WhatsApp camera not working? How to fix it

How to fix the WhatsApp camera when it is not working

Start with the camera test at the top of this page. If your picture appears here, the camera works and WhatsApp is missing a permission or using the wrong camera. That one check tells you whether to fix WhatsApp or the device itself, and saves you from trying fixes that cannot help.

Quick checks first

• During a video call, tap or click the camera-switch button: WhatsApp sometimes starts with the rear camera or with the camera turned off.
• Update WhatsApp from the App Store, Google Play or the Microsoft Store. Old versions lose video-call support.
• Video calls on a computer need the WhatsApp desktop app for Windows or Mac and a linked phone.

WhatsApp camera not working on Windows

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Camera (on Windows 10: Settings › Privacy › Camera). Turn on Camera access and Let apps access your camera, then check that WhatsApp is allowed in the list. Programs installed from the web appear under Let desktop apps access your camera, which must also be on.
2. In a call, click the … menu or the arrow next to the camera button and choose the right camera.
3. Close Teams, Zoom and other apps that may already use the camera, then restart WhatsApp.
4. Repair the app: Settings › Apps › Installed apps › WhatsApp › … › Advanced options › Repair.

WhatsApp camera not working on Mac

1. Open Apple menu › System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera and turn on WhatsApp. Quit and reopen WhatsApp afterwards. On macOS Monterey and earlier the switch is in System Preferences › Security & Privacy › Privacy › Camera.
2. In the call window, choose the camera from the video menu; an iPhone nearby can show up as Continuity Camera.
3. Update the WhatsApp app from the Mac App Store or whatsapp.com and restart the Mac if the camera stays black in every app.

WhatsApp camera not working on iPhone

1. On your iPhone, open Settings › Apps › WhatsApp (on iOS 17 and earlier: Settings › WhatsApp) and turn on Camera. If Camera is missing from that screen, WhatsApp has never asked for access: start a video call once and tap Allow.
2. Check Settings › Screen Time › Content & Privacy Restrictions › Allowed Apps & Features and make sure Camera is on.
3. Force-close WhatsApp (swipe it away in the app switcher) and open it again. If the Camera app is also black, restart the iPhone.

WhatsApp camera not working on iPad

1. Use the WhatsApp app for iPad from the App Store; the website version in Safari does not offer the same calling features.
2. On your iPad, open Settings › Apps › WhatsApp (on iOS 17 and earlier: Settings › WhatsApp) and turn on Camera. If Camera is missing from that screen, WhatsApp has never asked for access: start a video call once and tap Allow.
3. Keep WhatsApp full screen during the call and restart the iPad if the camera stays black.

WhatsApp camera not working on Android

1. Open Settings › Apps › WhatsApp › Permissions › Camera and choose Allow only while using the app. On Android 12 and later, also swipe down twice and make sure the Camera access tile in Quick Settings is not turned off.
2. Clear the cache: Settings › Apps › WhatsApp › Storage & cache › Clear cache (do not tap Clear storage, which removes local data).
3. Turn off battery optimization for WhatsApp if the camera stops when the screen turns off: Settings › Apps › WhatsApp › Battery › Unrestricted.