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 Microsoft Teams settings. Go to Microsoft Teams video settings.
- The preview is black or fails — the issue is system-level (permission, driver or another app holding the camera), not Microsoft Teams. See System-level fixes.
Step 2: Fix Microsoft Teams video settings
Open … → Settings → Devices, then:
- Turn the camera on. In the call click the camera toggle so it is not slashed.
- Pick the right Camera. Open Settings → Devices and set Camera to the device that previewed above.
- Clear the Teams cache. If the preview is black, quit Teams, clear its cache and reopen.
Microsoft Teams-specific gotchas worth checking
Teams keeps a device cache that frequently goes stale, leaving a black preview or a camera that is greyed out in Settings → Devices. Fully quit Teams from the tray (not just close the window) and, for the new Teams, use Windows Apps → Teams → Advanced → Reset; classic Teams clears with %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams. The new and classic apps store camera settings separately.
Teams background effects (blur, virtual backgrounds) run on top of the camera, so a frozen or black feed can be the effects engine, not the webcam — turn effects off to test. As with all video apps, only one program can hold the camera at once, so close Zoom/OBS and reopen Teams if the preview stays black.
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 Microsoft Teams (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 Microsoft Teams 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 Microsoft Teams — why?
The camera is fine; Microsoft Teams has the wrong Camera selected, the camera is turned off, or another app is holding it. Open … → Settings → Devices and pick the right device.
Does this Microsoft Teams 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 Microsoft Teams camera black?
Another app is usually holding the webcam, or Microsoft Teams has the wrong camera selected. Close other video apps, pick the right Camera, and reload.