Camera issues

Question

My camera will not work on some applications and the error messages is that the camera is being used by another application.

Answer 1

Hi William,

Thank you for reaching out.

Based on your description, the message indicates that another application or browser session may still be using the camera. To resolve the issue, please try the following steps (The following guidance is for Windows devices. If you are using a different device, please let me know):

1. Close other applications

• Close Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, Webex, the Windows Camera app, and any browser tabs that may be using the camera.
• Check the system tray near the clock and fully exit these applications.

2. End background processes

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Under Processes, look for Teams, Zoom, Skype, Camera, browser, or recording applications.
• Select each relevant process and choose End task.

3. Check Windows camera permissions

• Open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
• Make sure the following settings are turned on:
  • Camera access
  • Let apps access your camera
  • Microsoft Teams (work or school), if listed
  • Let desktop apps access your camera

4. Check the camera selected in Teams

• Open Teams and go to Settings and more (...) > Settings > Devices.
• Under Video settings, select the correct camera.

• Confirm whether the video preview appears.

5. Test the Windows Camera app

• Open the Camera app from the Start menu.
• If the camera works there, reopen Teams and test it again.
• If the same error appears, restart the computer.

To better understand the issue, please share the following information:

1. Are you using a built-in camera or an external webcam?
2. If you are using an external webcam, is it plugged into the computer directly or via a hub?

I hope the information I shared earlier was somewhat helpful in addressing your issue. If you have any further questions or updates, please don’t hesitate to share. I’m always happy to assist further if needed.   

Answer 2

This usually means another app or browser tab has the camera open, or Windows camera access is blocked for desktop apps such as Teams.

Try these steps in order:

1. Close anything else that might use the camera.
   • Close apps like Skype, Zoom, OBS, FaceTime, browser tabs, and any camera or video software.
   • If using an external camera, unplug it and plug it back in.
   • Restart the device to release the camera if a background process is still holding it.
2. Check Windows camera permissions.
   • Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
   • Turn Camera access to On.
   • Turn Let apps access your camera to On.
   • Turn Let desktop apps access your camera to On.
   • This is important because Teams is a desktop app.
3. In Teams, make a test call.
   • Open Teams.
   • Select Settings > Devices.
   • Under Audio settings, select Make a test call.
   • This helps confirm whether Teams can access the camera and other devices.
   • Note: test call is unavailable in Teams on the web.
4. Make sure Teams and Windows are updated.
   • Install the latest Windows updates.
   • In Teams, use Check for updates to confirm the latest Teams version is installed.
5. If the camera is intermittent or is detected briefly and then stops, enable basic camera driver mode.
   • Open Settings in Windows.
   • Go to the camera settings for the device.
   • Open Advanced camera options.
   • Enable Basic camera driver mode.
   • Restart Teams and test again.
   • This can improve reliability, but it may disable some advanced manufacturer camera features.
6. If the issue is on a Surface device, run Surface-specific checks.
   • Run the automated camera troubleshooter in the Get Help app.
   • Open the Surface app and check Help & support for updates.
   • If needed, reinstall the camera driver in Device Manager by expanding Cameras, uninstalling the listed camera device, and restarting.
   • Warning: do not uninstall drivers on Surface Pro X. That device may require a full system reset to restore them.

If the problem only happens in one app, the issue is likely that app still holding the camera or lacking permission. If it happens across multiple apps, focus on closing background apps, restarting, and checking Windows camera privacy settings first.

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