Despite being one of the world's most popular video conferencing tools, Google Meet isn't without problems. Its users regularly encounter the issue of Google Meet camera not working and search terms like "Help, my camera is not working on Google Meet" online, hoping to find an answer.
If you've been among the unlucky few to see the no camera found on Google Meet error message, this guide is for you. Stay around; we'll go over the most plausible reasons behind the issue and show you the top solutions you can try in these situations.
Table of Content
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- Check if Your Webcam Is Turned on or Connected
- Allow Google Meet to Access the Camera on Your Device
- Grant Google Meet Access to the Camera in Browser Settings
- Update Camera Drivers
- Check if Another App Is Using the Camera
- Check the Camera Settings in Google Meet
- Select the Right Camera
- Check Internet Performance
- Check Antivirus Settings
- Allow Google Meet in Firewall Settings
- Update Your Google Meet App
- Restart Your Computer
- Delete Browser Cookies
- Update Your iOS
- Disable MediaFoundation Video Capture
Reasons Why Your Google Meet Camera Is Not Working
While the Google Meet application is rarely the culprit behind your issue, it can be one of the reasons. However, other more likely reasons behind the camera not working on Google Meet and their fixes include these:
If | You should |
Your camera is turned off, covered by tape, or disconnected if it's a third-party device | – Check if your webcam is turned on or connected |
Google Meet doesn't have access to your camera | – Allow Google Meet to access the camera on your device – Grant Google Meet camera access in browser settings |
The third-party camera is using outdated drivers | – Update camera drivers |
Other apps are already using your camera | – Check if another app is using the camera |
You have multiple cameras, and Google Meet is picking the wrong one | – Check the camera settings in Google Meet – Select the correct camera |
Your internet connection is laggy | – Check internet performance |
The PC's antivirus or firewall is blocking Google Meet's access | – Check antivirus settings – Allow Google Meet in firewall settings |
Your phone or tablet's Google Meet app is outdated | – Update your Google Meet app |
A software bug is causing the issue | – Restart your computer |
Browser cookies have pilled up on your device | – Delete browser cookies |
Your iOS system is outdated and needs an update | – Update your iPhone's iOS version |
The browser's MediaFoundation engine is causing the problem | – Disable MediaFoundation Video Capture in your browser |
While these are certainly not the only reasons your camera is not working on Google Meet, they're undoubtedly some of the most common culprits.
Google Meet Camera Not Working - Top Fixes
Now that we know more about the possible culprits behind the Google Meet camera not working, we can move on to solving these problems. Below is a list of the top fixes you can try in these situations, so let's dig right in.
Fix 1. Check if Your Webcam Is Turned on or Connected
The first and most obvious fix is to check whether your camera is on. While this isn't relevant for smartphones or tablets, many laptops will have a camera cover that you'll need to slide off the built-in webcam.
Furthermore, if you're using a third-party camera, you'll need to ensure its USB cable is properly plugged in. You can also check if the camera is working in another app.
Fix 2. Allow Google Meet to Access the Camera on Your Device
Another common reason the Google Meet camera is not working is inadequate access. The Google Meet website may not have been granted access to your camera, which typically results in a black screen when you join a meeting. To change that, refresh the website and tap Allow camera when prompted.
Fix 3. Grant Google Meet Access to the Camera in Browser Settings
With the latest safety measures and updates to your favorite web browsers, you must manually allow every website to access your device's camera or microphone. You can do that by following these steps:
- Open your web browser and head to Google Meet's web page.
- Start an instant meeting.
- Tap the Settings icon on the left side of the browser's address bar.
- Ensure the Camera option is enabled.
Remember to refresh the Google Meet page after you do this, and try again.
Fix 4. Update Camera Drivers
While the latest versions of Windows and macOS will most likely automatically update your camera drivers, especially if you're using a laptop with a built-in camera, that's not necessarily the case for third-party cameras you've attached with a USB cable. To update their drivers, you can do this:
- Tap the Windows key, look for Device Manager, and open the utility.
- Locate your camera device.
- Right-click the camera and select Update driver.
- Choose the Search automatically for drivers option and follow the steps.
Alternatively, open your computer's update settings, like Windows Update, and check whether any updates are available. In most cases, the system will also find drivers for third-party devices.
