Google Meet has emerged as one of the most popular video conferencing platforms out there. However, while Google usually does a great job at making reliable software and web apps, at times, there are issues here and there.
In this article, we’re going over how you can fix Google Meet’s camera failed issue.
Also read: What all can a Zoom host see when you screen share?
Restart your web browser
Whatever browser you use, they can run into issues from time to time because of corrupted files or data in the cache or somewhere else. To resolve this, try restarting your browser. Restarting your PC can also fix a bunch of seemingly random issues.
Enable camera before joining a meeting
When you join a new meeting, Google Meet remembers your last preference for the camera and mic and enables/disables them accordingly. So make sure you click on the camera button to enable it before you join or even after you’ve already joined.
Make sure the camera is free
If you’ve got other apps on your PC that might be using the camera, that can conflict with your browser resulting in Google Meet not getting camera access. So first, check to make sure no other apps are using your camera actively, and then try again.
Using phones as a webcam
If you’re using your phone as a webcam for your PC, check to make sure you’ve got the correct drivers installed as well as the required third-party programs installed on your PC.
Also read: What is HIPAA? Are Zoom and Google Duo HIPAA compliant?
Change the default camera on Meet
Google Meet allows you to select from multiple cameras, that is, if you’ve got more than one camera connected to your PC. Here’s how to make sure the right camera is selected.
Step 1: Join a meeting and click on the three vertical dots in the bottom right.
Step 2: Click on Settings.
Step 3: In the Video section, make sure the correct camera is selected under Camera.
Give camera access to Google Meet
Pretty much all browsers ask for the user’s permission before granting camera or mic permissions to a website or web app. Check to see if you’ve disabled camera access on Meet by mistake.
On Chrome/Edge
Step 1: Open the Google Meet website and click on the padlock icon.
Step 2: Make sure that the site has permission to access your camera.
On FireFox
Step 1: Open the Google Meet website and click on the camera/mic icon.
Step 2: Make sure that the site has permission to access your camera.
On Safari
Step 1: Open the browser and click on the Safari option followed by Preferences.
Step 2: Head over to the Websites tab.
Step 3: Select Camera from the left-side pane. Click on the down arrow next to Google Meet and click Allow.
Also read: How to change your name in Google Meet?
Allow camera access from the OS
Modern OSs block camera permissions from individual programs as well. If your browser can’t see a camera in the first place, it won’t be able to give its access to Google Meet.
On Windows
Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Camera settings. Click the corresponding search results.
Step 2: Make sure that the Allow apps to access your camera slider is enabled.
Step 3: Next up, make sure that the Allow desktop apps to access your camera is enabled as well.
On MacOS
Step 1: Click on the Apple menu icon followed by System Preferences.
Step 2: Head over to Security & Privacy.
Step 3: Head over to the Privacy tab, select Camera and make sure your browser is allowed to access the camera.
On ChromeOS
Step 1: Click on the Settings option in the system tray followed by Privacy and Security.
Step 2: Select Site Settings.
Step 3: Click on the arrow to the left of Camera.
Step 4: Under the Block section, scroll down to find Google Meet and enable camera access.
Check your drivers
If nothing else works, it could indicate an issue with your webcam’s drivers. Try updating them to make sure you’ve got the right drivers in place.
Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Device Manager. Click the corresponding search result.
Step 2; Double-click Cameras to see all available webcams. Right-click the webcam you’re trying to use and click Update drivers.
Also read: How to fix Google Meet microphone not working issue?
