Unable to use the camera while using Microsoft Teams? In this guide, we will discuss how to fix this issue on Windows 10.
Offered by Microsoft, Microsoft Teams is a great video conferencing tool. Yet, many users face camera not detected problem on Microsoft Teams, this makes joining video conferencing calls impossible.
If we think it is a hardware issue, it wouldn’t be wrong. But in this case, it doesn’t look like one. To confirm, we need to see if the camera works outside MS Teams. If it does, then it is a software-related issue, and to fix the frustrating problem, the camera not working, we need to follow the troubleshooting steps explained below.
Reasons for Camera Not Detected on Microsoft Teams?
Below we enlist causes for the camera not working on MS Teams:
- Outdated Version of Teams: Using anything outdated, especially software, leads to multiple errors. In case you are using an outdated version of Microsoft Teams, you might face the camera not detected, microphone not working, and other similar problems.
- Faulty Microsoft Teams: Sometimes, when installation files get corrupted, you are more prone to face the camera not working and other issues.
- Faulty/Corrupt Camera Drivers: When the camera is not working with Microsoft Teams, it seems there the camera driver is faulty, outdated, or corrupt. Therefore, to fix it, updating outdated, faulty drivers is suggested. For this, we recommend using Smart Driver Care – the best driver updating utility that automatically updated outdated and corrupted drivers, causing problems.
To download, install, and run Smart Driver Care, click here.
-
- Multiple Camera Attached: When more than one webcam is plugged in, the Microsoft Teams application faces problems in reading the camera.
-
- Camera Permissions: To make video/audio calls using Microsoft Teams, you need to grant access permission failing to do so results in the camera and microphone not working.
- Third-party Security Software: Sometimes, a third-party security program also blocks software from reading the camera devices. In such a case, add Microsoft Teams to the safe list and then try.
- Camera Already in Use: When other video conferencing applications like Zoom, Skype, FaceTime are already running in the backend or frontend, you might face a camera not working as the device is in use.
If you think your device falls under any such situations, correct them to get, the camera working in Microsoft Teams. However, if this is not the case, read further to learn how to solve the camera not working.
Common Workarounds to fix Camera not Working:
Sometimes a simple system restart also helps fix a major problem. Therefore, before we jump into a complex solution here are some easy fixes.
1. Relaunch Microsoft Teams – For this, kill the Task Manager process and then try to restart MS Teams.
2. Reboot PC – This might sound naive but restarting the PC helps as it clears RAM, thereby fixing many problems.
3. Detach and Attach Microphone and Camera – Sometimes due to a loose connection, Microsoft Teams cannot recognize the device. Therefore, detach and reattach the camera to see if this helps.
If these fixes work for you, congratulations. You now know what was creating problems. However, if it didn’t work, no need to be sad. We have other workarounds too. So, let’s learn more about them.
How to fix Camera not working MS Teams
Solution 1: Configure Video Settings in Microsoft Teams
If none of the above tricks helped, it seems camera settings aren’t configured. Therefore, we need to configure video settings and get Webcam working. To do so, follow the steps below:
1. Type Microsoft Teams in the Windows search bar
2. Select the search result and open MS Teams
3. Now, click your Avatar > Settings.
4. You will now be redirected to the settings window with different tabs.
Click Devices > Camera> click the downward arrow and select the camera you are using. This will configure your webcam and you will be able to use the camera when using Microsoft Teams.
Note: You will see a preview that will confirm if the camera is working or not. Once it is working you are ready to join a video call with the camera.
Solution 2: Grant Access to Camera
If you can see the preview but still cannot join the call via video, it seems camera access is not granted. Therefore, we need to enable privacy settings for the camera. To do so, follow the steps below:
1. Type Privacy Settings in the Windows search bar
2. Look for the Camera option in the left pane.
3. Next, enable Allow apps to access your camera This will instruct installed app on Windows to use the camera.
4. In addition to this, look for Microsoft Teams in the list of apps and enable camera access.
5. Also, we suggest enabling the Allow desktop apps to access your camera You can find it if you scroll down. Doing so will allow desktop applications to use the camera.
6. To confirm if the camera is working open MS Teams and run a demo call.
Solution 3: Re-Register Webcam
Often Windows fails to detect newly attached devices. Therefore, to ensure this is not creating a problem for MS Teams, we will try re-registering the camera device. For this, we will use Windows PowerShell. To learn how to do that, follow the steps below:
1. Press Windows +X
2. From the context menu select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
3. Here, copy-paste the following command Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsCamera | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”} and press Enter
Note: The above command will first de-register the camera and then will register it. This ensures Windows can read the camera device.
4. Once done, exit PowerShell and make a test call using Microsoft Teams. The problem of the camera not working should be resolved.
Solution 4: Reinstall Camera Drivers
If you are reading this fix, it seems the above workarounds did not work for you. So, here we will learn how to update outdated drivers, the most common reason for the camera not working. We can head to Device Manager and install the driver manually or do it in one click using Smart Driver Care. Whatever option you choose, the choice is yours.
Note: To manually update the driver, you need to gather information about the operation system, model number of the camera, and other hardware details. While if you use Smart Driver Care, the best driver updater you don’t need to collect all this information. This excellent utility can detect and update outdated drivers on its own.
How to use Smart Driver Care and update Camera Driver?
To use Smart Driver Care, follow the steps below:
1. Download, install, and run Smart Driver Care.
2. Click Start Scan Now and wait for the scan to finish.
3. You will now see a list of all outdated drivers.
4. Update all outdated drivers in a go by clicking Update All.
Note: If you are using the trial version you will be prompted to upgrade to the Pro version. If you don’t want to pay, update the camera driver by clicking the Update Driver button next to it.
The free version allows updating up to 2 faulty or outdated drivers.
How to manually update Camera Driver?
1. Type Device Manager in the Windows search bar
2. Double click the Camera option to unhide and see attached devices
3. Right-click > Uninstall device and wait for the process to finish
4. Once done, click the Action tab > Scan for hardware changes.
5. Windows will now detect the connected camera device and will install the latest camera driver.
6. Once the driver is installed, restart the PC to apply changes
7. Now use MS Teams to see if the camera not working problem is resolved or not.
Solution 5: In Web Browser Grant Camera Device Permissions
If you are running MS Teams via the web browser, you need to grant access permission; failing to do so will throw the camera not working error. To fix it and to grant permission, follow the steps below:
Note: Microsoft Teams is not compatible with Opera, Safari, Brave, hence switching to compatible ones like Firefox, Chrome, Edge IE11 is recommended.
Now, follow the steps to grant permission in Google Chrome.
1. Launch Google Chrome
2. Click the three stacked dots > Settings.
3. From the left pane, select Privacy and security> Site Settings.
4. Click the Camera option under Permissions.
5. Copy-paste microsoft.com in the search bar and allow it to access Camera.
Note: If you haven’t used Microsoft Teams in Google Chrome, you will not find it under search results.
In such cases, log in to MS Teams, and when asked for camera permission allow it. This will grant the camera the permission camera, not working problem will be resolved.
6. Now use MS Team you will not face camera problem
Using the fixes explained above, we hope the camera not working problem on MS Teams is resolved. In case you face any problem please let us know, we will try to help. You can also connect with us on our social media channels.