Most common questions used to investigate
Is your laptop/PC powered on?
Is the camera an external device (i.e., not built in to the laptop/PC)?
Is the USB cable plugged in properly?
Is the external webcam compatible with your laptop's firmware?
Is the webcam's USB cable damaged?
Is the screen black when the webcam's view is displayed on the monitor?
Is the lens of the webcam uncovered?
Is the lens of the webcam broken?
Is there an error message being shown?
Is the error message about a missing software?
Is the error message informing you to update the driver?
Does your laptop/PC have an internal webcam?
Is the software for the webcam installed?
Is there a software error message being shown?
Has your laptop/PC's webcam been given the permission to be accessed from the applications?
Common conclusions
This may be why your webcam is not turning on. Turn on your laptop/PC and try again.
Plug the USB cable in properly and try again.
This may why your webcam is not working. Upgrade your firmware or switch to a the webcam that is compatible with your laptop/PC's firmware.
The damaged wire may be the cause for the malfunctioning webcam. Contact the webcam's original manufacturer and request service or discard the USB cable and purchase a new one.
The covered lens may be why your webcam is not working. Take the cover off and try again.
The broken lens may be the cause of the black display. Discard your webcam or request a refund from the original manufacturer if the webcam is still under warranty.
Your laptop/PC may not have the required software for the external webcam. Install the software by finding it online and then try again.
Your webcam's software/driver may be outdated. Upgrade it using the device manager and the internet.
Your device may not have connected properly or the laptop/PC may have failed to detect the device. Plug in the device again or restart your laptop/PC.
Contact the webcam's original manufacturer for further information on your specific scenario.
This may be why the webcam isn't working - it simply does not exist. Exchange your laptop/PC or purchase an external webcam.
The missing software may be the cause for the malfunctioning webcam. Install the driver for the webcam from the site of your laptop/PC's manufacturer.
Your software may have bugs or may not have properly installed. Reinstall the latest software for your webcam and try again.
Reconfigure your laptop/PC's privacy settings and then restart your laptop/PC and try again.
Your laptop/PC's internal webcam may have been faulty to begin with. Contact the manufacturer of the laptop/PC and file a complaint regarding the faulty webcam.
References
Related Problems
Author
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Hi! I’m Muneeb.
My background is in Electrical Engineering, IT and General Sciences . I enjoy writing about electronics, DIY and Self-Help. I’m always in pursuit of interesting materials and I love reading books and blogs about new technologies, IT solutions or DIY guides.
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