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Camera not working in Google Meet

Black tile, “Camera is blocked” or “Camera failed”.

First, test it.
The webcam test shows in seconds whether the device works at all — that decides which steps below apply.
Open the webcam test

Three places can block a microphone or camera, and all three must say yes: the operating system (privacy settings), the browser or app (site permission or device picker) and the hardware (mute switch, shutter, cable). Work through them in that order.

Our webcam test uses the same browser API as Meet. If it shows video here, you only need step 1 or 2 for Meet.

  1. Allow camera for meet.google.com. Lock / tune icon at the left of the address bar › Site settings › Camera › Allow; reload. Firefox: lock icon › Clear permissions. Safari: Safari menu › Settings for meet.google.com › Camera › Allow.
  2. Choose the camera in Meet. ⋮ › Settings › Video › Camera. The preview updates immediately.
  3. Another tab or app has it. Close other Meet/Zoom/Teams tabs and apps. “Camera failed” usually means this.
  4. OS must allow the browser. macOS: Privacy & Security › Camera › Chrome/Safari/Firefox on. Windows: Privacy & security › Camera › Let desktop apps access your camera.
  5. Chrome device setting. chrome://settings/content/camera — select the right default camera; remove meet.google.com from “Not allowed”.
  6. Extensions / incognito. Privacy or ad-blocking extensions can block media devices. Test in an incognito window.
  7. Hardware. Lens shutter open, camera key not pressed, external webcam plugged directly into the computer.

Did it work?

Run the webcam test again. If the device now registers here, every app that has permission will see it too.

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Questions, answered

Meet says “Camera is blocked” but I never blocked it.

Organisation-managed Chrome profiles can block camera access by policy, and some browsers block all devices on sites opened via certain links. Try a personal Chrome profile.

Video works but is very low quality.

Meet adapts to bandwidth. Close other downloads, move closer to Wi-Fi, and in Settings › Video set Send resolution to 720p.