Google Meet Camera Not Working

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Allow the camera in Meet

   Copy steps
   1. Open meet.google.com and join the meeting
   2. Click the camera/site-information icon in the address bar
   3. Turn on Camera and choose 'Allow on every visit'
   4. Reload the page
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Reset Chrome's camera permission

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   1. Go to chrome://settings/content/camera
   2. Under Default behavior select 'Sites can ask to use your camera'
   3. Under 'Allowed to use your camera', delete https://meet.google.com:443, then rejoin and click Allow
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Allow the browser in your operating system

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   1. macOS: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera > turn on your browser
   2. Windows: Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera > turn on Camera access and 'Let apps access your camera'
   3. Chromebook: Settings > Privacy and security > Privacy controls > Camera access on
   4. Quit and reopen the browser
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Close other apps using the camera

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   1. Quit Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, Photo Booth or OBS
   2. Reload Meet
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. 5. Check the hardware

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   1. Open the built-in Camera app or Photo Booth
   2. If it's black there too, slide open the privacy shutter or turn off the camera switch/function key
   3. Reconnect an external webcam
   Did this fix it? Yes No

6. 6. Select the right camera in Meet

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   1. In the meeting click More options > Settings > Video
   2. Pick your real webcam, not a virtual or screen device
   Did this fix it? Yes No

7. 7. Windows + Chrome: 'Meet can't use your camera'

   Copy steps
   1. Open chrome://flags
   2. Enable the zero-copy video capture and Media Foundation video capture experiments, as Google's known-issues page suggests
   3. Relaunch Chrome
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Your tile stays black or shows a crossed-out camera icon, Meet says 'Camera failed' or 'Meet can't use your camera', or the camera list is empty.

Why it happens

• Meet site permission for the camera is blocked
• Browser lacks camera access in macOS or Windows privacy settings
• Another app (Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, OBS) is using the camera
• Physical privacy shutter or keyboard camera switch is on
• Wrong camera selected (e.g. a virtual camera)
• Chrome on Windows video-capture bug (known issue)

This guide also covers

• google meet camera not working
• google meet camera failed
• meet can't use your camera
• google meet black screen camera

The same problem in other apps

All audio, video & device problems guides →

• Zoom Camera Not Working (Cannot Start Video) (Zoom)
• Microsoft Teams Camera Not Working (Microsoft Teams)
• Webex Audio Not Working (Webex)

Other Google Meet errors

• Google Meet Microphone Not Working (People Can't Hear Me)
• Google Meet No Sound (Can't Hear Others)
• Google Meet Screen Share Not Working
• Google Meet "You Can't Join This Video Call"
• Google Meet Lagging or Freezing
• Google Meet Record Button Missing (Can't Record)
• Google Meet "Take Notes for Me" Not Working
• Google Meet "Your Meeting Is Full"