Buzz
This article will guide you through the process of resolving the black screen issue that may occur with either an integrated or USB webcam in a Windows application. There are many reasons why you might see a black screen instead of video—this could be due to permission issues, software conflicts, or simply a misconfiguration in the website or app settings. As long as your webcam is not physically damaged, you can easily fix the issue by following a few quick steps outlined below.
Steps
Troubleshooting
Make sure nothing is blocking the webcam lens. Although this may seem obvious, ensure there are no stickers, dirt, or other objects obstructing the lens. If your built-in webcam has a plastic shutter, make sure it is fully open to expose the lens clearly. If the lens is blurry due to dust or fibers, wipe it gently with a soft cloth.
- If you're using a USB webcam, double-check that it's properly plugged in.
Close all open tabs and applications. If you notice a light near or on the webcam lens (usually red or green), it's likely that another app or website is currently using the camera. If you're unsure which app is using it, try closing everything that's open. After closing all apps, restart the app you're trying to use the camera with (like Chrome or WhatsApp) and see if it works.
- In addition to the taskbar apps, check the system tray (part of the taskbar with the clock and smaller icons). You might need to click a small arrow to see all icons. Hover your mouse over each icon to check if it's using the camera—if so, right-click the icon and choose Quit or Close.
- You may also try restarting your computer to ensure no background services are unintentionally keeping the camera on.
Check webcam options in the app or website. Depending on the app or website you're using (such as Zoom or Facebook), you may need to manually select the webcam or configure some settings before starting a video or taking a picture. Usually, you can click on a menu or icon to view the available cameras or devices—if your webcam isn’t selected, choose it and grant the necessary permissions if prompted.
Adjust permissions. Your webcam might show a black screen if the app you're using doesn't have permission to access it. To adjust the permissions, follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu and click on the gear icon for Settings.
- Click on Privacy.
- Scroll down the left column and select Camera under "App Permissions".
- On the right panel, if you see "Camera access for this device is off" at the top, click Change and switch the toggle to On. If it’s already on, skip this step.
- The toggle under "Allow apps to access your camera" should be set to On. If not, click it to enable.
- Scroll down to "Allow desktop apps to access your camera". If the toggle isn’t enabled, click it to turn it on.
- The list of apps below this section shows those you've previously granted camera access to. For instance, if you've used your webcam for Facebook chat via Google Chrome, it will be listed here.
Try using the webcam’s official software. In some cases, the webcam’s settings may get reset or misconfigured after an OS update. Open your webcam’s software (the process may vary depending on the webcam model), locate the Preferences or Settings section, and adjust the video and display settings to see if that resolves the issue.
- If you have a built-in webcam, you can try using the Camera app available in Windows 10.
- If you're using a USB webcam from Logitech or other manufacturers, you may need to download the official software from the manufacturer's website first.
Unplug other USB devices (for USB webcams only). Other USB devices might be interfering with your webcam. Leave the webcam plugged in, but disconnect any other USB devices. If the camera still isn’t working, try plugging it into a different USB port and see if that helps.
Restart your computer in Safe Mode. If you open the webcam in Safe Mode and still see a black screen, try updating the driver. If the webcam works in Safe Mode, it’s likely that the issue is related to a startup program. Try disabling startup programs like antivirus software or social tools such as Slack or Steam.
- If the webcam still doesn’t work, follow the driver update steps to continue troubleshooting.
Update the driver
Type device manager into the Windows search bar. If the search bar isn’t visible next to the Start menu, click on the magnifying glass, the circular icon, or the Start button to open it.
Click on Device Manager. The Device Manager will appear at the top of your search results.
Scroll down and double-click on Cameras. Now you should see your webcam listed.
- If you don’t see your webcam, it might be listed under Imaging Devices or Sound, video, and game controllers.
- If the camera is still not showing, make sure it’s properly plugged in (if external), then click on the Action menu at the top and select Scan for hardware changes.
Click on the webcam's name once. This is the step where you select the camera.
Click on the "Update" button. This button appears as a black box with a green arrow at the top of the Device Manager window.
Click on Search automatically for updated driver software. This option is located in the middle of the window. This step asks Windows to begin searching for updated software.
Wait while Windows searches for available and updated drivers online.
Install the updated driver if found. If Windows finds an updated driver for your webcam, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
- If no driver is found and the webcam still doesn’t work, proceed to the next step.
Manually install the driver. If the webcam still isn't working, you may need to download the specific driver from the manufacturer. If you're using a laptop with an integrated webcam, the driver is usually available on the laptop manufacturer's website (such as Acer, Lenovo). For a USB webcam, visit the manufacturer's website for the camera.
- For example, if you're using the Logitech C920, go to the Logitech support site, select the C920 model, and then click the Downloads link to find the software for the camera. Click Download Now to get the Logitech software and drivers. After that, run the downloaded program to install the driver and accompanying software.
Restart the computer. After the computer begins backing up, the webcam should recognize the new driver.
Tip
- Always check the compatibility details of third-party webcams before purchasing.
- Some computers that upgraded from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10 may not be powerful enough to support all Windows 10 features. In some cases, this can be the reason the built-in webcam is not working.
