Camera Works Everywhere but Not in Microsoft Teams: How to Fix It

Your webcam shows a picture in the Windows Camera app, but Microsoft Teams shows a black screen or no video.

Why: Teams is being blocked at the app level — usually another app is still holding the camera, Teams isn’t allowed in Windows privacy settings, or Teams is pointed at the wrong camera. Hardware and drivers are fine, so focus there.

Fix 1: Close other apps using the camera, then restart Teams

• Only one app can use the camera at a time. Close Zoom, Skype, the Camera app, OBS, or any browser tab on a video call.
• For an external webcam, unplug and re-plug it.
• Fully quit Teams (not just the meeting) and reopen it. If it still fails, restart the PC.

Fix 2: Allow Teams in Windows camera privacy settings

1. Start → Settings → Privacy & security → Camera.
2. Turn on Let apps access your camera.
3. Find Microsoft Teams (work or school) in the list and turn its toggle on. If it’s already on, toggle it off and back on to reset the permission.
4. If you use classic/desktop Teams, also turn on Let desktop apps access your camera.
5. Close everything and restart the PC.

Fix 3: Pick the right camera inside Teams

Teams may be set to a camera that isn’t connected.

1. In Teams, select Settings and more (…) → Settings → Devices.
2. Under camera, choose your actual webcam from the dropdown and confirm the preview shows video.
3. Under Audio Settings, use Make a test call to verify camera and mic together.
4. Make sure Teams is updated — check for updates inside the app.

FAQ

Teams says the camera is “in use” or “occupied”? Another app grabbed it first. Close that app or reboot, then start Teams before anything else.

Need to fix camera access for every app, not just Teams? See Let apps use your camera: camera privacy settings in Windows 11.

Sources: Microsoft Support — My camera isn’t working in Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Support — Manage app permissions for a camera in Windows