Your webcam works in Windows Camera, Skype, or FaceTime, then Teams shows no usable video. The fix starts with Teams device selection and camera permission, then moves through browser site access, Teams cache, Windows drivers, and meeting rules that control attendee video.
Start with the fast Teams camera checks
Clear the handoff problems before changing deeper settings.
- 1.Close other apps that use the camera, including Skype or FaceTime.
- 2.If you use an external webcam, unplug it, plug it back in, then wait for it to reconnect.
- 3.Use the device's Restart option, then open Teams again.
- 4.On the pre-join screen, turn Camera on before you join; in the mobile app, tap Video is off before you join.
- 5.During a meeting, select Camera in the meeting controls; on mobile, tap the Camera icon in the meeting controls.
Pick the right camera inside Teams
Use this when Teams opens but shows the wrong camera, a black preview, or no preview while the same camera works somewhere else. It also helps before a meeting when the pre-join preview is blank.
In Teams, select Settings and more, open Settings, then choose Devices.
Under Video settings, open Camera, choose the webcam you want Teams to use, and confirm the preview.
Before joining a meeting, select Open device settings, choose the intended Camera under Video Settings, and check the preview before you join.
In the Teams desktop app for Windows or Mac, open Settings, choose Devices, then select Make a test call under Audio settings. Test calls are currently available only in English and are unavailable in Teams on the web.
Allow Teams to use the camera in Windows
On Windows 11, select Start, open Settings, choose Privacy & security, then open Camera. Turn Camera access on.
Turn Let apps access your camera on. If Teams is listed, enable its entry, which Microsoft identifies as Microsoft Teams (work or school). Windows lists Microsoft Store apps individually; desktop apps use the separate camera permission below.
For the desktop Teams app or Teams in a browser, turn Let desktop apps access your camera on as well. This switch is required for desktop Teams and supported desktop browsers.
Grant camera access on Mac and mobile
On a Mac, choose the Apple menu, open System Settings, and select Privacy & Security.
Select Camera and turn access on for Microsoft Teams or Microsoft Teams (work or school).
Quit and reopen Microsoft Teams when macOS asks for it.
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, select Privacy & Security, and open Camera.
Turn camera access on for Teams or Microsoft Teams.
On Android, open Settings, tap Apps, select Microsoft Teams, then open Permissions and Camera.
Choose Allow or the available allow option for your Android version.
On iPhone or iPad, the camera privacy list shows apps that have requested access. If Teams asks for camera permission, allow it, then check Settings, Privacy & Security, and Camera again.
Fix browser permissions for Teams on the web
This fixes Teams on the web when the browser is blocking camera capture.
Open Teams on the web and select the site permissions menu next to the website address.
Set Camera to Allow.
Refresh the Teams page, then rejoin the meeting or call.
In Microsoft Edge, open Settings and more, Settings, Privacy, search, and services, Site permissions, All permissions, and Camera.
Turn Ask before accessing (recommended) on, then set the Teams site to Allow when Edge lists it or prompts you.
In Chrome, open More, Settings, Privacy and security, Site settings, and Camera.
Choose the correct camera from the dropdown, then change the Teams site under Not allowed to use your camera to Allow.
In Safari, choose Safari, Settings, Websites, and Camera.
Set the Teams site's camera permission to Ask or Allow. If you choose Ask, approve the camera request from Teams.
In Firefox, open Settings and choose Privacy & Security. If your version lists Permissions and data there, select it. Then scroll to Permissions and click Settings... beside Camera.
Set the Teams site to Allow, or remove the site and let Teams ask again, then click Save Changes.
Update or reinstall Teams cleanly
Next, check for a Teams update. If the camera still fails, consider the repair or reinstall options below.
When Update appears at the top of Teams, select Update, then choose Update and restart Teams.
If Teams does not reopen automatically, open Microsoft Teams again.
Teams on the web updates automatically, and Linux users cannot manually update from inside Teams.
For a reinstall, use Microsoft's official Teams download page and choose the desktop or mobile app for Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android.
On Windows 11, quit Teams, then open Start, Settings, Apps, and Installed apps.
Find Microsoft Teams or New Microsoft Teams, select More options (...), choose Uninstall, and follow the confirmation prompts. Reinstall using Microsoft's official Teams download page linked above.
On Mac, right-click the Teams icon in the Dock, hold Option, and select Force Quit.
