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My Camera is Not Working

My Camera is Not Working

Use this guide if the other participants in the video call ,and you yourself, cannot see your camera feed. Some pictures below show the Webex app, but can be applied to any video conferencing program. 

Quick Check

  • Are you using the built-in camera?

    • Is there a privacy shutter that is closed?

  • Are you using a external, USB camera sitting atop a monitor?

    • Is the camera plugged directly into your laptop, or is it plugged into your monitor?

    • Is your monitor’s USB cable plugged in your laptop along with the video cable (HDMI, DisplayPort)?

  • Is the camera appearing active but the video feed is black?

    • Is the call using your internal camera and your laptop is closed?

The camera can only be used by one app at a time. If there is an app using your camera while you attempt to join your call, the first app will likely not forfeit the camera automatically.

Troubleshooting

  1. Be sure that the program is looking for the correct camera. Click on the caret next to Start Video (or Stop Video) and select the correct camera input.

    camera options

  2. If you are using an external USB camera, be sure that it is plugged in. If you know the camera has lights on it, make sure those lights are illuminated.

  3. If the camera is plugged in, or you are using a built-in camera, continue below.

  4. If there is a slider near the webcam lens, slide it to expose the lens.

  5. Leave and re-join the WebEx room.

  6. Checking if the camera is recognized by programs other than Webex

    1. For Windows, open the Camera app or another video conferencing application.

      1. Open the Start Menu by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.

      2. Type Camera to find the camera app.

    2. For Mac, open Photo Booth or another video conferencing application.

      1. Use the Command + Space keys to bring up Spotlight Search.

      2. Type Photo Booth to find the app.

  7. If the camera is visible in another app, but not your call, proceed below to continue troubleshooting.

Further Troubleshooting

This next step will check the Privacy settings of your computer and will differ for each operating system:

  1. If you cannot see yourself in the Camera App, continue to Privacy Settings.

  2. Open the Start Menu by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.

  3. Type "Privacy" and you will see "camera privacy settings" in the results. Click on this result.

  4. Scroll down to "Allow desktop app to access your camera." Make sure this option is set to "On."

  5. If this was Off and you turned it On, completely quit and reopen your video call program.

    allow desktop to access camera

  1. Use the Command + Space keys to bring up Spotlight Search.

  2. Type in “privacy,” and then click Security and Privacy.

  3. Find Camera in the list and make sure the toggle next to Webex is on.

  4. If this was Off and you turned it On, completely quit and reopen your video call program.

Open the Start Menu and search for Camera. Open the Camera app and check that detects your camera and that you can see yourself on the screen. Also see: Allow Chrome to use your Microphone and Camera.

  1. If your camera is not detected, please restart your computer. This may help your computer to detect the camera.

  2. If your camera is still unresponsive, please contact techsupport@uconn.edu for further help.

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