Camera malfunctioning

Question

Camera issue every time I join a new Teams call. Camera fails and shows a black screen in every other call

Answer 1

Hi @Isabella Fernandez,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum. 

Thank you for taking the time to report this clearly and for your effort in trying to get your camera ready for your meetings. Based on the details you shared that your camera is not working in Microsoft Teams meetings and the video area shows a black screen. 

In most cases, this behavior occurs when Teams cannot access the camera due to device privacy permissions, another application already using the camera, or Teams selecting a different camera than the one you intended to use. Additionally, an outdated camera driver or a temporary Teams cache conflict can prevent the camera preview from loading correctly even when the hardware is functioning. 

Please follow these steps in order, as each one helps isolate and correct the most common causes. 

1/ Verify camera permissions at the device level 

First, please fully close Teams so the settings refresh properly. Then, confirm your system is allowing camera access for desktop apps and Teams. 

• Quit Teams completely. If you are on Windows, right click the Teams icon in the taskbar area and select Quit. 
• Open Settings, then go to Privacy and security, then Camera. 
• Turn on Camera access, turn on Let apps access your camera, and also turn on Let desktop apps access your camera. 
• Reopen Teams and check whether the camera preview returns. 

2/ Ensure Teams is using the correct camera 

Next, please confirm Teams is pointed to the right camera device, especially if you have more than one camera option available. 

• In Teams, open Settings, then select Devices. 
• Under Camera, choose the correct camera from the dropdown list. 
• Check the preview, and if it remains black, switch to another camera option and then switch back to force a refresh. 
• If available, run a test call to confirm video is working before joining a meeting. 

3/ Release the camera from other apps and reset the connection 

Then, please make sure no other application is currently controlling the camera, as this can block Teams from accessing it. 

• Close any apps that might use the camera, such as Zoom, browser tabs using Google Meet, OBS, or camera utilities. 
• Restart your device to clear any background camera lock. 
• If you are using an external webcam, unplug it for about 10 seconds, plug it back in, and try a different USB port to rule out a port or hub issue. 

4/ Update Teams and refresh Teams cache for a deeper fix 

Finally, if the issue persists, updating and refreshing Teams components usually resolves stubborn black screen camera behavior. 

• In Teams, select Settings and more, then choose Check for updates, and allow the update to complete. 
• On Windows, open Device Manager, expand Cameras, right click your camera, and select Update driver. 
• Quit Teams completely again. 
• Press Windows + R, then type: %userprofile%\appdata\local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams  
• On Mac: Press Command + Q, type:

rm -rf ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.teams  
rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.teams2  

• After that, reopen Teams and test the camera. 

If you reply with your device type, Teams version, screenshot of your error, whether this is a built-in camera or an external webcam, and whether the camera works in another app (for example the Windows Camera app), so I can further investigate and provide more targeted guidance.

You can also view this article for more information: My camera isn't working in Microsoft Teams.

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If you have any updates regarding the issue, please feel free to share them with me.       

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. I look forward to continuing the conversation.

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Answer 2

If your camera is showing a black screen during Microsoft Teams calls, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take:

1. Check Camera Connection: Ensure that your camera is properly connected to your device. If it's an external camera, try unplugging and re-plugging it.
2. Camera Configuration: Verify that the camera is not mistakenly configured as a content camera in Teams. Make sure it is set to the correct camera in the settings.
3. USB Extenders and Cables: If you are using a USB extender, try connecting the camera directly to the computer. Ensure that the USB cable is in good condition and meets the specifications for your camera.
4. Camera Power: If your camera requires an external power supply, ensure that it is connected and powered on.
5. Driver Updates: Ensure that your camera drivers are up to date. You can check the manufacturer's website for the latest drivers.
6. Windows Updates: Make sure your Windows operating system is up to date, as updates can sometimes resolve compatibility issues.
7. Registry Key Adjustment: If the issue persists, you may want to consider adjusting the registry key related to Frame Server Mode, which can help resolve webcam issues in Teams. This requires a reboot after making changes.

If none of these solutions work, you may need to contact your camera's manufacturer for further assistance or consider using a different camera to see if the issue persists.

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References:

• Camera fails in Teams - Microsoft Q&A
• The Camera status is Unhealthy