webcam video blank only on video call

[southhamster]

Hi all,

I've got a really annoying problem with 1 staff laptop which I just can't fathom.

The internal webcam/mic works fine in camera mode (I've also tried an external USB cam just in case..)

On google hangouts/meet video calling the mic works, but the camera output is black.

Camera privacy settings are all on and I've tried switching on/off/on.

It's the same in Chrome/Firefox.

I can reproduce the problem here if I turn off "allow desktop apps to access camera" but the camera icon is clearly disabled and "video muted" shows in hangout settings.

Typically all the other laptops which are identical build are fine and it's the headteacher's with the problem!

Wondering if anyone else has seen this before I start fiddling further.

A rogue Windows update maybe?

[Fraserb82]

Hi,

Probably not an issue for you just now, with schools being closed. But there are Group Policies for Chrome that you may have set so that Chrome can't use your mic or camera (separate Group Policies). You can add the URL for Meet into these and enable them. May be worth trying.

[chazzy2501]

any chance the laptop has more than 1 camera (at any point) and is using the wrong one?

[southhamster]

I've had success fixing a couple of these in chrome settings, privacy,site settings. Open Camera delete Google chat and meet web links. Do the same for microphone. Next time it should ask for permissions anew and it works!