Webcam Not Working in Your Browser? How to Fix It

Your webcam works in one app, but a website shows a black box or says no camera was found. When a camera fails only in the browser, the cause is almost always a permission setting at one of two levels: the browser’s permission for that site, or the operating system’s permission for the browser. This guide covers both, plus a few other common causes.

How browser camera access works

A website cannot turn on your camera by itself. It has to ask the browser, the browser asks you, and the operating system must also allow the browser to use the camera. If any of these says no, the site gets no picture.

Browsers also only allow camera access on secure pages. The address must start with https:// (local development addresses such as localhost are an exception). If a site loads over plain http://, the camera request is blocked before you are even asked.

Step 1: Check the browser’s site permission

If you clicked “Block” by mistake in the past, the browser remembers that choice and will not ask again.

Google Chrome

1. Click the site information icon at the left of the address bar.
2. Set Camera to Allow, then reload the page.
3. To review all sites, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Camera. This page also lets you choose which camera Chrome uses by default.

Microsoft Edge

1. Select the lock icon in the address bar and set Camera to Allow, then reload the page.
2. Or open edge://settings/content/camera and make sure this site is listed under Allow. In Edge Settings this is under Cookies and site permissions > Site permissions.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the permissions icon at the left of the address bar and click the × next to Blocked to clear it. Firefox will ask again when you reload.
2. Or go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Permissions, and click Settings next to Camera to remove or change saved decisions.

Safari (Mac)

1. With the site open, choose Safari > Settings for This Website and set Camera to Allow or Ask.
2. Or go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Camera to see every site.

Safari on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app, then Safari (on recent versions, Apps > Safari).
2. Under Settings for Websites, tap Camera and choose Ask or Allow.
3. Return to Safari and reload the page.

Chrome on Android

1. Tap the icon to the left of the address bar, then Permissions.
2. Turn on Camera, then reload the page.
3. To review all sites, open Chrome’s menu, then Settings > Site settings > Camera.

Menu names may differ slightly by version. After any change, reload the page. On a work or school device, your organisation may control these settings, so ask your IT team if you can’t change them.

Step 2: Check the operating system’s camera privacy settings

If the browser is not allowed to use the camera, no website can use it either.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
2. Make sure Camera access is on.
3. Make sure Let apps access your camera is on.
4. Make sure Let desktop apps access your camera is on. Most browsers count as desktop apps.

You can also check that Windows sees the camera in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras.

macOS

1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.
2. Turn on the switch next to your browser.
3. If the browser was already open, you may need to quit and reopen it before the change takes effect.

If your browser is not in the list, it has not asked for access yet. Visit a site that uses the camera and the request should appear.

Step 3: Close other apps using the camera

Often only one app can use a webcam at a time. If a video call app, the Camera app or recording software has the camera open, the browser may report that the camera is unavailable or in use.

1. Close video call, streaming and camera apps.
2. Close other browser tabs that might be using the camera.
3. Check your computer’s camera light. If it is on while you are not using the camera, something else has it open.
4. If you cannot find the app, restart the computer.

Step 4: Check the hardware

• Privacy shutter: Many laptops and webcams have a small sliding cover over the lens. A closed shutter gives a black image even though everything else works.
• Camera key: Some laptops have a keyboard key or switch that disables the camera, and some show a grey image or a lock icon when it is off. Check your laptop’s manual.
• USB connection: For external webcams, unplug and reconnect, or try another USB port directly on the computer instead of a hub.
• Drivers (Windows): Right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Cameras, and choose Update driver. If the camera shows a warning symbol, try Uninstall device and restart.

Step 5: Make sure the right camera is selected

If you have more than one camera, such as a built-in camera and a USB webcam, the site may be using the wrong one. Most video sites have a camera selector in their settings. Chrome and Edge also let you pick a default camera in their camera permission settings.

Test your camera

Once you have made changes, you can confirm the browser can see your camera with the webcam test on our home page. It shows a live preview, lets you pick a camera from a list, and reports the resolution and frame rate you are actually getting. If something goes wrong, it shows fix steps for your browser. The video stays on your device and is not uploaded, and snapshots are only saved if you choose to save them to your device.

Still stuck?

Try a different browser. If the camera works in one browser but not another, the problem is that browser’s settings or extensions, so try disabling extensions or using a private window. If the camera does not work in any app at all, the issue is with the hardware or drivers, and the manufacturer’s support pages are the next place to look.