Step 1: Does your camera work at all?
Click Test my webcam above and allow access:
- You see yourself here — the camera and drivers are fine; the problem is in your Discord settings. Go to Discord video settings.
- The preview is black or fails — the issue is system-level (permission, driver or another app holding the camera), not Discord. See System-level fixes.
Step 2: Fix Discord video settings
Open User Settings → Voice & Video, then:
- Open Voice & Video. Go to User Settings → Voice & Video and click Test Video.
- Pick the right Camera. Set Camera to the device that previewed above.
- Close rivals & restart. Quit other video apps holding the camera and reopen Discord.
Discord-specific gotchas worth checking
Discord previews your camera under User Settings → Voice & Video → Test Video; if that box is black, the problem is before Discord ever reaches a call. The desktop app's hardware-acceleration occasionally produces a black camera feed — toggle Advanced → Hardware Acceleration off and restart Discord.
Discord shares the one-app-at-a-time webcam rule, so a streaming tool (OBS) or another call app holding the camera leaves Discord blank — close rivals first. On the browser version, the camera comes from the site permission for discord.com; allow it in the address bar and reload rather than hunting in app settings.
Step 3: System-level fixes (if the preview above also failed)
Windows 10 / 11
- Settings → Privacy & security → Camera: turn on camera access and allow desktop apps and your browser.
- Device Manager → Cameras: if there is a warning icon, update or reinstall the driver.
- Close every other app that may be using the camera — most webcams allow only one at a time.
macOS
- System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera: enable Discord (or your browser), then quit and reopen.
- If the preview is still black, restart the Mac to clear a camera process stuck by another app.
Step 4: Last resorts
- Remove any physical privacy shutter or tape over the lens.
- Update Discord and your webcam/USB drivers, then reboot.
- Try a different USB port for an external camera.
FAQ
My camera previews in this test but not in Discord — why?
The camera is fine; Discord has the wrong Camera selected, the camera is turned off, or another app is holding it. Open User Settings → Voice & Video and pick the right device.
Does this Discord camera test record video?
No. The preview and any snapshot stay only in your browser. No video or photo is recorded or uploaded.
Why is my Discord camera black?
Another app is usually holding the webcam, or Discord has the wrong camera selected. Close other video apps, pick the right Camera, and reload.