There’s nothing more annoying than attending a video call or using a video app only to find out your camera’s not picking up anything.
When a camera not working on Chromebook is a very common issue that you may have experienced at least once or twice.
More often than not, this common issue is mostly resolved by doing some basic troubleshooting. Since most concerns are software-related, it’s safe to say that your issue might come from the same branch.
Before you freak out and fill out a request to have your device repaired, we highly recommend checking out our troubleshooting steps first. We have a general rule when it comes to sending in devices for repairs – see if it’s not software-related. Trust us; this is worth checking out.
In this Article
The best troubleshooting step for a camera not working on Chromebook
More often than not, the camera issues that Chromebook is experiencing can be due to a lot of reasons. The most common ones are apps not being able to detect your camera.
Here’s the bitter reality: not all Android apps are capable of detecting the camera hardware found on Chromebooks, especially on older models. If you suspect that this may be the case, we have provided some troubleshooting steps to make things easier:
- Check the default Camera app on Chrome OS. If it works, your issue is mostly software-related (compatibility issues)
- If it doesn’t, check other apps that use the camera. If the result is consistent with your stock camera app, there’s a big possibility it’s hardware-related
- Perform a System Reset/Powerwash – this is considered your Hail Mary attempt to reset everything to its factory preset. This is a common solution to the camera not working on Chromebook, according to a handful of users.
- If the issue still persists, it’s time to contact your Chromebook manufacturer
How to Power Wash Chromebook
- While on the lock-screen, press CTRL + ALT + Shift + R or ESC + Reload + Power
- Choose Restart and Select Powerwash
- Hit Continue and follow the on-screen instructions
- Sign in with your Google Account
- Follow on-screen instructions until you finish Chromebook Start-Up
External Webcam Options
If for some reason, when your camera is not working on your Chromebook is hardware-related, then it’s time to consider Plan B – buy an external USB webcam. The upside of this method is you’ll get a better camera compared to all the built-in ones found on all devices.
This is a good alternative if you’re looking to fix your camera problems without spending a fortune on a new Chromebook.
Here’s a basic rundown of their recommended products:
From our initial research, we found that most USB webcams should work on Chrome OS without issues.
However, we highly recommend Logitech products as they are plug-and-play devices, and the audio and video quality are fairly decent compared to its competitors.
Conclusion
Hardware devices break and give out over time – and some happen far sooner than others. If your camera is not working on your Chromebook due to hardware issues, we believe that the best option is to get an external webcam before buying a new one.
While new Chromebooks offer better hardware components compared to a real HD webcam, even the best built-in camera is pale in comparison with a Logitech C922.
Sure, it may be inconvenient to set it up, but the quality that you would get is more than enough to compensate for the minor inconvenience.
More related resources
- How To Block YouTube On Chromebook
- The 8 Best Photo Editors for Chromebook
- 5 Best Free Video Editors for Chromebook
- How To Fix When Chromebook Doesn’t Turn On
Last update on 2023-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API