Zoom Camera Not Working — Fix in 5 Minutes
Quick Checks First
1. Is another app (Teams, Skype, OBS) currently using the camera? Only one app can use a webcam at a time. 2. Does the camera work outside Zoom (Camera app on Windows, Photo Booth on Mac)?
Fix 1: Grant Camera Permission to Zoom
Windows: Settings → Privacy → Camera → Enable access + ensure Zoom is listed and enabled. Mac: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → Enable Zoom.
Fix 2: Select the Correct Camera in Zoom
Zoom Settings → Video → Camera dropdown → Select your physical webcam. Virtual camera software (OBS Virtual Camera) may be incorrectly selected.
Fix 3: Close Camera-Using Applications
Task Manager → Look for Teams, Skype, Discord, OBS → End task → Restart Zoom. Camera conflicts are the most common cause of black screen in Zoom.
Fix 4: Update or Reinstall Camera Drivers (Windows)
Device Manager → Imaging Devices → Right-click webcam → Update Driver. If that fails, uninstall the driver and restart — Windows reinstalls it automatically.
Fix 5: Reinstall Zoom
Completely uninstall Zoom → download fresh installer from zoom.us → reinstall. Some Zoom updates corrupt the video settings file.