Fix 5. Check if Another App Is Using the Camera
Suppose you have multiple videoconferencing apps or just took a few pictures of yourself with the FaceTime camera. In that case, there's a chance that some of these apps are still using the device and blocking Google Meet from accessing the camera. You can follow these steps to check:
- Check the open apps and ensure that none are using the camera.
- Switch to your web browser and check whether any open tabs are accessing the camera.
- Close unnecessary programs and tabs to prevent interferences.
If you find that an app or a browser tab was using your camera, close it and refresh your Google Meet web page before trying again.
Fix 6. Check the Camera Settings in Google Meet
Although Google Meet's website will automatically choose the correct camera in most cases, there are situations when you'll need to change these settings manually. Here's how:
- Launch your web browser and head to Google Meet's web page.
- Tap the Settings button in the top right corner.
- Select the Video tab in the left sidebar.
- Pick the correct device in the Camera menu and close the Settings panel.
Please note that you won't need to follow these steps if you use the Google Meet app on your Android or iOS device, as they'll automatically detect the camera.
Fix 7. Select the Right Camera
When you have multiple cameras, such as a laptop's built-in webcam and a third-party camera added via USB, Google Meet can become confused and accidentally select the wrong one. That may result in a black screen or a Google Meet camera not working error, and here's a fix you can try for it:
- Open the Google Meet website.
- Tap the tiny Arrow next to the Camera button.
- Choose a different camera from the list and refresh the page.
If you're using the Google Meet app on your Android or iOS device, you can click the Camera Swap button at the top to change between front-facing and rear-facing cameras.
Fix 8. Check Internet Performance
All videoconferencing apps, including Google Meet, require a minimum internet connection speed to work properly. If your internet connection doesn't meet these minimum requirements, Google Meet may turn off the camera by default to increase the call's audio quality.
Diagnosing this involves running a speed test or checking your internet connection's performance on different websites, such as playing a full HD video on YouTube.
Fix 9. Check Antivirus Settings
False positives regularly occur with most antivirus programs, and Google Meet can accidentally be flagged as malware. To rectify this, you must ensure Google Meet's website is on the allowed list. Here's what that looks like for Kaspersky:
- Launch the antivirus app and navigate to Advanced Settings of Web Antivirus.
- Tap the Manage exclusions options below the URL Advisor.
- Paste in "https://meet.google.com/" to the Web address mask (URL) field, and hit Add.
Fix 10. Allow Google Meet in Firewall Settings
Similarly to antivirus programs that block suspicious programs, firewalls block suspicious connections. Your Google Meet app can accidentally find itself on this unallowed list; you must change that. Here's how to allow Google Meet on Microsoft Defender Firewall:
- Launch the Control Panel and navigate to System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
- Tap the Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall option on the left.
- Find the Google Meet app and tick the Private and Public connections boxes. Then, hit OK.
Suppose you're experiencing the camera not found on Google Meet for Mac error. In that case, you can alter your Mac's Firewall settings by navigating to Apple > System Settings > Network > Firewall > Options and adding Google Meet.
Fix 11. Update Your Google Meet App
While inapplicable for resolving the problem of the Google Meet camera not working in Windows 11 or the Google Meet camera not working on Mac, an outdated app can still be an issue, but only on smartphones and tablets. Nonetheless, it's effortless to resolve.
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Search for Google Meet and click it.
- Tap the Update button.
The same goes for iOS devices like iPhones and iPads; you'll need to launch the App Store instead.
Fix 12. Restart Your Computer
Believe it or not, a simple restart works wonders in various situations caused by software bugs. It's certainly worth trying, as it won't cost you anything, and it has the potential to resolve your Google Meet camera not working issues in less than a minute.
So, hold that power button until the computer restarts. The same goes for your Android smartphone or tablet and iOS devices like iPhones and iPads.
Fix 13. Delete Browser Cookies
While browser cookies speed up your internet browsing sessions, a build-up of these small pieces of text on your device can cause browsing-related issues, including the no-camera found Google Meet error. Thus, you'll need to delete them:
- Press the CTRL + SHIFT + DELETE button combo in your browser (for Chrome and Edge).
- Adjust the Time range, select Cookies and other site data, and hit the Delete data button.
