To fix Messenger video calls that aren’t working, reconnect your network, allow camera and microphone access, and update Messenger or check your browser’s calling permissions. If calls connect but picture or sound is missing, check your audio hardware and the other participant’s setup. If incoming calls only fail to ring, check notification settings.
The short version
- Connection: Reconnect to Wi-Fi or try another network before calling again.
- Permissions: Allow camera and microphone access for Messenger or your calling browser.
- Computer calls: Use Chrome or Opera, especially for group calls.
- Missed ringing: Check Messenger notifications and your phone’s alert settings.
| Fix | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Reconnect or change networks | Calls struggle to connect |
| Restart the call from its conversation | You need to retry a failed call |
| Unmute and check audio hardware | The other person cannot hear you |
| Check the other participant’s setup | Their picture or sound is missing |
| Enable Messenger cellular access | iPhone calls fail away from Wi-Fi |
| Allow Android app permissions | Messenger cannot use the camera or microphone |
| Enable Android device-wide access | Global privacy controls block capture |
| Allow iPhone app permissions | Messenger cannot send picture or sound |
| Switch to a supported browser | Computer calling or group calling fails |
| Open Facebook messages | You need a desktop web calling surface |
| Allow Windows browser access | Windows privacy settings block capture |
| Allow Mac camera access | Your browser cannot use the camera |
| Allow Mac microphone access | Your browser cannot use the microphone |
| Restore Chrome site permissions | The calling website is blocked |
| Select Chrome capture devices | You have several cameras or microphones |
| Restore Edge site permissions | One-to-one calls lack camera or microphone access |
| Ask an administrator about capture restrictions | Edge permissions are managed |
| Close competing applications | Another desktop program uses the camera or microphone |
| Restart the browser and computer | Desktop calling still fails |
| Reload and isolate Chrome loading problems | The calling page fails to load or crashes |
| Reopen an unresponsive iPhone app | Messenger freezes |
| Force-stop and reopen the Android app | Messenger malfunctions |
| Update Messenger on Android | Google Play offers an update |
| Update Messenger on iPhone or iPad | The App Store offers an update |
| Update Chrome | Your desktop browser needs an update |
| Clear the Galaxy app cache | Messenger still malfunctions on a Samsung device |
| Reinstall Messenger on iPhone or iPad | Earlier app repairs have failed |
| Enable Messenger’s Android notifications | Incoming calls do not ring |
| Disable Messenger’s iPhone quiet setting | Incoming alerts are silenced |
| Enable Android system notifications | Phone settings block Messenger alerts |
| Turn off Android quiet mode | Do Not Disturb silences alerts |
| Enable iPhone system notifications | Messenger alerts are disabled or delayed |
| Turn off an active iPhone Focus | A Focus silences incoming alerts |
| Remove Galaxy sleeping restrictions | Calls arrive only after opening Messenger |
| Unrestrict a contact | You want to restore calls with a restricted person |
| Unblock a contact | You want to restore contact with a blocked person |
| Check physical camera controls | A shutter or switch blocks the webcam |
| Reconnect and test a USB webcam | An external camera fails |
| Run Windows camera diagnostics | The camera also fails outside Messenger |
| Enable or update the camera driver | Windows camera repair is still needed |
| Report through Android settings | The calling problem persists |
| Report from an Android call | You can report while the fault occurs |
| Report through iPhone settings | The calling problem persists |
Reconnect and retry the call
Reconnect to Wi-Fi or try another network, then retry Messenger. On desktop web, select End call to finish the existing call, open the conversation and select Start video call. In the mobile app, open the conversation and tap the video-camera control.
For missing sound, unmute your microphone in the call and check any headset mute switch. Turn on the Bluetooth microphone or headset you intend to use. If the other person’s picture or sound is missing, ask them to check their camera, microphone, browser permissions and connection too.
If an iPhone call fails when you leave Wi-Fi, open Settings > Cellular. Turn on Cellular Data, then enable Messenger in the app list. With Messenger’s cellular access disabled, it must use Wi-Fi.
Allow camera and microphone access on your phone
On Android phones with Google’s permission interface, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Messenger > Permissions. Select Camera, then Allow only while using the app, and repeat for Microphone. Manufacturer labels can differ; an alternative route is Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager, where you select each permission and then Messenger.
On Android devices with global privacy controls, open Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy > Privacy controls. Turn on Camera access and Microphone access. These controls are separate from the permissions you grant Messenger.
On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and enable Messenger. Return to Privacy & Security > Microphone and enable Messenger there too. Apple lists apps here after they request access.
Check your browser and computer permissions
If you used the discontinued Windows or Mac Messenger app, switch to browser calling or the mobile app. On a computer, use Chrome or Opera and open Facebook messages, sign in and open your conversation’s video-call control. Meta also lists Edge for calling, but excludes Edge and Firefox from group calling. For browser calling on a phone, use Chrome on Android or Safari on iPhone.
Check permissions in both your operating system and browser; the Windows steps use Windows 11 menus. Open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera, then enable Camera access, Let apps access your camera and Let desktop apps access your camera. Under Privacy & security > Microphone, enable Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone and Let desktop apps access your microphone.
On a Mac, open the Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and enable your calling browser. Return to Privacy & Security, select Microphone and enable the same browser.
In desktop Chrome, open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Camera. Select the blocked calling website and change its permission to Allow, then repeat under Microphone. When a fresh permission prompt appears, select Allow while visiting the site. If you have several cameras or microphones, use the device dropdown in each category to select the intended device.
