Microsoft Teams sometimes opens the wrong camera, blocks video because of a permission setting, or keeps a background effect you no longer want. The right fix depends on where you are: the Teams desktop app, the meeting join screen, a live meeting, Teams on the web, or your device privacy settings. Start with the default camera setting, then move through the meeting and permission controls that match your setup.
1. Choose your default Teams camera
- 1.Open Microsoft Teams on your Windows PC or Mac.
- 2.Select Settings and more.
- 3.Select Settings.
- 4.Select Devices.
- 5.Go to Video settings.
- 6.Open the Camera dropdown and choose the camera Teams should use.
2. Set video before joining a meeting
This fixes joining with video on when you wanted it off, or joining with video off when you wanted to be seen.
Open the meeting join screen.
Use the Camera toggle to turn video on or off.
Select Join now.
3. Switch camera controls during a call
Select Camera to turn video on or off.
On mobile, tap Camera near the bottom-left area of the screen.
On desktop, select the dropdown arrow next to Camera to preview video, change your background, or open more camera options.
For the desktop shortcut, press Ctrl+Shift+O on Windows or Command+Shift+O on Mac.
4. Tune brightness soft focus and mirroring
For camera image controls in Teams, use Settings and more > Settings > Devices > Video settings. Teams displays the controls available for your setup, including options such as Automatically adjust camera controls, Mirror my video, Adjust brightness, Soft focus, Green screen, and the video preview. Available controls vary by device, account type, and organization policy.
5. Add backgrounds blur and video filters
Before a meeting, go to Calendar, select the meeting, and choose Join.
Turn Camera on.
Select Effects and avatars.
Choose Blur, a Teams background, More video effects, Add new, or None.
To change effects during a meeting, select More actions, then Video effects and settings.
Choose a filter or background, select Preview, then select Apply or Apply and turn on video.
To remove a filter, go to More actions, then Video effects and settings, choose None, and select Apply.
On iPhone or Android, use Background effects before or during the meeting, choose an effect, then tap Done. On Android, Microsoft lists requirements for this option: the Teams mobile app for Android version 1416/1.0.0.2021143402 or later, Android 10 or later, and a supported GPU (Qualcomm Adreno 610 or later, Arm Mali-G71 or later, or Arm Mali-T720 or later). If your phone falls short of any of those, Background effects will not appear.
6. Restore blocked camera access
This fixes Teams when your operating system blocks camera access.
On Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera, then turn on Camera access and Let apps access your camera. Turn on Let desktop apps access your camera for the desktop app or browser use.
On Mac, open the Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, then turn access on for Microsoft Teams. Restart Teams after changing permission.
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, then turn access on for Teams.
On Android, open Settings > Apps > Teams > Permissions > Camera, then choose an allowed camera permission.
On Android, also check Settings > Security and privacy > Privacy > Privacy controls and turn Camera access on.
7. Allow Teams camera use in a browser
Teams on the web needs Teams permission and browser permission. Inside Teams on the web, use More options > App permissions, turn on the relevant device access toggles, close the dialog, and refresh Teams. Teams for Web runs on supported desktop versions of Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari on macOS; Microsoft does not support Teams for Web on mobile browsers.
8. Test video and lock screen privacy
In the Teams desktop app, select Settings and more.
Select Settings.
Select Devices.
Select Make a test call.
Review the Test Call Bot summary.
Return to device settings and adjust your camera selection or video settings.
To turn off camera and mic when your screen locks, go to Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, turn on Turn off my camera and mic when my screen locks, then restart Teams.
9. Check work and school camera limits
This fixes missing or locked camera options on managed Teams accounts.
Teams video filters, background options, camera controls, and attendee camera permissions can be controlled by organization policy.
Before a meeting, organizers can control attendee camera permission from Calendar > Options > Participation > Allow camera for attendees.
During a meeting, organizers, co-organizers, and presenters can use meeting controls to manage attendee audio and video permissions.
For attendee video control, use Allow camera for attendees in meeting options instead of older admin-center instructions for meeting video.
Skip Skype for Business video settings; they do not change Microsoft Teams camera settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Teams camera settings on desktop?
Open Teams, select Settings and more, then Settings, Devices, and Video settings. Use the Camera dropdown to choose the camera.
Can I change Teams camera settings before a meeting?
Yes. Open the meeting from Calendar, select Join, turn Camera on, then use Effects and avatars for backgrounds, blur, filters, and more video effects before selecting Join now.
Why can't Teams use my camera?
Camera access is blocked when Teams lacks permission in the operating system or browser. Turn camera access on in Windows, macOS, iPhone, iPad, Android, or your supported desktop browser, then refresh or restart Teams.
Can I change my Teams camera after joining a meeting?
Yes. Use the Camera button in the meeting controls to turn video on or off. On desktop, use the arrow next to Camera for preview, background, and related camera options.
Do Teams camera settings sync across every device?
No. Some settings are device-specific, and green screen must be enabled separately on each supported desktop device.
