Why Does Zoom Says Failed to Start the Video Camera?

Are you facing trouble with your Zoom video camera? Do you keep getting an error message that says “Failed to start the video camera”? Well, don’t worry.

You are not alone. Many users encounter this issue and it can be quite frustrating. In this article, we will discuss why Zoom says failed to start the video camera and how you can fix it.

Why Does Zoom Say Failed to Start the Video Camera?

There could be several reasons why Zoom is unable to start your video camera. Some of these reasons are:

  • Camera Permissions: One of the most common reasons for this error is that Zoom does not have permission to access your camera.
  • Camera in Use: Another reason could be that some other application on your device is already using your camera.
  • Outdated Camera Driver: A driver is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware devices like cameras. If your camera driver is outdated or corrupt, it can cause issues with Zoom.
  • No Camera Connected: It seems obvious, but sometimes people forget to connect their cameras or they are not connected properly.

How Can You Fix This Issue?

Here are some solutions that you can try if you encounter this issue:

Giving Camera Permissions

If Zoom does not have permission to access your camera, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings on your device.
  2. Select Privacy and then select Camera.
  3. You should see a list of applications that have requested access to your camera.
  4. If you don’t see Zoom on the list, click on Add and find Zoom in the list of applications installed on your device.
  5. Select the checkbox next to Zoom and make sure that the camera access is turned on.
  6. Restart Zoom and check if the issue has been resolved.

Closing Other Applications

If another application is using your camera, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open Task Manager on your device.
  2. Select the Processes tab and look for any applications that might be using your camera.
  3. Right-click on the application and select End Task.
  4. Restart Zoom and check if the issue has been resolved

Updating Camera Driver

If your camera driver is outdated or corrupt, you can update it by following these steps:

  1. Open Device Manager on your device.
  2. Select Cameras from the list of devices.
  3. Right-click on your camera and select Update Driver Software.
  4. Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
  5. If a new driver is available, it will be installed automatically.
  6. Restart Zoom and check if the issue has been resolved.

Checking Camera Connection

If you have forgotten to connect your camera or it is not connected properly, follow these steps to check:

  1. Disconnect the camera from your device.
  2. Clean the lens of the camera with a microfiber cloth.
  3. Reconnect the camera to another USB port or reconnect it properly.
  4. If possible, try connecting another camera or device to see if it works properly with Zoom.

In Conclusion

Zoom is an essential tool for remote communication, especially during these times when work from home has become prevalent. If you are facing issues with your video camera while using Zoom, try these solutions one by one to fix it. We hope that this article has been helpful to you.