For one-to-one calls in Edge, open Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Site Permissions > All sites. Select the calling website and set Camera and Microphone to Allow. For group calls, switch to Chrome or Opera.
On a managed school, work or family computer, ask the administrator to review Edge’s camera and microphone restrictions if access remains blocked. Ordinary site permissions may not override those policies.
Close other video-calling or recording programs using the camera or microphone, then retry. If desktop calling still fails, quit the browser completely, restart the computer and reopen Messenger. For Chrome pages that fail to load or crash, select Reload this page and try Incognito mode. If that works, disable extensions and re-enable them individually to identify the conflict.
Reopen and update Messenger
If Messenger is unresponsive on iPhone, open the App Switcher and swipe Messenger’s preview upward. Reopen it from the Home Screen or App Library. On Android, force-stop Messenger through the phone’s Settings and reopen it; follow your manufacturer’s instructions for the exact force-stop path.
On Android, open the official Messenger Google Play listing and tap Update. On iPhone or iPad, open the App Store, tap your profile icon and select App Updates, then install the available Messenger update. If no app update is available, Apple recommends checking for an operating-system update.
For desktop Chrome, open More > Help > About Google Chrome and let it check for updates. Select Relaunch when offered. On Linux, updates may instead use the package manager; ChromeOS updates through its operating system.
On a Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet, you can also clear Messenger’s cache. Open Settings > Apps > Messenger > Storage > Clear cache, then reopen Messenger. Other Android manufacturers use different storage labels.
If the iPhone or iPad app still malfunctions, reinstalling is a later repair option. Deleting Messenger can remove its stored app data. Touch and hold Messenger, tap Remove App, tap Delete App, then tap Delete. Redownload it from the official Messenger App Store listing.
Restore incoming call alerts
When the problem is missed ringing, check notification controls separately from camera and microphone permissions. In Messenger on Android, open Menu > Settings > Notifications & sounds and enable On. In Messenger on iPhone, follow the same path and turn off Do not disturb.
On Android, open Settings > Notifications > App notifications > Messenger and enable notifications and the relevant available categories. Categories and labels vary by manufacturer and app. Swipe down to Quick Settings and turn off Do Not Disturb if it is silencing alerts.
On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications > Messenger and enable Allow Notifications. Review Sounds and the available alert locations; when the screen includes Notification Delivery, choose Immediate Delivery. To stop an active Focus from silencing alerts, open Control Center > Focus and tap the active Focus to turn it off.
For Galaxy phones where calls arrive only after you open Messenger, check background sleeping restrictions. Open Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits. Open Never sleeping apps, tap +, select Messenger and tap Add. This path applies to Galaxy devices with these menu labels.
Check restrictions on the person you want to call
On Messenger for Android, restricting someone prevents outgoing calls to them and silences incoming ringing. To restore contact, open Menu > Settings > Privacy & safety > Restricted accounts. Select the person, then tap Unrestrict at the bottom of the conversation.
If you previously blocked the person and want to unblock someone on Facebook or Messenger, open Messenger’s Menu > Settings > Privacy & safety > Blocked Accounts on Android. Select the person and tap Unblock. Unblocking a Facebook profile also applies on Facebook and does not automatically restore the friendship.
Fix a webcam that still will not work
Check that your webcam’s physical shutter is open or its camera switch is enabled. For a USB webcam, reconnect it and try another USB port. You can also test the webcam on another computer.
On Windows 11, open Start > Camera to check the camera outside Messenger. If it fails there too, open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Camera > Run.
For further Windows 11 camera repair, open Device Manager > Cameras and right-click the camera. Choose Enable device if it is disabled, or choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. If the camera is missing, select Action > Scan for hardware changes.
Report a persistent calling problem
On Android, open Messenger’s Menu > Settings > Report technical problem, then tap Report anyway. Choose Include or Don't include for diagnostics, describe the failure and tap Send. If you are already in a call, you can instead open Options > Technical problem and follow the same reporting steps.
On iPhone, open Messenger’s Menu > Settings > Report a problem, then tap Report anyway. Choose Include or Don't include for diagnostics, enter details under Briefly explain what happened and tap Send.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Messenger fail on hotel or airport Wi-Fi?
Connecting to the Wi-Fi access point does not necessarily give you internet access. Open a webpage and complete the network’s sign-in before retrying Messenger.
Why do Messenger permissions keep turning off on Android?
Android’s unused-app controls can suspend Messenger and remove its permissions. If this happens repeatedly on a device with those controls, open Settings > Apps > Messenger and, under Unused app settings, turn off Pause app activity if unused. Regrant Camera and Microphone permissions afterward.
Can Data Saver affect incoming Messenger calls?
Data Saver can restrict background delivery on Pixel and Android devices with Google’s Data Saver interface. Open Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver > Unrestricted data and enable Messenger, or turn off Data Saver for a test. Treat this as a background-delivery check rather than proof of what caused an active call to fail.
Can a carrier or country restrict Messenger video calls?
Yes, Meta says some countries and internet providers restrict Messenger video calling. If calling remains unavailable despite working internet access, check with your internet provider or mobile carrier.
How can a parent restore Messenger permissions on a supervised Android phone?
In Family Link, select the child, then open Screen time > Time limits > App limits > Messenger > App details > Permissions. Enable the required camera and microphone permissions. Alternatively, open Controls > Signed-in devices, select the child’s device and open App permissions.