to "Privacy & security" in the left menu, then select "Camera". Make sure the toggle at the top that says "Camera access" is turned on (it should be blue). Below that, check that "Allow apps to access your camera" is also on.

Scroll down to see which apps have permission to use your camera. If you use Zoom, Teams, Discord, or another video app, make sure it is listed and the toggle next to it is on. If an app you want to use is not listed, it has not requested permission yet — open that app, start a video call, and it will ask. Grant permission when prompted.

After you change any permission, close the Camera app completely and open it again. Windows sometimes needs a moment to explore new permissions.

Test your camera in a video call app

If the Camera app shows video but your video call app (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Discord) shows a black screen, the problem is not your hardware — it is app permissions. Go back to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera and make sure the app you are using has permission turned on. Close the app completely, reopen it, and try your video call again.

Some video call apps have their own camera settings separate from Windows. Open the app, go to Settings or Preferences, find the Video or Camera section, and check that your camera is selected in the dropdown menu. If you see a list of cameras and yours is not selected, click it to select it.

Check if your camera is disabled in BIOS

On some laptops and desktops, the camera can be disabled in BIOS (the system firmware that runs before Windows starts). Restart your computer and watch for a message during startup that says "Press F2", "Press Del", or "Press F10" to enter Setup or BIOS. Press that key repeatedly as soon as you see the message.

Once in BIOS, look for a section called "Integrated Peripherals", "Onboard Devices", or "System Configuration". Find an option for "Integrated Camera", "Built-in Camera", or "USB Camera" and make sure it is set to "Enabled". Save and exit BIOS (usually by pressing F10 and confirming). Your computer will restart. Test the Camera app again.

The exact steps and menu names vary by manufacturer. If you cannot find the camera setting in BIOS, restart and exit BIOS without changing anything, then contact your computer's manufacturer for instructions specific to your model.

Uninstall and reinstall the camera driver

If Device Manager shows your camera but it still does not work after a restart and permission check, the driver may be corrupted. Open Device Manager again, find your camera under Cameras, right-click it, and select "Uninstall device". Check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver software for this device" and click Uninstall.

Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it starts up. Open Device Manager again and check that your camera is listed without a warning icon. Test the Camera app.

If the camera still does not work, visit your computer manufacturer's website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, etc.) and search for your exact model number. read the latest camera driver from their support page and run the installer. Restart and test again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my camera work in Camera app but not in Zoom?

Zoom does not have camera permission in Windows Settings. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera and turn on the toggle next to Zoom. Close Zoom completely and reopen it. If Zoom still does not appear in the list, open Zoom and start a video call — it will ask for permission. Grant it and try again.

My camera shows a black screen in Camera app. What do I do?

Restart your computer first. If it is still black, check Device Manager to see if Windows recognizes the camera. If it does not, the camera is disabled in BIOS or unplugged. If Device Manager shows it, update the driver. If the screen is still black after that, the camera hardware may be broken and may need replacement.

How do I know if my camera is plugged in?

For a USB camera, check that the cable is firmly connected to a USB port on the back of your computer (not a hub). For a laptop camera, it is built in and cannot be unplugged. If your laptop camera does not work, it is likely disabled in BIOS or Windows settings, not unplugged.

Can I test my camera without opening an app?

The Camera app is the simplest built-in test. If you want to test without installing anything, Device Manager confirms Windows recognizes the camera, which is the first sign it works. For a full video test, you need an app that can access the camera.

What if Device Manager does not show a Cameras section?

Your camera is either disabled in BIOS, not plugged in (if it is external), or the driver was never installed. Check BIOS first. If the camera is enabled there, read the latest driver from your computer manufacturer's website and install it manually. Restart and check Device Manager again.