Open the Application Folder, select Microsoft Teams, and move it to Trash before installing Teams again.
Reset Teams cache and app data
Use these local app steps after checking camera selection, permissions, and meeting policy. Microsoft describes cache clearing as a targeted step for local client problems, not a general first fix. The manual methods below delete files; use only the exact Teams locations shown.
- 1.On Windows 11, open Settings, Apps, and Installed apps. Find Microsoft Teams or New Microsoft Teams, select More options (...), and open Advanced options if available. Try Repair first if offered. If repair is unavailable or does not help, Reset is another option, but it deletes the app's data, including personalization settings. Restart Teams afterward.
- 2.To clear New Teams cache on Windows manually, quit Teams, press Windows logo key + R, enter
%userprofile%\appdata\local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams, select OK, delete all files and folders in that directory, then restart Teams. - 3.On macOS New Teams, quit Teams from the Dock or press Command-Q, open Terminal from
/Applications/Utilities, runrm -rf ~/Library/Group\ Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.teamsandrm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.teams2, then restart Teams.
Test Windows camera hardware and drivers
First, open the physical shutter or slider, turn on the laptop-side camera switch, and press the dedicated camera key or Fn camera shortcut. Open Start, launch Camera, and if the preview works there, keep troubleshooting Teams settings, permissions, browser access, cache, or meeting policy.
If Windows says the camera is busy, right-click the taskbar, open Task Manager, right-click the camera-using app, and select End Task. If third-party security software appears to block the camera, consult its vendor's camera-access instructions or ask your IT administrator to review the restriction.
On Windows 11, open Start, Settings, Bluetooth & devices, and Cameras. Under Disabled cameras, select the camera and choose Enable; administrator access is required. Then run the camera troubleshooter. On Windows 11, Microsoft recommends starting with the automated camera troubleshooter in the Get Help app. The Settings route is also still documented: open Start, Settings, System, Troubleshoot, Other troubleshooters, and select Run in the Camera section.
For driver issues, open Device Manager, look under Cameras, Imaging devices, or Sound, video and game controllers, and use Action, Scan for hardware changes when the camera is missing. Use Update driver and Search automatically for drivers for updates, Roll Back Driver after a bad update when that button is available, and Uninstall Device only when driver reinstallation is needed. Do not uninstall camera drivers on Surface Pro X; Microsoft warns that restoring them requires a full system reset. On other PCs, after uninstalling the camera driver, select Action, Scan for hardware changes, restart Windows, and test the camera again. For a UVC-compatible USB webcam, administrator rights are required to switch to the Windows UVC driver, which may remove manufacturer-specific features such as Windows Hello support. Right-click the webcam in Device Manager, select Update driver, then choose Browse my computer for drivers, Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer, USB Video Device, and Next.
Remove meeting and policy blocks
Some Teams camera failures come from the meeting, not the webcam. When attendee cameras are disabled, an attendee cannot turn video on locally.
Before the meeting, ask the organizer to open Calendar, double-click the meeting, select Options, open Participation, turn Allow camera for attendees on, and select Apply.
During the meeting, ask the organizer, co-organizer, or presenter to open Controls, select View more options, adjust Roles when presenter rights need changing, open Participation, turn Allow camera for attendees on, and select Apply.
On a work or school account, ask IT to check Teams admin center, Meetings, Meeting policies, Audio & video, and set Mode for IP video to Outgoing and incoming video enabled. For meetings and events, use Allow camera for attendees in Meeting Options instead of relying on Video conferencing alone.
If this method fails, join from a supported Teams client: Windows 10 version 10.0.19041 or higher, a supported macOS version, or Teams for Web in Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari; do not use Internet Explorer 11 for Teams on the web.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my camera work in other apps but not in Teams?
Teams uses its own camera selection, app permission, browser permission, cache, and meeting controls. One of those Teams-specific layers can block video even when the webcam works elsewhere.
Why is Teams missing from my iPhone or iPad camera settings?
The Camera privacy list shows apps that have requested access. If Teams asks for camera permission, allow it, then check Settings, Privacy & Security, and Camera again.
Does Teams on the web work in mobile browsers?
No. Microsoft lists Teams for Web for supported desktop browsers, not mobile browsers or VDI.
Should I use old Classic Teams cache folders for New Teams?
No. Use the New Teams reset option or the New Teams cache paths. Classic Teams cache folders apply only to Classic Teams.