Webcam Not Working?
Use the checks below to separate browser permissions, input selection and application settings from a possible hardware problem.
Work through the camera checklist
Open the camera testTick a step when you have completed it. Your checklist stays in this page session and is not a hardware pass/fail score.
- Start a real preview
Open the webcam test and click Start Camera. Choose the intended camera. A visible preview confirms a browser-delivered video stream; an API support check alone does not.
- Read the permission error
Permission denied: allow Camera in the site's browser controls and operating system privacy settings. No camera found: reconnect the camera and check system detection. Camera busy: close other apps that might be using it.
- Check physical controls
Remove a lens cover, open a privacy shutter, check a camera-disable key and reconnect USB webcams directly if a hub is unreliable.
- Choose the correct camera
Select the camera in the webcam test and in the affected application. On a phone, try front and rear cameras; a browser may not expose every lens or sensor mode.
- Improve low frame rate
Increase ambient light, lower the requested resolution and close heavy tabs. Compare browser-delivered frames using the webcam FPS test. It does not measure the sensor's laboratory maximum frame rate.
- Compare another application
Try the system camera app and another current browser. If all fail, check device detection and manufacturer support. If only one fails, review its settings and compatibility before assuming broken hardware.
0 of 6 steps checked.
Platform permission locations
Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Camera. Check device access and access for desktop applications.
macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera. Allow the browser and restart it if prompted.
Android: Settings → Apps → your browser → Permissions. Labels vary by manufacturer. Also check the browser's site settings.
iPhone and iPad: Check the browser's website settings for camera access and system privacy permissions where offered. Some in-app browsers restrict media access; open the test in Safari or another full browser.
What this guide cannot establish
These steps identify common permission, input and application issues. They cannot certify a device, inspect its electronics or guarantee repair. Do not install unknown drivers or disable browser security to make a test run.