If your webcam is not working as expected with Zoom or any other video-calling app, do not do not worry. This is a common problem, and there are some simple troubleshooting steps you can take. In this article, we will share a troubleshooting guide with fixes to help you fix your webcam.
Fix: The webcam is not working on Zoom.
Before proceeding, there are some simple troubleshooting steps and things you should check:
- Perform a quick restart. First, restart Zoom, and if it still does not work, try restarting your computer.
- Check for updates. a. Make sure your Zoom is updated to the latest version. b. Check for Windows updates and driver updates, especially for your webcam driver.
- Try reinstalling: A. Try reinstalling Zoom. B. Try reinstalling your webcam driver.
- Check your webcam. A. If you use an external one, ensure it is still plugged into your device.
- Perform troubleshooting: A. Use the Troubleshooting feature.
- Disable internet security: A. Security concerns may have disabled your webcam for Zoom. Check for Webcam Protection, and if it is enabled, disable it until you are done with your Zoom video call.
Troubleshooting Guide from Zoom
The Zoom support page shared some tips for fixing webcam issues. The company has said that apps like Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp, or any other video-calling app might create conflicts with your webcam and cause issues. Check if another application is already using your webcam. Try closing that first and then reconnecting with the Zoom video call. To check, you can use Task Manager or PC Manager and force-close the app.
Fix for Mac Users: If you are running MacOS 10.7 or higher, you can try this fix:
- Open Finder and click on “Go” in the navigation panel.
- Choose the “Go to Folder” option and type this command: /Library/QuickTime/.
- Click on “Go,” and delete components such as Video Glide, Sonix SN9C, and 3iVx Video Codec from there.
That is it! Now, try reconnecting your video call on Zoom. For other specific use-case scenarios, you can follow the guide mentioned below.
Disable the Webcam
Daemon: This is another fix from Zoom. You need to use a command to kill the webcam daemon. This command will instantly turn off and restart all webcam processes, which might fix your issue with the Zoom webcam. Use the command “sudo killall VDCAssistant” on the command line to disable the Webcam Daemon.
- Open a terminal and run this sudo killall VDCAssistant.
- After that, enter this sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant.
Fix the Zoom Webcam Issue on Lenovo Laptops. There is a specific fix guide for Lenovo users. It is pretty simple.
- Open Lenovo Vantage. If you do not have it, download it to your PC.
- Go to Hardware Settings, and then Audio and Visual.
- You will find Camera Privacy Mode there, but your Camera may have been turned off.
- That is it!
If you are using Lenovo Vantage on Windows 8, navigate to Lenovo Settings > Camera and disable Privacy Mode from there. For Windows 7 users, search for Lenovo Web Conferencing in Windows Search to enable your laptop’s webcam and shut down the Lenovo Web Conferencing program.
Fix Zoom Webcam on Windows 10 or higher.
- Open Windows Settings (shortcut key: Windows + I).
- Go to Privacy and then Camera.
- Check “Allow apps to access your camera” and ensure it is toggled on.
Check your browser settings. You may be having issues with your browser settings. To fix this issue, follow these instructions:
- Open Chrome Settings by clicking on the menu in the upper-right corner and choosing “Settings” from the drop-down menu (or type “chrome://settings” in Chrome’s address bar to access Settings faster).
- Go to Privacy and Security and then Site Settings.
- Check if the Camera is set to “Ask before accessing” as its default behavior.
That is it! If you still have trouble fixing your Zoom webcam issue, you can report it to Zoom’s Twitter handle. Alternatively, you can press F8 or F10, as some laptops require these function keys to enable the webcam.