Troubleshoot camera issues in a meeting

If you have a camera issue in a meeting, here's how you can fix it:

• Allow Google Meet to access your camera
• Allow Google Chrome to access your camera
• Allow camera access on a browser other than Chrome
• Allow your system or device to access your camera
• Learn why you have a black screen or crossed out camera icon

Check your camera before your meeting

• Make sure that your camera is connected, on and faces towards you.
• Choose the correct camera, not a screen or other devices. Learn how to connect your video and audio.
• Test your camera in another app.
• Close other apps that use the camera, then reload Meet.
• Check your Internet connection. Slow connections can cause video-quality problems. Learn how to improve your Wi-Fi or network performance.
• Make sure that your browser is updated.
  • Learn how to update Google Chrome.
  • Learn how to update Safari.
  • Learn how to update Firefox.
  • Learn how to update Microsoft Edge.

Allow camera access for Meet

You must allow camera access the first time you join a meeting.

1. On your computer, open meet.google.com.
2. Join a video meeting.
3. In the address bar, click Camera.
4. Turn on the camera.
5. Click Allow on every visit.

Allow camera access in Google Chrome

Check your site permissions

Important:

• The 'Camera failed' error often means that your browser can't access the camera.
• You can allow all websites to use your camera or only a specific website.

To allow your browser to use your camera:

1. On your computer, in the address bar, enter chrome://settings/content/camera.
2. Under 'Default behaviour', select Sites can ask to use your camera.
3. Turn off Ask before accessing.
4. If you've allowed camera access for Meet before:
   1. Under 'Allowed to use your camera', next to 'https://meet.google.com:443', click Delete.
   2. Next to 'https://meet.google.com:443', click Expand .
   3. Under 'Permissions', click Camera Allow camera access.

Allow camera access on other browsers

• Allow Safari to use your camera.
• Allow Firefox to use your camera.
• Allow Microsoft Edge to use your camera.

Allow camera access on your computer or device

Important: Check that your camera is on and accessible by your computer and browser.

On a Chromebook

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, click Time Settings .
2. On the left, select Privacy and security Privacy controls.
3. Turn on Camera access.

On macOS

On a macOS Mojave (version 10.14) or later, allow the browser to use your camera so that Meet can use the camera.

1. On your macOS device, go to System settings Privacy and security.
2. Select Camera.
3. Tick the box for the app that uses Google Meet.
   • For example: The app may be Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge.

On a Windows computer

1. On your computer, click Start Settings.
2. Select Privacy and security Camera.
3. Turn on Camera access Allow apps access your camera.

Tip: This setting lets users decide whether apps can use the camera.

Troubleshoot a black screen or crossed-out camera icon

Check for camera hardware problems

1. On your device, open the built-in camera app, like Camera or Photo Booth.
2. If your camera's self-preview shows your image but Meet doesn't, make sure that Meet can access your camera:
   • Enable camera access on macOS Mojave and later
   • Allow Google Chrome to use your camera
3. If your camera doesn't show your image, check and adjust the camera cover or privacy switch.

Open the camera cover or privacy switch

Important: Not all devices have a camera cover or privacy switch. If yours does:

• The cover or switch might be at the top or side of your device.
• Some models use an orange, red or amber light when the privacy switch is on.

1. To find the camera cover, at the top of the camera lens, check for a slider.
   • For most devices, the camera cover is a physical slider above the lens.
     • For example, on Lenovo devices, the camera lens is blocked by the slider.

       

2. If there's no slider above the lens, check for a physical switch on either side of your device.
   • Some devices use a privacy switch instead of a camera cover.
     • For example, the HP Chromebook has a camera privacy switch.

       

3. To unblock the camera lens, move the slider or switch to the off position.
4. Test the camera with the built-in camera app or with Google Meet.

Tip: If the camera's self preview doesn't show:

• For Chromebook, try the steps to reset your Chromebook hardware.
• For devices other than Chromebook, try more troubleshooting steps.

Change the privacy mode in your camera settings

Important: Some devices have a software privacy switch.

1. On your device, go to Settings.
2. Find your camera settings.
3. Turn off the software-based privacy switch.

Tip: The instructions might be different on your device.

Example of Chrome and Firefox browsers that shows the camera lens blocked by a software privacy switch.

Reset your Chromebook hardware

If there's no camera cover or switch and the camera still doesn't work:

1. Reset your Chromebook hardware.
2. Test the camera with the built-in camera app or with Google Meet.

Related resources

• Troubleshoot issues when you join or create a meeting
• Troubleshoot video and audio quality in a meeting
• Troubleshoot recording issues in meetings