7 Best Ways to Fix Camera Not Working in Google Chrome on Windows 11

Google Chrome is the most popular web browser, with smooth performance and deep integration with Google’s web services. It’s the go-to browser for using Google Meet or any video call service. However, it’s odd when the camera on your Windows computer doesn’t work in Chrome.

Windows users often encounter camera issues when using Google Chrome. These problems can arise from conflicting camera apps, insufficient permissions, outdated drivers, among other factors. Here’s how to fix your camera in Google Chrome on Windows 11.

1. Close Other Camera Apps

If the camera is not working in Google Chrome, check if other apps are using it in the background and close them. These apps might be preventing Chrome from accessing the camera.

You can use the Settings app to see which app is currently using your camera. Once you identify the app, you can close it using the Task Manager. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press the Window + I keys to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Click Security & Privacy in the sidebar.

Step 3: On the right hand side, go to App Permissions and click Camera.

Step 4: You’ll get the apps that can or can’t access the camera. The one that uses camera will show the ‘Currently in use’ message below its icon. According to the screenshot, WhatsApp was using the computer’s camera.

Step 5: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.

Step 6: Open the Task Manager, find the process for the app using your camera, and click End Task.

2. Check if Chrome Has Camera Access

Google Chrome requires permissions to use your computer’s camera. If you haven’t granted access, you won’t be able to use the camera in Google Chrome. Here’s how to check if Google Chrome has camera access on your Windows 11 PC:

1. Press the Window + I shortcut to open the Settings app.

To review and refine:

“Step 2: Click on the Security & Privacy option from the left sidebar.”

To make it more concise and impactful:

“Step 2: Click Security & Privacy option on the left sidebar.”

Step 3: Head to App Permissions and click on Camera option.

Scroll down to check if the toggle for ‘Let desktop apps access your camera’ is turned on. Enable it if it wasn’t.

If Google Chrome cannot use the camera, you can run the Camera troubleshooter in Windows.

3. Run the Camera Troubleshooter

The camera troubleshooter in Windows can detect and fix problems with your computer’s camera. Here’s how to access and use it on your Windows 11 PC: Step 1: Press Window + I to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Go to System and click Troubleshoot.

Step 3: Under Troubleshoot, select Other Troubleshooters.

Step 4: Scroll down to the Other section and click Run next to Camera.

Step 5: In the Get Help window, answer all questions by selecting Yes or No to resolve camera issues.

Ideally, this should enable Google Chrome to use your computer’s camera. However, if that doesn’t work, try the next solution.

4. Check Site Permissions

To let Google Chrome use the camera, you also need to allow specific websites to access it. To check the status and change permissions in Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + S keys and type “Google Chrome”. Open the result.

2. Permit the websites to use your camera in Chrome’s privacy and security settings.

Step 2: Open Chrome and go to the website where you want to use your computer’s camera. Click on the padlock icon next to the URL in the address bar.

Step 3: In the menu, click and enable the Camera toggle. This will allow Google Meet to access your computer’s camera.

If you’re having trouble using the camera on multiple websites, you can follow the steps below to check permissions for all the websites you’ve visited:

Step 1: Type chrome://settings/content/camera in Chrome’s address bar and press Enter to open the camera Settings.

Step 2: Click the drop-down list below Camera to select the camera you want to use. Then, click on the website that’s having camera issues from the list of websites not allowed to use your camera.

Step 3: On the page that appears, click the drop-down list next to Camera and select Allow.

5. Clear Site Cookies and Cache

Clearing cookies and cache in Google Chrome can resolve issues with connecting to the camera on your Windows 11 computer. To clear cookies and other site data in Google Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + S and type “Google Chrome”

2. Click on the “Open” option for Google Chrome in the search results.

Step 2: Type chrome://settings/privacy in the address bar and press Enter on your keyboard to access Chrome Settings.

Step 3: Under ‘Privacy and security’, click Clear browsing data.

Step 4: In the dialog, click the Time range drop-down and select All time. Check ‘Cookies and other site data’ and ‘Cached images and files.’ Finally, click Clear data.

6. Update or Reinstall Camera Drivers

Windows 11 may experience hardware issues due to unstable or outdated drivers, causing it to malfunction in Google Chrome. To resolve this, it’s recommended to update or reinstall the camera drivers on your computer.

Here’s a simple guide to update or reinstall the camera drivers on your Windows 11 PC:

Step 1: Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.

Step 2: Find Cameras in the Device Manager window and double-click to expand it.

Step 3: Under Cameras, right-click on ‘HD User Facing’ and select Update Driver.

Step 4: On the Update Drivers window, click ‘Search automatically for drivers.’

Step 5: Search for the latest camera drivers and install any available updates.

If a message says you already have the best drivers, you can click ‘Search for updated drivers on Windows Update’ or close the window.

You can also check your laptop or camera manufacturer’s website for the latest camera drivers.

Step 6: If you can’t find new drivers for the camera, right-click on ‘HD User Facing’ and select ‘Uninstall device.’

Step 7: In the confirm dialog, click Uninstall.

Restart your PC. After restarting, Windows 11 will search for and install the necessary camera drivers.

7. Reinstall Google Chrome

If none of the previous solutions resolved your camera issues in Google Chrome for Windows, your best option is to uninstall and then reinstall the browser. Reinstalling Google Chrome will not affect your saved passwords, bookmarks, or other preferences unless you logged in with your Google Account and synced that information. Here’s how to reinstall Google Chrome on Windows:

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Open the Settings app and click on the Apps option in the left sidebar.

Step 3: On the Apps page, click on the option labeled Installed apps from the right pane.

Step 4: Type “Google Chrome” in the search box at the top and press Enter.

Step 5: Click the three dots menu next to Google Chrome and select Uninstall.

Step 6: Uninstall Google Chrome, then download the installer below.

Step 7: Open the ChromeSetup.exe file and click Run when a Security Warning appears. Wait for Google Chrome to finish installing.

Get the Camera Up and Running in Google Chrome

The above solutions will get your computer’s camera working in Google Chrome again. You can then easily engage in video calls. If your camera appears blurry, refer to our guide on fixing a blurry camera or webcam on Windows 11.