Test your camera in three places: your operating system settings, a built-in app, or your web browser

The fastest way to check whether your camera works is to open it in your system settings or a camera app. On Windows, search for "Camera" in the Start menu and click the Camera app — you should see your own face in a live preview within seconds. On Mac, open Photo Booth (search for it in Spotlight) or FaceTime and allow camera access when prompted. If you see a live image, your hardware is working. If the screen stays black or you get an error message, the camera itself may be disconnected, disabled, or missing a driver.

Many people discover their camera is broken only when they need it for a video call. Testing it before that moment saves frustration. This guide walks you through testing on Windows and Mac, checking your browser, and troubleshooting when nothing appears on screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can test a camera when ready by opening the Camera app from the Start menu and looking for a live preview of their face.
  • Mac users should open Photo Booth or FaceTime, which will prompt for camera permission and show a live feed if the camera is working.
  • If your operating system camera app shows a black screen, check Device Manager on Windows or System Report on Mac to see whether the camera is recognized at all.
  • Test your camera in the browser you plan to use for video calls by visiting a site like Zoom or Google Meet and granting camera permission when asked.
  • A black screen usually means a driver needs updating, privacy settings are blocking the app, or the camera is physically disconnected — not that the camera is broken.

Testing on Windows using the Camera app

Open the Start menu and type "Camera" into the search box. Click the Camera app when it appears. Windows will ask for permission to use your camera — click "Yes" to allow it. Within a few seconds, you should see a live video feed of yourself or whatever is in front of your screen.

If the Camera app opens but shows a black screen, do not assume the camera is dead. This usually means Windows cannot access it because of a driver issue or a privacy setting. Close the app and move to the troubleshooting section below. If the Camera app does not appear in search results at all, your version of Windows may not include it — try opening a browser and testing there instead.

Testing on Mac using Photo Booth or FaceTime

On Mac, the easiest test is Photo Booth. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type "Photo Booth", and press Enter. The app will open and ask for camera permission — click "Allow". You should see a live preview when ready. If you see yourself, your camera is working.

If Photo Booth is not installed or you prefer another method, open FaceTime instead. Search for it the same way, open it, and go to Video > Camera in the menu bar. You will see a list of available cameras. Click the one you want to test, and a preview window will open. If you see a live feed, the camera is functioning.

Testing your camera in a web browser

Since you will likely use your camera in a browser for video calls, testing it there is practical. Open the browser you use most (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge), go to a video call site like Zoom, Google Meet, or Whereby, and start a test call or meeting. The site will ask for camera permission — click "Allow" or "Grant" depending on your browser.

A live preview should appear in the browser window. If it does, your camera works in that browser. If it does not, the browser may be blocking camera access in its settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and make sure the toggle is on and your browser is listed as allowed. On Mac, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and check that your browser has permission.

Checking whether Windows recognizes your camera in Device Manager

If your camera app shows a black screen, you need to know whether Windows sees the camera at all. Right-click the Start button and click "Device Manager". Look for a category called "Cameras" or "Imaging devices" and click the arrow to expand it. You should see your camera listed by name.

If your camera appears in the list and has no warning icon (a yellow triangle), Windows recognizes it. The black screen is likely a driver update or a privacy setting, not a hardware failure. If your camera does not appear in the list at all, it may be disconnected, disabled in BIOS, or missing a driver entirely. Right-click any unknown devices in the list and select "Update driver" to let Windows search for the correct one.

Checking whether Mac recognizes your camera in System Report

On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click "General" in the sidebar, then click "About". Click "System Report" at the bottom. In the window that opens, click "Camera" in the left sidebar. You should see your camera listed with details about it.

If your camera appears in System Report but Photo Booth or FaceTime shows a black screen, the hardware is recognized but something is blocking access — usually a privacy setting or a browser permission. If your camera does not appear in System Report at all, it may be physically disconnected or disabled at the firmware level. Restart your Mac and check again; if it still does not appear, the camera may need repair.

Fixing a black screen when the camera is recognized

If your camera appears in Device Manager or System Report but shows a black screen in apps, start with the simplest fix: restart your computer. Many camera issues resolve after a restart because the driver reloads or a temporary permission block clears.

If restarting does not work, update your camera driver. On Windows, right-click your camera in Device Manager and select "Update driver". Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software" and let Windows search. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates. After updating, restart your computer and test the camera again.

If the camera still does not work, check privacy settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and make sure the toggle is on. On Mac, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and check that the apps you want to use have permission. If an app is not listed, it has never asked for permission — open the app, try to use the camera, and grant permission when prompted.

What to do if your camera is not recognized at all

If your camera does not appear in Device Manager or System Report, it is either physically disconnected or disabled. If your computer has a built-in camera (as most laptops do), check whether it is covered by a physical shutter or lens cap — some laptops include these for privacy. Slide or remove it and test again.

If your camera is external (a USB webcam), unplug it, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Windows and Mac will usually detect it automatically. If it still does not appear, try a different USB port. If you have access to another computer, plug the camera into that one to see whether it is the camera or your computer that is the problem.

If the camera is built-in and does not appear after restart, it may be disabled in BIOS (the firmware that runs before your operating system). This is rare but possible if someone disabled it intentionally. Restarting your computer will not fix this — you would need to restart into BIOS setup, which varies by manufacturer. Contact your computer maker's support if you suspect this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my camera show a black screen even though it is listed in Device Manager?

A black screen with a recognized camera usually means a driver needs updating, privacy settings are blocking the app, or the camera lens is covered. Restart your computer first, then update your camera driver through Device Manager. If that does not work, check Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and make sure the toggle is on and your app has permission.

How do I know if my camera is broken or just disconnected?

If your camera does not appear in Device Manager or System Report, it is either disconnected or disabled. If it is external, unplug it and plug it into a different USB port. If it is built-in, restart your computer. If it still does not appear after restart, the camera may be disabled in BIOS or physically broken. Try the camera on another computer if you can to narrow down the problem.

Can I test my camera without opening an app?

Yes. Open your web browser and go to a site like Google Meet or Whereby, which will ask for camera permission. This tests your camera in the browser you plan to use for video calls. If it works in the browser but not in your operating system camera app, the issue is with that specific app, not your hardware.

What if my camera works in one app but not another?

This usually means one app does not have camera permission. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and check that both apps are listed and toggled on. On Mac, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and do the same. If an app is not listed, open it and try to use the camera — you will be prompted to grant permission.

Do I need to install drivers for my camera to work?

Most built-in laptop cameras work without installing anything — Windows and Mac recognize them automatically. External USB cameras usually work the same way. If your camera does not appear in Device Manager or System Report, Windows or Mac may need to read a driver, which happens automatically when you plug it in or restart. If it still does not appear, visit your camera maker's website to read the driver manually.