Microsoft Teams Video Not Working or Black Screen — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Your camera isn't showing video in a Teams meeting. This usually happens because Teams doesn't have camera permission, or another app is using the camera. A few quick checks will normally get it working again.

Affected Models

Microsoft Teams for Windows
Microsoft Teams for Mac
Microsoft Teams on Web
Microsoft Teams Mobile

Common Causes

Another app like Zoom or Skype is using the camera at the same time
Windows or macOS has blocked Teams from accessing the camera
Teams is set to the wrong camera device in its settings
An outdated or corrupted camera driver is causing a black screen
The physical camera cover or privacy shutter is closed

How to Fix It

Check if there is a physical camera cover on your laptop. Many laptops have a small slider that covers the webcam. Slide it open and try again.

This is the most overlooked fix. Takes two seconds to check.
Check camera permissions. On Windows, go to Start > Settings > Privacy > Camera. Make sure 'Allow apps to access your camera' is On and Teams is in the allowed list.

On Mac, go to System Settings > Privacy and Security > Camera and enable Teams.
Check Teams device settings. In a meeting, click the three dots (...) and select 'Device settings'. Make sure the correct camera is selected under 'Camera'.

If it says 'No camera found', Teams cannot see your camera at all — check drivers next.
Close any other apps that might be using your camera — Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Snap Camera. Then restart Teams and try again.

On Windows, you can press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and close those apps.
Update your camera driver. Open Device Manager, expand 'Cameras' or 'Imaging devices', right-click your camera, and choose 'Update driver'.

An outdated driver is a common cause of black screen issues after a Windows update.

When to Call a Professional

If your camera shows a black screen in every app — not just Teams — your camera hardware may have failed. Contact a technician to have the camera tested or replaced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my camera work in Zoom but not in Teams?

This usually means Teams doesn't have camera permission on your system. Check Privacy settings in Windows or macOS and make sure Teams is specifically allowed.

My Teams camera shows a black screen — how do I fix it?

First close all other apps using the camera, then restart Teams. If that doesn't work, update your camera driver in Device Manager.

Can I use an external webcam with Teams?

Yes. Plug in the webcam, then go to Teams Device settings and select it from the camera list. External webcams are often more reliable than built-in laptop cameras.