You can also remove cache files, which can be problematic sometimes. Alternatively, select the Advanced tab to clear all kinds of data.
Fix 14. Update Your iOS
If you're experiencing the issue of the Google Meet camera not working on your iPhone or iPad, there's a slight chance that an outdated version of iOS is causing the problem. Fortunately, that's an easy fix:
- Head to Settings > General.
- Tap Software Update.
- If you see an available update, hit the Update Now button.
For good measure, it's best to restart your iOS device after the update before trying Google Meet.
Fix 15. Disable MediaFoundation Video Capture
Although rare, there's a slight chance that your browser's MediaFoundation Video Capture engine is the culprit behind the Google Meet camera not working. That can happen on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers, and you can resolve it like this:
- Open the browser and paste the following code into the address bar.
Chrome:
chrome://flags/#enable-media-foundation-video-capture |
Edge:
edge://flags/#enable-media-foundation-video-capture |
- Tap the Default button next to MediaFoundation Video Capture and select Disabled.
Once done, restart your web browser and head to Google Meet to test if it worked.
Bonus: How To Record and Edit Recorded Google Meet Videos/Interviews
With the Google Meet camera not working issues resolved, you're finally ready to join a video call and show yourself to your friends, family, or colleagues. But did you know you can also record these Google Meet calls for later use?
You can even edit the Google Meet call recordings by adding transitions, annotations, stickers, and other helpful elements that make a complex subject you've discussed in a call much easier to understand. Granted, you'll need dedicated recording and editing tools, but Wondershare Filmora fills both roles.
This robust recording and editing software has all the bells and whistles you'll need to record Google Meet videos and interviews. You can also edit these recordings with the help of Filmora's AI-enhanced editing tools, such as animations, voiceovers, object removal tools, audio enhancers, and much more.
Whether you're doing that on Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android, Filmora's cross-platform tool will have your back. Its user interface is simple, intuitive, and beginner-friendly, and anyone can navigate it, regardless of the platform.
Nonetheless, we've included a guide for using Filmora on Windows so you can understand what the tool can do. Here's how you can use it:
Record your screen and webcam, then create pro-level videos easily and quickly with AI tools, stylish templates, effects, music, and other creative assets.
- Download Wondershare Filmora from the official website and install it. Then, launch the app and tap on the Screen Recorder.
- You can adjust the capture area by selecting Full Screen, Custom, or Target Window, depending on what you want to record on the screen.
- Tap the Microphone, Sound, and Webcam buttons to turn on these elements and adjust what's being recorded beside the screen.
- Click the Settings button and adjust the screen recorder to your liking. You can change the recording frame rate and quality, set a countdown timer, enable mouse gesture and click recording, change the hotkeys, and alter the save location.
- When ready, hit the Circle button or tap the F9 key to start recording Google Meet.
- Once the Google Meet call ends, tap the Stop button in the toolbar or press the F9 key to stop recording. Conversely, pressing the F10 key can pause and resume the recording session.
One of the most significant advantages of the Wondershare Filmora app is its built-in Video Editor. With it, users who've just recorded their Google Meet calls can edit their recordings in a few simple taps.
Filmora's AI-enhanced editing tools make this process a breeze. You'll have an edited call recording in a few minutes, which you can then export and share quickly.
Conclusion
Whether it's school classes, interviews, or business meetings, you'll likely use the Google Meet app for these occasions. Yet, it's not a perfect tool, and many users run into issues with the Google Meet camera not working.
These issues regularly stem from turned-off or disconnected cameras, inadequate access or access interferences, outdated systems and drivers, the browser's MediaFoundation engine, and more.
To combat these "Google Meet can't find the camera" issues, we've compiled a list of the top fixes for these situations. These include double-checking that your camera is connected and enabled, granting the Google Meet website access to the camera, updating drivers, resolving app interferences, changing antivirus and firewall settings, etc.
Once you've resolved these "no camera found in Google Meet" problems, you can download a powerful recording and editing tool, Wondershare Filmora, and record and edit your Google Meet videos and interviews.
Whether for simplifying complex school subjects, taking notes from an interview, or reviewing a business meeting, Filmora's remarkably straightforward screen recorder and AI-driven editing features will make your tasks significantly more manageable.