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Microsoft Teams Camera Showing a Black Screen? Here's the Fix

Nothing is more frustrating than joining a Microsoft Teams meeting only to discover that your camera preview is completely black. The camera is selected correctly, no error messages appear, yet Teams displays nothing but a blank black screen in the video preview.


In a recent case, the issue appeared in Teams Settings > Devices, where the selected webcam was detected but the video preview remained black. As it turns out, the camera hardware was functioning correctly—the problem was related to camera settings and how Teams was accessing the device.


In this post, we'll walk through a simple troubleshooting process that can help restore video and get your camera working again.



The Symptom


In Teams, navigate to:

Settings → Devices → Video

The camera is listed correctly, but the preview window remains completely black, similar to the example below.


Black Video Preview

The Fix


  1. Open Teams Settings.

  2. Navigate to Devices.

  3. Under the camera preview, select Open camera settings.

  4. Verify that the camera is functioning in Windows Camera Settings.

  5. Disable and re-enable the camera if necessary.

  6. Confirm that no other applications (Zoom, Webex, OBS, Camera app, browser tabs) are actively using the camera.

  7. Return to Teams and verify that the preview is now displaying video.



Additional Checks


If the issue persists:

  • Update the webcam driver from Device Manager.

  • Check Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and ensure Teams has permission to access the camera.

  • Disconnect and reconnect external USB cameras.

  • Restart the Teams client.

  • Clear the Teams cache if necessary.

  • Test the camera in the Windows Camera application to determine if the issue is specific to Teams.



Don't Forget Monitor and Webcam Drivers


If your webcam is built into your monitor, the issue may not be with Teams at all.

Many modern monitors, such as Dell conferencing displays and other USB-connected monitors with integrated cameras, rely on manufacturer-specific drivers and firmware. Windows may recognize the camera device, allowing Teams to detect it, but outdated or corrupted drivers can result in a black preview screen or intermittent video issues.


To rule this out:

  1. Identify the monitor model.

  2. Visit the manufacturer's support website.

  3. Download and install the latest:

    • Webcam drivers

    • Monitor drivers

    • Firmware updates (if available)

  4. Restart the computer and test the camera again in Teams.


In the example shown above, Teams correctly detects the DELL Display 4MP Webcam, but the video preview remains black. Updating the monitor's webcam driver and firmware is often an effective solution for integrated display cameras.



A black camera preview in Microsoft Teams doesn't always indicate a hardware failure. The problem may be related to camera permissions, another application using the device, Teams settings, or outdated webcam drivers. This is especially true for monitors with built-in cameras, where updating the monitor firmware and webcam drivers can often restore functionality quickly.


By checking the basics first and ensuring all camera-related drivers are up to date, you can usually get back into your meetings with a working video feed in just a few minutes.


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