How to Fix Google Meet Camera Not Found

With the ability to conduct video calls with up to 250 participants, screen sharing, raising hands to speak, noise filtering, and integration with Google Workspace tools, Google Meet is one of the preferred online meeting platforms for many organizations adopting remote work or online learning. However, like many other video conferencing software, Google Meet also has its issues causing inconvenience. If you are experiencing the Google Meet camera not opening problem or receiving notifications of camera not found on Google Meet, then this article is for you.

If you encounter screen sharing issues on Google Meet, refer to this article. But if you're facing the problem of Google Meet not finding the camera, then find out more in this article.

Explore More: Screen Sharing Error on Google Meet

Fixing the Issue of Google Meet Camera Not Opening

I - Causes of Google Meet Camera Not Opening Error

Google Meet camera not opening error or Google Meet camera not found issue may occur due to the following reasons:

- Lack of camera access permissions.
- Temporary browser issues conflicting with the service.
- Missing or outdated webcam drivers and other malfunctions.
- Webcam being used by other applications.
- Incorrectly configured video settings, such as the default camera in Google Meet.

II - How to Fix Google Meet Camera Not Found Issue

1. Check the connection of the webcam with the computer

If you're using a PC and connecting a webcam, ensure that the webcam is securely connected to the computer and functioning. If there's another computer nearby, try connecting the webcam to that computer to see if it's detected. If the USB cable of the webcam is securely plugged into one of the USB ports of the computer and the webcam is working fine but Google Meet can't find the camera, continue with the following steps:

2. Grant camera access permission for Google Meet on the web browser

To make video calls on Google Meet, you need to grant permission for the application to access your microphone and camera. Usually, when starting a video call, you'll receive a prompt to grant access to Google Meet, but you might have inadvertently dismissed it. If you blocked or denied the access request, Google Meet will display a black screen. To grant camera access permission for Google Meet on the web browser, follow these steps:

2.1. On Chromium-based browsers (Brave/Google Chrome/Microsoft Edge/Vivaldi)

Once you've accessed Google Meet on your web browser and joined a meeting, click on the padlock icon in the top left corner of the address bar and set Camera to Allow.

Additionally, there's another way to do this as follows:

Step 1: Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the web browser and select Settings. Then, under Privacy and security, choose Site settings.

Step 2: From the list of available websites, select meet.google.com.

Step 3:

Here, you click on the dropdown menu next to the Camera option and select Allow. Also, grant any other necessary permissions for Google Meet.

2.2. On Firefox Browser

After accessing Google Meet on Firefox and joining a meeting, click on the camera icon next to the padlock icon in the top left corner of the address bar and unblock Temporarily blocked next to Use the camera.

2.3. On Safari Browser

Navigate to Safari > Preferences menu, click on the Websites tab, and select Camera. Then, set meet.google.com to Allow.

3. Grant Camera Access for Web Browsers on Windows and Mac

Windows and Mac provide options for you to allow or block applications from accessing your device's camera. To use Google Meet from a web browser on Windows and Mac, you also need to grant permission for the browser to access the camera.

3.1. On Windows

Step 1: Enter Camera privacy settings in Windows search and click on the corresponding search result.

Step 2: In the Settings page, enable the option Allow apps to access your camera.

Step 3: Scroll down and enable the option Allow desktop apps to access your camera.

3.2. On Mac

Click on the Apple icon and select System Preferences > Security & Privacy. Then, click on the Privacy tab and select Camera from the left menu. Finally, check the browser you want to allow camera access for.

4. Change the default camera in Google Meet

By default, Google Meet uses the built-in camera app on your system. If you're using a third-party camera app, such as Snap Camera, or using your phone as a webcam with DroidCam or iVCam, you'll need to configure Google Meet accordingly. To change the default camera, follow these steps:

Step 1: Access Google Meet on your web browser and click on the settings gear icon.

Step 2: Select the Video tab, click on the dropdown menu of the Camera section, and choose the camera you are currently using.

Fixing the inability to change the background on Google Meet is also easily resolved. You can refer to the following article to learn how to fix it easily.

• Read more: How to fix Google Meet unable to change background

5. Restart the browser and check for updates

This is one of the easy yet effective ways to fix the Google Meet camera not working issue. Sometimes, browsers may encounter random glitches and interfere with the functioning of system elements like the camera. To address this, manually close all tabs and then restart the browser. Additionally, check for pending browser updates. Updates often come with bug fixes and performance improvements.

To update the web browser, follow these steps:

- On Chrome: Click on the three-dot icon at the top right corner of the browser, select Help > About Google Chrome. Then, download and install the latest update if available.|
- On Microsoft Edge: Click on the three-dot icon at the top right corner of the browser, select Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge. Check for available updates and proceed with the installation.
- On Firefox: Click on the three-bar icon at the top right corner of the browser, select Help > About Firefox. Then, if there's an available update, download and install it.

6. Update webcam drivers

Outdated webcam drivers can cause your camera to malfunction or behave inaccurately. Installing the latest driver version for your webcam can help you address the Google Meet camera not found issue. You can use software to update the driver or follow the instructions below:

Step 1: Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog.
Step 2: Type dvmgmt.msc and press Enter to open Device Manager.
Step 3: Expand the Camera category and right-click on your webcam driver, select Update driver.

Step 4: Choose the option Select Search automatically for drivers. Then, wait for Windows to scan and install any available driver updates.

Google Meet allows you to change your account name. You can use this feature to rename your Google Meet. If you're unsure how, refer to the steps below:

• Explore more: Rename Google Meet

7. Ensure no other applications are using the webcam in the background

If other applications like FaceTime, TeamViewer, or Skype are using the camera in the background, you won't be able to use the camera in a Google Meet call. On most laptop models, it's easy to check if another application is using the camera. Look at your computer's camera, and if the LED light is on (white or green), it indicates that another app is using the camera in the background. Close those apps and return to Google Meet to see if the video works.

8. Check antivirus software

Some antivirus software features can automatically block access to the camera from unauthorized or third-party sources. Therefore, you should check if your antivirus software is blocking browser access to the camera.

For example, in Kaspersky's antivirus software, go to Settings > Protection > Web Protection. Then, click on Block Access to webcam for all applications and uncheck this option. A window will pop up with a list of blocked applications. Remove your browser from the list.

Additionally, temporarily disabling antivirus software may help you determine whether the Google Meet camera not found error is caused by your security program.

Besides the camera not found error, you may encounter the missing record button issue. Fixing the Google Meet missing record button issue is also straightforward. Refer to this article for easy troubleshooting.

• Explore more: How to fix Google Meet missing record button issue

III. Latest Google Meet download link

In case you encounter issues while using Google Meet and have tried all the solutions without success, you can download the latest version of Google Meet for reinstallation:
- Download Google Meet for PC
- Download Google Meet for Android
- Download Google Meet for iPhone

Therefore, there are quite a few ways to handle errors such as Google Meet camera not found or camera not working on Google Meet. Since you may not know the exact cause from the beginning, you should apply each method shared in the article one by one. Additionally, if you encounter errors like Google Meet not recognizing microphone and unable to join a Meet, you can also refer to the guide here for troubleshooting.

Check out more: How to troubleshoot Google Meet microphone not working

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