- Ensure the site you’re currently using has permission to use your device’s camera.
- You can also clear the cache and cookies for a single site on Chrome if the issue persists.
- If you’re repeatedly facing issues using the camera on Chrome, try disabling the MediaFoundation Video Capture flag in Chrome.
Basic Fixes:
- Close all background apps: If the camera is not working in Google Chrome, check and see if other apps are using the camera in the background. Identify and close them using the Task Manager.
- Clear cache and cookies for that site: If you’re having trouble using the camera on a particular site, you can clear the cache and cookies for only that site on Chrome . Then, refresh the page and check again.
- Check for Chrome updates: Browser bugs can occasionally prevent Chrome from accessing the camera on your Windows PC. In this case, check and install the latest software updates for Google Chrome.
Fix 1: Ensure Chrome Has Camera Access
Google Chrome needs the necessary permissions to use your computer’s camera. If you haven’t allowed that, you can’t use the camera in Google Chrome. So, here’s how to check if Google Chrome has access to the camera on your Windows 11 PC.
Step 1: Use the Window + I shortcut to open Settings. Then, click on the Privacy & security option and select Camera .
Step 2: Scroll down and turn on the toggle for Let desktop apps access your camera .
Fix 2: Run the Camera Troubleshooter
The dedicated camera troubleshooter in Windows can detect problems with your computer’s camera. It will also apply relevant fixes to repair your computer’s camera if any issues are detected. Here’s how to access and use it on your Windows 11 device.
Step 1: Open the Settings app using the Window + I shortcut . In the side menu, click on System . Then, click on Troubleshoot .
Step 2: Here, click on the Other troubleshooters option.
Step 3: Scroll to the Other section and click on Run next to Camera.
Let the troubleshooter run and look for issues. If something is detected, follow the on-screen instructions to resolve it accordingly. Then, restart Google Chrome and check again.
Fix 3: Check Site Permissions
Besides letting Google Chrome use the camera, you must also permit a particular website to access it. This is important since these decide permissions on whether websites can access the camera. Here’s how to change a website’s camera permissions in Google Chrome.
Step 1: Open Google Chrome and go to the relevant website. Then, click on the site information icon next to the URL in the address bar .
Step 2: From the menu options, ensure the Camera toggle is turned on .
Fix 4: Update or Reinstall Camera Drivers
Your Windows 11 device may suffer from hardware-related issues due to unstable or outdated drivers. So, it’s a good idea to update or reinstall the camera drivers on your computer. Here’s how to first update and, if it doesn’t work, reinstall the camera driver on Windows 11.
Tip: Check out all the ways to open Device Manager on Windows 11 .
Step 1: Open Device Manager and click on Cameras . Once the options appear, right-click on the relevant camera and choose Update driver .
Step 2: From the Update Drivers window, click on Search automatically for drivers .
Let it search for the latest camera drivers. If any driver updates are available, it will find and install it on your computer. But if no updates are available, reinstall the camera drivers.
Step 1: Click on Cameras and right-click on the relevant camera . Then, click on Uninstall device .
Step 2: In the confirmation dialog box, click on Uninstall .
Once done, restart your Windows device . Once your PC finishes restarting, it will automatically search for the relevant camera drivers and install them again on Windows 11.
Fix 5: Disable MediaFoundation Video Capture Flag in Chrome
Flags are an experimental feature on Google Chrome and can sometimes interfere with regular browser functions. So, if you still can’t use the camera on Google Chrome, disable the MediaFoundation Video Capture flag. Follow the below steps to do it.
Step 1: Open Google Chrome and type chrome://flags/ in the address bar. Press enter to open the Chrome Flags page .
Step 2: Once the Chrome Flags page opens, type MediaFoundation Video Capture in the search bar.
Step 3: Now, go to the flag and click on the drop-down . Here, select Disabled .
When prompted, restart Google Chrome to update the flag. Then, open the relevant website and check again.
