Last updated: March 5, 2026
Your camera may not work in Google Meet, showing a black screen, a camera-off icon, or an error message saying the camera is blocked. This prevents you from joining video meetings for work, school, or personal calls.
Camera permissions blocked: Your browser may not have permission to use the camera.
Camera in use by another app: Another application may be using the camera.
Wrong camera selected: Google Meet may be trying to use a different camera.
Browser issues: Outdated browser or conflicting extensions.
Hardware problems: The camera itself may not be working.
• In Chrome, click the camera icon in the address bar (or the lock icon).
• Make sure Camera is set to "Allow" for meet.google.com.
• Refresh the page after changing permissions.
• Close Zoom, Teams, Skype, or any other video app.
• Only one app can use the camera at a time.
• Check your task manager for any hidden apps using the camera.
• In Google Meet, click the three dots menu > Settings > Video.
• Select the correct camera from the dropdown.
• You should see a preview in the settings window.
• Try Google Meet in a different browser (Chrome works best).
• If it works in another browser, clear cache and reset settings in your primary browser.
• Open your computer's built-in Camera app to test if the camera works at all.
• If it doesn't work anywhere, the issue is with your camera hardware or drivers.
• Update camera drivers from Device Manager.
• Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete > Clear cache and cookies.
• Restart the browser.
• Go to meet.google.com and test again.
If your camera doesn't work in any application, contact your device manufacturer. For Google Meet-specific issues, visit support.google.com/meet.
Q: Why does Google Meet say "Camera is blocked"?
A: Your browser blocked camera access for the site. Click the camera icon in the address bar and change the setting to "Allow".
Q: Can I use Google Meet without a camera?
A: Yes, you can join meetings with audio only. Click the camera-off icon before joining.
Q: Does Google Meet work on all browsers?
A: Google Meet works best on Chrome. It also supports Firefox, Edge, and Safari, but some features may be limited.
Q: Can I use my phone camera for Google Meet on PC?
A: You can join the meeting from the Google Meet mobile app, or use third-party apps like DroidCam to use your phone as a webcam.