Troubleshoot camera issues in a meeting

Important:

• The "Camera failed" error often means your browser can't access the camera.
• You can allow all websites to use your camera or only a specific website.

To allow your browser to use your camera:

1. On your computer, in the address bar, enter chrome://settings/content/camera.
2. Under "Default behavior," select Sites can ask to use your camera.
3. Turn off Ask before accessing.
4. If you've allowed camera access for Meet before:
   1. Under "Allowed to use your camera," next to "https://meet.google.com:443," click Delete.
   2. Next to "https://meet.google.com:443," click Expand 👁 Right arrow
      .
   3. Under "Permissions," click Camera 👁 and then
      Allow Camera Access.

• Allow Safari to use your camera.
• Allow Firefox to use your camera.
• Allow Microsoft Edge to use your camera.

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, click Time 👁 and then
   Settings 👁 Image
   .
2. On the left, select Privacy and security 👁 and then
   Privacy controls.
3. Turn on Camera access.

On a macOS Mojave (version 10.14) or later, allow the browser to use your camera so Meet can use the camera.

1. On your macOS device, go to System Settings 👁 and then
   Privacy & Security.
2. Select Camera.
3. Check the box for the app that uses Google Meet.
   • For example: The app may be Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

1. On your computer, click Start 👁 and then
   Settings.
2. Select Privacy & security 👁 and then
   Camera.
3. Turn on Camera access 👁 and then
   Allow apps access your camera.

Tip: This setting lets users decide whether apps can use the camera.

1. On your device, open the built-in camera app, like Camera or Photo Booth.
2. If your camera's self-preview shows your image but Meet doesn't, make sure Meet can access your camera:
   • Enable camera access on macOS Mojave and later
   • Allow Google Chrome to use your camera
3. If your camera doesn't show your image, check and adjust the camera cover or privacy switch.

Important: Not all devices have a camera cover or privacy switch. If yours does:

• The cover or switch might be at the top or side of your device.
• Some models use an orange, red, or amber light when the privacy switch is on.

1. To find the camera cover, at the top of the camera lens, check for a slider.
   • For most devices, the camera cover is a physical slider above the lens.
     • For example, on Lenovo devices, the camera lens is blocked by the slider.

       👁 Lenovo camera lens blocked by slider
       

2. If there's no slider above the lens, check for a physical switch on either side of your device.
   • Some devices use a privacy switch instead of a camera cover.
     • For example, the HP Chromebook has a camera privacy switch.

       👁 HP Chromebook with camera privacy switch turned on
       

3. To unblock the camera lens, move the slider or switch to the off position.
4. Test the camera with the built-in Camera app or with Google Meet.

Tip: If the camera's self preview doesn't show:

• For Chromebook, try the steps to reset your Chromebook hardware.
• For devices other than Chromebook, try more troubleshooting steps.

Important: Some devices have a software privacy switch.

1. On your device, go to Settings.
2. Find your camera settings.
3. Turn off the software-based privacy switch.

Tip: The instructions might be different on your device.

Example of Chrome and Firefox browsers that shows camera lens blocked by software privacy switch.

If there's no camera cover or switch and the camera still doesn't work:

1. Reset your Chromebook hardware.
2. Test the camera with the built-in Camera app or with Google Meet.