No one wants interruptions when video chatting or streaming with friends and family. A black screen on your webcam can disrupt these moments and cause frustration. If you are experiencing this issue on your Windows computer, here are some solutions to fix it.
1. Start With Generic Fixes
Before diving into specific solutions, try these generic fixes first:
If these generic fixes don’t work, it’s time to try something more specific.
2. Check Your Webcam Hardware and Connections
If your Windows webcam displays a black screen, first check the hardware and connections. ensure the cable connecting your webcam to your computer is not damaged or loose. If you have a wireless webcam, check its battery level and Bluetooth connections.
Dust or debris often clogs the camera’s view. Therefore, check for any physical obstructions blocking your webcam lens. In addition, many laptops come with privacy shutters to prevent prying eyes from peeking. If so, verify it’s not covered or closed.
These simple checks often resolve the problem without technical expertise.
3. Restart the Computer
This may sound strange, but restarting your computer often resolves technical problems. It clears temporary files, refreshes system settings, and resolves conflicts that may cause webcams to black out.
So, if your webcam was working fine before but suddenly shows a black screen,reboot your computerand see if that works.
4. Update Webcam Drivers
Another possible cause of a black screen on your Windows webcam is outdated or corrupted drivers.
To update your webcam driver, follow these steps:
This will prompt your computer to search the internet for the latest driver software for your webcam. Windows either finds and installs the latest driver or notifies you that you already have it.
If Windows can’t find a new driver, go to your webcam manufacturer’s website and download the latest one.
5. Roll Back Drivers
If you recently updated your webcam drivers and now get a black screen, try reverting to the previous version. Here’s how to do it:
A new window will pop up asking why you want to roll back. Choose a reason that fits your situation, then clickYes. Windows will now restore the previous driver version. After doing this, restart your computer to apply the changes.
6. Reinstall Webcam Drivers
If updating or rolling back drivers doesn’t work, you may need to reinstall them completely. Don’t worry about losing your webcam; Windows will detect and install the drivers automatically after rebooting.
To reinstall webcam drivers, follow these steps:
Once that’s done, test your webcam again. It shouldn’t show a black screen anymore.
7. Check App Permissions
Apps installed on your computer require specific permissions to access hardware like a webcam. If you accidentally denied your webcam permission, it could be the reason for a black screen.
To check and adjust your permissions, do the following:
After adjusting the permissions, restart your computer and check if the webcam black screen is resolved.
8. Scan for Malicious Programs
This problem may also occur if your computer has malware or malicious apps installed. Malware can interfere with your webcam and turn the screen black.
To check for malicious programs, employ trusted antivirus software andperform a full system scan. Additionally, you may use the Windows Security tool to swiftly scan and eliminate any identified threats from your device.
9. Run the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter
If the above solutions don’t work, you can try running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. This built-in tool can scan for and fix common hardware issues.
To run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter, follow these steps:
Wait for the troubleshooter to complete its process. If you find any issues, follow the on-screen prompts to resolve them. After that, restart your computer and see if it works.
Resolving Windows Webcam Black Screen Issues
It doesn’t matter how fancy your computer is or what OS it runs on, things are bound to go wrong. One common issue Windows users encounter is a black screen on their webcam. But with the solutions listed in this guide, you can troubleshoot and fix it quickly.
Start with the basic checks and then move on to more technical fixes if needed. Hopefully, one of these solutions worked and resolved the issue.
