8 Ways to Fix Google Meet Camera Failed

Is the Google Meet camera not working for you? Check out these common Google Meet camera problems and ways to fix them.

Google Meet is a popular video conferencing app. You can use it via the browser or the dedicated mobile app. However, some users have reported the Google Meet camera failed error when using the service.

In this article, we discuss how to troubleshoot Google Meet that won't work on Chrome, Edge, and other browsers.

Causes of Google Meet Camera Failed Error

If you are experiencing the Google Meet camera failed error on a Windows computer, here are a few common reasons that can trigger this error:

• Insufficient permission to access the camera or the audio device
• Temporary browser glitch conflicting with the service.
• Missing or outdated webcam drivers and other glitches.
• Your webcam is in use by other apps.
• Incorrectly configured video settings, such as the default camera in Google Meet.

Fortunately, you can resolve this error by tweaking a few settings in a web browser, Google Meet app, and the system. Before you proceed with the troubleshooting steps below, check your system for the following issues:

• Ensure your camera is working and properly connected to your system. Try launching the Camera app to see if the capturing device is working.
• If you have multiple cameras connected to the computer, ensure the primary camera is in use.
• If you are using the Google Meet app on your phone, ensure you have the latest app installed.

1. Check Google Meet Camera Permission

When you join a meeting, Google Meet will request permission to access your camera. If you block or reject the access request, Google Meet will display a black screen.

To fix it, give Google Meet permission to access your camera. Here’s how to do it on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers.

Give Camera Permission From the Meeting Page

When you block Google Meet access to your camera, you will see a camera icon with a red cross, indicating access to communication devices is denied.

To fix this, click on the Camera or Microphone icon and select Always allow Google Meet to access your camera. Click Done. Next, click the Video/Camera icon on the Google Meet screen to turn on the camera.

Give Camera Permission From Site Settings

If you still see the black screen, try giving the camera access from site settings. Here's how to do it in your favorite browser.

On Edge Chromium:

1. Click the Settings and More icon (three dots) and open Settings.
2. In the Settings page, open the Cookies and site permission tab from the left pane.
3. On the right pane, scroll down to All Permissions.
4. Click on Camera. Here you should see the camera access for Google Meet URL is blocked.
5. Click on Delete (Trash icon).
6. Open Google Meet again. When the prompt to access the camera appears, click Allow.

On Google Chrome:

1. Click on the three dots and select Settings.
2. Open the Privacy and Security tab from the left pane.
3. Open Site Settings.
4. Scroll down and click on Camera.
5. Next, click on Google Meet URL, click on the drop-down button for Camera, and select Allow.

Now, Google Meet should have access to your camera on Chrome.

On Firefox:

Firefox shows permission status on the left side of the address bar. Click on the Camera icon and select Allow audio and video to give Google Meet permission to access your camera.

2. Check if Another App Is Using Your Camera

Google Meet cannot use your camera or show a video feed if other apps in the background are accessing your webcam. Check if any other video conferencing app such as Skype or TeamViewer is using your camera.

On your laptop, check if your camera indicator light is on. If yes, look for and close any app using your camera in the background. Once done, join the meeting on Google Meet and click the camera icon to enable your webcam.

Still can't get your camera working? Try changing your camera settings in Windows 10.

3. Restart Browser and Check for Updates

This may be the most obvious solution, but also the most ignored one. At times, temporary glitches can conflict with browser functionalities. To fix this, close all the tabs manually and then relaunch the browser.

Additionally, check for pending browser updates. Updates usually come with bug fixes and performance improvements.

To update your browser:

• Chrome: Go to Help > About Google Chrome. Download and install pending updates.
• Microsoft Edge: Go to Help & Feedback > About Microsoft Edge. Check for and install pending updates.
• Firefox: Go to Application Menu > Help > About Firefox. If an update is available, download and install it.

4. Set Default Google Meet Camera

Google Meet by default uses your system’s integrated camera app. If you use a third-party camera app such as Snap Camera or use your phone as a webcam with DroidCam, or iVCam, you will have to configure Google Meet accordingly. To change the default camera:

1. Open Google Meet on your browser.
2. Click the Gear icon (top-right corner) to open the settings.
   
3. Open the Video tab.
4. Click on the default camera and choose your preferred camera option.

Now you have changed the default Google Meet camera. Join a meeting and check for any improvements.

5. Perform a Webcam Driver Rollback

You can use driver rollback to reinstall the previously installed driver if any issues occur after installing a driver update. Whenever possible, Windows saves a copy of device drivers in case you need to perform a rollback.

Follow these steps to perform a webcam driver rollback using Device Manager:

1. Press Win + R to open Run.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
3. In Device Manager, expand the Cameras section.
4. Right-click on your webcam device and select Properties.
   
5. In the Properties dialog, open the Driver tab.
6. Next, click the Roll Back Driver button and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the rollback.
   
7. Finally, restart your PC to save the changes and check for any improvements.

If the Roll Back Driver button is grayed out, it means no previous drivers are available, and you may need to update the driver.

6. Update Webcam Drivers

Outdated webcam drivers can cause your camera to malfunction or not work correctly. Installing the latest drivers for your webcam can help you resolve this problem. To update webcam drivers:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open Run.
2. Type dvmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
3. Expand the Cameras category. Check if there is a yellow exclamation mark on your webcam.
   
4. Right-click on your webcam device driver and choose Update drivers.
5. Select Search automatically for drivers option. Wait for Windows to scan and install available drivers.

After the drive is installed, restart your PC to apply changes. Open Google Meet and check if the camera failed error is resolved.

7. Disable MediaFoundation Video Capture in Chrome

Chrome flags are experimental features available for tinkers and developers. MediaFoundation Video Capture is a Chrome flag and a multimedia framework developed by Microsoft.

Reportedly, on browsers with the MediaFoundation flag enabled, the Google Meet camera is not working. Check your browser and disable it to resolve the problem.

To disable MediaFoundation Video Capture:

1. Copy/paste the following in the address bar of Chrome or Microsoft Edge (Chromium) browser and hit enter.

   edge://flags/#enable-media-foundation-video-capture

   chrome://flags/#enable-media-foundation-video-capture

2. In the drop-down for MediaFoundation Video Capture, select Disabled.
3. Restart your browser and check for any improvements.

8. Check Your Antivirus for Blocking Access

Some antivirus with web protection features can automatically block access to the camera from unauthorized or third-party sources. Check your antivirus program for web protection.

For example—In Kaspersky antivirus, go to Settings > Protection > Web Protection. Click on Block Access to webcam for all applications and uncheck the option. A pop-up window with a list of blocked apps will appear. Remove your browser from the list. Also, temporarily disabling your antivirus can help you determine if the issue is due to your security program.

Additionally, as a workaround, try accessing Google Meet from a different browser. Browser-related issues may require a fix from the developer, which may take some time.

Google Meet Camera Failed Error Fixed

Your camera or audio not working on Google Meet meetings can be annoying. Fortunately, in most cases, giving Google Meet access to your camera will fix the problem.

That said, if the problem persists, Google Meet has some excellent alternatives, Zoom being one of them. So, you're no longer confined to limited web conferencing options providing unreliable services.