Why does Meet say another app is using the camera?

Most webcams can only be owned by one app at a time. Close the other app, wait for the camera LED to turn off, then retry.

Can I use a virtual camera?

Yes, but the virtual driver must be allowed by the OS. If Meet blocks it, switch back to a physical camera for the session.

What about Chromebooks?

Update ChromeOS under Settings > About ChromeOS. Camera support and fixes ship with OS updates.

Does a VPN affect the camera?

VPNs rarely block the camera, but they can add latency and reduce video quality. If calls lag, test once without the VPN to isolate the network path.

Fix Google Meet Camera Not Working in Chrome & Edge (Run the WebRTC Test)

Confirm the camera with the WebRTC Test

Open the WebRTC Test. Look for Camera: allowed and a live preview. If the preview is blank or the permission is blocked, stay on the page and re-run the test after each fix. Meet usually surfaces this as "Camera is blocked", a spinning loading circle, or a black self-view tile.

Fix 1: Allow the camera for meet.google.com

Meet will not request the device if it was blocked earlier.

Click the lock icon in the address bar while on Meet.
Set Camera to Allow. If it shows Blocked, click Reset permissions and reload the page.
In Chrome/Edge, open Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Camera and remove https://meet.google.com from the blocked list.
Reload Meet and check the self-view tile. Then rerun the WebRTC Test.

Fix 2: Grant OS-level camera permission

Even if the browser allows access, the OS can block the camera.

Windows 10/11: Settings > Privacy & security > Camera. Turn on Camera access and enable access for your browser.
macOS Ventura or later: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera. Toggle your browser to On, then fully quit and reopen it.
Linux: confirm the camera is detected with lsusb and not disabled by a hardware kill switch.

Fix 3: Choose the correct camera

Dual webcams or capture cards can confuse Meet.

In the Meet lobby, open More options > Settings > Video and pick the intended camera.
In Chrome/Edge, visit chrome://settings/content/camera and set your preferred camera as the default device.
Unplug unused USB webcams to force a clean selection, then retest.

Fix 4: Close apps that already own the camera

The OS blocks sharing a camera between apps.

Quit Zoom/Teams desktop, Discord, FaceTime, OBS, or any background capture apps. On Windows, check Task Manager for stray camera processes.
Wait for the camera LED to turn off, reopen Meet, and check the preview.

Fix 5: Disable extensions that interfere with video

Privacy and virtual camera extensions can block or hijack the feed.

Temporarily disable extensions like WebRTC Control, privacy blockers, Snap Camera/virtual cams, and any user-agent spoofers.
Open Meet in an Incognito/InPrivate window with extensions off. If the camera works, re-enable extensions one at a time or add Meet to their allowlists.

Fix 6: Update graphics and camera drivers

Outdated drivers cause green frames or failed camera starts.

Install the latest GPU driver from NVIDIA/AMD/Intel.
Update the webcam driver: Windows Device Manager > Cameras → right-click your webcam → Update driver. For Logitech or Elgato devices, install their latest utility.
Restart the browser and rerun the WebRTC Test.

Fix 7: Tweak hardware acceleration only if the preview is glitchy

If the preview is green, flickers, or shows blocks, toggle acceleration to isolate the issue.

Chrome/Edge: Settings > System and performance > Use hardware acceleration when available → toggle Off → Restart. If it fixes the preview, update GPU drivers and try turning it back On.
Firefox: Settings > General > Performance → toggle hardware acceleration and test both states.

Fix 8: Clear site data and rebuild permissions

Corrupted cached permissions can block the prompt.

In Chrome/Edge, open Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > See all site data and permissions.
Search for meet.google.com and remove stored data.
Reload Meet, allow camera again, and rerun the WebRTC Test.

Verify after each change

Return to the WebRTC Test. You want green checks for Camera and a live preview. Then join a Meet call and confirm your tile appears without delays. If the camera only fails on a work profile, check chrome://policy for camera restrictions and ask IT to relax them.