How To Test Camera In Windows 10

Windows 10 and 11 logos

You should always bank check and make sure that your webcam works before an important video coming together. Here'southward how to do it in Windows 10 and xi—and in some popular video-chatting apps, including Zoom, Google Meet, and Discord.

How to Test Your Webcam With the Camera App

The easiest way to exam your webcam is with the built-in photographic camera awarding. Click on the Start button, type "camera", and so click the Photographic camera app.

If everything is working correctly, you lot should see video from the photographic camera immediately.

How to Test Your Webcam in Common Apps

Most applications and browser-based video chat services include the ability to test your sound and video. Here are some basic instructions for some of the almost popular options.

Zoom

In Zoom, click the gear in the top-right corner of the screen.

Then, click "Video" on the left. If your webcam is working correctly, you should see yourself.

Google Run into

There are ii places you tin can check your camera with Google Come across. The kickoff is on the Google Meet home folio. Click on the gear in the top right corner of the folio.

Then, on the left-hand side, click "Video." At that place will be a small video to the right side of the popup if your webcam is working correctly.

Google also put the option to check your video directly on the meeting page. In one case you've joined a meeting, click "Check your audio and video."

If you don't see yourself, effort clicking the red photographic camera icon.

Slack

In Slack, click on your profile icon in the top-right hand corner of slack, and then click "Preferences."

Click "Sound & video" on the left-hand side bar.

You should see yourself — if you don't, make certain that the video device is set to the correct webcam.

Skype

To cheque your webcam in Skype, click on the three dots near the upper-left of Skype'southward main page, and then click "Settings."

Click on "Audio & video" on the left-mitt side, under Settings.

You should see a video stream from the webcam to the right side.

Discord

One time y'all've launched Discord, click on the modest gear icon in the bottom left-mitt corner of Discord.

Click "Voice and Video" on the left-manus side, then, in the middle, click "Test Video."

Your epitome should announced once you hit "Test Video."

How to Troubleshoot Your Webcam

There are a few things that can result in your webcam non working. Fortunately, most of them are pretty easy to fix.

Cheque the Connectedness

Webcams that plug into a USB port can come loose, or the USB port itself tin can be bad. Double-bank check that your webcam is securely plugged into a USB port. You lot should besides endeavour changing which port the webcam is plugged into — sometimes the USB port itself tin can exist the problem. If you have a desktop PC with USB ports on the front or top of the case, endeavor connecting to a USB port on the back of the figurer.

Download Webcam Drivers

Your webcam might require special software from the manufacturer to work correctly. The easiest way to find these is to go direct to the manufacturer's website — commuter downloads are usually found on the support page.

Check Windows Privacy Settings

Windows limits programs' admission to your webcam and microphone to assistance protect your privacy and security. Normally this is excellent, but it tin can occasionally result in your webcam working in some programs and not others.

To check your settings, click the Start push, type "Camera privacy settings" into the search bar, and hitting Enter.

Click the switches for "Camera access" and "Let desktop apps access your photographic camera" if they're gear up to off. Then look through the list of applications and make sure that the program y'all're trying to use has been set to "On."

Annotation: Some video calling services, like Google Encounter, piece of work through your browser. If you're trying to use a browser-based service, make certain yous enable camera access for your browser.

While you're here, you should double cheque your microphone settings. Click the back arrow in the very top left-hand corner of the window. And so, coil down until you lot encounter "Microphone" and click it.

The controls for the microphone are exactly like the photographic camera. Make certain enable access for the program you're trying to use.

Check Your Browser Privacy Settings

Your browser also has security measures in place to prevent websites from accessing your microphone and camera without permission. Normally a website will prompt you when it is trying to access your webcam or microphone. Each browser is a little different, simply they all look similar to the one below.

Camera and microphone permission popup

If you don't see something like that, you'll need to bank check your browser'south privacy settings.

Click the three dots or three bars in the superlative right of your browser and go to Settings. Then look for a "Privacy" menu. The controls for webcam and microphone access are in that location in almost browsers.

RELATED: How to Modify a Site's Camera and Microphone Permissions in Chrome

If none of those steps help, you lot should effort the webcam on another figurer. If it isn't working there either, it is most likely the webcam itself is broken, and you'll demand to supercede your webcam .