6 Best Fixes for Google Hangouts Not Detecting Camera on PC Issue

Google Hangouts is one of Google’s most popular products, and also one of the best tools for communicating via text, voice, and video. Regarding video communication, some users can’t use Google Hangouts on their computer because it doesn’t detect the device’s webcam. In this guide, we will show you six (6) different ways for Google Hangouts to recognize your PC camera so that you can start communicating again without problems.

When you are unable to make Google Hangouts video calls on your computer because the host browser did not detect your webcam, here are some steps you can take to fix it.

1. Check the camera authorization

When you use Hangouts on your computer (or browser) for the first time, the service usually requests access to use your computer’s camera and microphone.

Denying access to the Hangouts camera is one of the main reasons why the app refuses to detect the camera during later use.

To resolve this issue, verify that Google Hangouts has access to your PC camera (via the web browser). For Chrome browser users, follow the steps below to check the Google Hangouts camera permission and how to change the settings to get your camera back to work for video calls.

Method 1: Chrome Tinker browser

Step 1: Tap the three-dot menu icon on your Chrome browser.

2nd step: Select Settings.

Step 3: Select “Privacy and Security” from the Settings menu.

Step 4: On the new page, tap Site settings.

Step 5: In the Permissions section, select Camera.

Here you will be able to view web applications and websites authorized to use your PC’s camera.

Step 6: If the Google Hangouts website is in the Block section, you need to delete it. Just tap the drop-down icon next to the Google Hangouts website to continue.

Step 7: Tap the drop-down icon next to Camera.

Step 8: Select Allow.

Now go back to the Google Hangout tab of the browser, reload the page and check if your camera is detected.

Method 2: Check your PC camera

Here is a faster alternative to verify that Google Hangouts is not prevented from using your PC camera. If there is a canceled video icon (as shown in the image below) in the URL bar of the Hangouts video call window, it means that Google Hangouts has not been granted access to the camera on this PC.

An easy way to unblock the Hangouts camera restriction is to tap the canceled video icon, check the “Always allow https://hangouts.google.com to access your camera and microphone” option, then touch Done.

Now reload the Google Hangouts page and see if it recognizes your computer now.

2. Check the camera connection

If you have an external camera connected to your computer via USB, you want to make sure that the device is properly inserted into your PC port and that it is turned on. You can also disconnect the camera from your computer, close the Hangout call window, and reconnect the camera to your device. Relaunch the Hangouts call on your web browser and see if it detects the camera.

If your computer, web browser, and other applications fail to recognize the device, you can try using the camera on another computer to confirm whether it is defective or not. If the external camera works on another computer, you need to verify that the ports on your PC are working properly and that you have the necessary software / driver for the camera to work properly installed on your computer.

3. Close the interfering programs

If there are other programs and applications using your PC webcam simultaneously with Google Hangouts, there is a high risk of interference – when one (or more) applications are unable to use the camera. Whenever Google Hangouts does not recognize or detect your computer’s camera, you should make sure that other applications (especially video calling applications) that may be using your device’s camera are closed and inactive.

4. Close Google Hangouts / Browser

Still can’t use Google Hangouts because it won’t detect your camera? You must close the browser and relaunch it. Then open Hangouts in a new tab and see if you can use your camera to make video calls.

5. Restart the PC

If any of the above problems do not resolve the problem, you should turn off your computer and turn it on again. Restarting your computer could help resolve the issue (s) preventing Google Hangouts from detecting the camera.

6. Update browser

A bug in your browser could also prevent Google Hangouts from working with or detecting the camera on your computer. If Google Hangouts works fine on another web browser without any camera detection issues, you should update the browser that was not working to the latest version.