You won’t be able join Live meetings or make video calls, if the Camera Icon is Greyed out or the Camera is not working in Microsoft Teams.
This problem is known to occur, both on Laptop computers that come with built-in camera and also on Desktop computers using an attached or external camera.
The most common reason for Camera not working in Microsoft Teams is due the camera access to Microsoft Teams not being provided or being by the computer.
Camera Not Working in Microsoft Teams
If you are unable to open the camera in Microsoft Teams due to the Camera Icon being greyed out, you can find below multiple ways to open or grant camera access to Microsoft Teams and other methods to fix this problem.
1. Close Other Programs
Programs like Skype, Zoom and other have a tendency to automatically start with the computer and remain active in the background.
Any of these program might be keeping the Camera busy or interfering with proper functioning of Microsoft Teams on your computer.
Hence, make sure that you exit from these programs > Restart Teams and see if the Camera is now working.
2. Allow Apps to Access Camera in Privacy Settings
The most common reason for Camera Not Working in Microsoft Teams is due to camera access for desktop Apps being blocked in the Privacy Settings on your computer.
1. Go to Settings > Privacy > select Camera in the left-pane. In the right-pane, make sure Allow Apps to access your Camera is switched ON.
2. On the same screen, scroll down and make sure Allow Desktop Apps to access your Camera option is switched ON.
3. Restart Microsoft Teams and see if the Camera is now working.
3. Select Camera in Teams App
Sometimes, you will have to clearly identify or select the Camera in Microsoft Teams. This is generally the case, if your computer has multiple Cameras (Surface Tablet) and also if your computer is connected to an External Webcam.
1. Open Microsoft Teams > click on your Profile Icon and select Settings in the drop-down menu.
2. On the Settings screen, select Devices in the left-pane. In the right-pane, manually select your External Camera.
Note: If you are not using an External Camera, make sure Integrated Webcam is selected.
4. Allow Media Access for Apps in Microsoft Teams
1. Open Microsoft Teams > click on your Profile Icon and select Settings in the drop-down menu
2. On the Settings screen, select Permissions tab in the left-pane. In the right-pane, toggle on Media (Camera, microphone, speakers) option.
This will allow Apps that you add as tabs in Teams to access the Camera on your computer.
5. Allow Camera Through Antivirus
Third-party Antivirus programs like Bitdefender, Kaspersky and others can end up blocking access to the Camera on your computer.
1. Open the Antivirus Program on your computer.
2. Go to Privacy Protection > Video & Audio Protection > toggle OFF Webcam Protection.
Note: The actual steps may vary, depending on the Antivirus program installed on your computer.
6. Enable Camera Using Device Manager
Sometimes, the problem is due to the Camera being disabled on the computer due to security reasons.
1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. On Device Manager screen, expand the entry for Cameras > right-click on your Camera and select Enable Device option.
3. Exit Microsoft Teams > Restart the computer and see if the Camera is now working in Microsoft Teams.
7. Update Camera Drivers
The problem could be due to the Camera Drivers becoming outdated.
1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. On the Device Manager screen, expand the entry for Cameras > right-click on your Camera and click on Update Driver.
3. On the next screen, click on Search Automatically for updated driver software option and follow the onscreen prompts to install updated drivers (If available).
4. Exit Microsoft Teams > Restart your Computer and see if the Camera is now working.
8. Allow Camera Through Web Browsing
If you are using Teams via Chrome or any other browser, make sure the Camera Access is not blocked in the web browser.
1. Open Google Chrome > click on 3-dots icon and select Settings in the drop-down menu.
2. On the Settings screen, select Privacy & Security in the left-pane. In the right-pane, click on Site Settings.
3. On Site Settings screen, click on the Camera tab > On the next screen, select Sites can ask to use camera option.
After this, open Microsoft Teams and select the Allow option on the Camera Permission Prompt.
9. Re-Register Camera Using Windows PowerShell
In some cases, the problem could be due to the Camera not being properly registered as a Windows device.
1. Type PowerShell in the search bar > right-click on Windows PowerShell App in the search results and select Run as administrator option.
2. In the PowerShell window, type the following Command and press the Enter key on the keyboard of your computer.
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsCamera | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
3. Close the PowerShell window and see if the Camera is now working in Microsoft Teams.