The camera on Skype disappears. Skype does not see the webcam: all possible reasons and solutions
Skype is a program designed for communication, and video calls, one of the wonderful functions of this messenger, imply uninterrupted transmission of video images (after all, you must not only hear, but also see the interlocutor). Video not working on Skype is one of the most common problems, the reasons and solutions for which we will talk about in this article.
Why doesn't video work on Skype? The reasons may be different, but, one way or another, they have one thing in common - something is wrong with the webcam. By the way, this is also true if . This could be an incorrect setting in the program itself, problems with drivers, etc. But let's talk about why video calls don't work in Skype in more detail.
You can find out what to do if in our next article.
Causes
Here are a few reasons why video in Skype usually does not work on a laptop or computer:
Often video calling does not work because the settings in Skype itself are set incorrectly. To find out if this is true:
- Open the program and open the menu “Tools” - “Settings”.
- Here select "Video Settings". This is where you can check which camera is used by the program by default (if there are several of them), as well as in general.
Quite often it happens (especially in the case of a computer) that several web cameras are connected to the device at once, and the program uses the inactive one by default. If so, select the desired option from the list and apply it.
In addition, the checkbox next to “Enable Skype Video” must be checked. You can check whether the function is active in the program itself during a call to another user. Check to see if the camera image on the icon is crossed out.
Check, maybe the video does not work in Skype on a laptop simply because the camera is not turned on. On some devices it is activated by pressing special key(or a keyboard shortcut) on the keyboard. While on other laptops this function is turned on automatically.
Video does not work in Skype on Windows 10, 7, 8, as well as in versions for other operating systems, because there was a problem with the drivers - they crashed, were not updated, or were not installed at all. To check this:
- Open the Start menu and select Device Manager or Devices and Printers (depending on operating system).
- Here find “Imaging devices” and look for the name of your camera. See if there is a yellow triangle next to the name. If this is the case, the driver is not active, try reinstalling or updating it. If you haven’t found the name at all, then the driver was not installed initially. Accordingly, download and install it.
If you followed all our advice, but the problem still has not been solved, most likely the problem is in the webcam itself. take the equipment to service center for diagnostics. Unfortunately, even the most good device may become unusable, for example, due to an accidental power surge.
Imagine you open Skype and the camera doesn't work. What to do? Let's consider what actions to take if the camera does not work in Skype.
What to do first
If the reason why the camera does not work in Skype is unknown, follow these steps:
- Download latest version programs;
- Check your internet connection. It must be stable. It turns out that the program itself determines its speed. If the connection is unstable, it reduces the quality of the transmitted image;
- Make sure the camera is working.
The reason is in the drivers
If the camera drivers were not installed, or they were damaged as a result of a system failure, the video will not be displayed. To check, open Device Manager. Press “Win+R”, write “devmgmt.msc”.
Next, in the “Processing devices” or “Cameras” sections, find information about the camera. If the microphone and camera do not work in Skype, see the section " Sound devices».
If it is found " Unknown device"is a web camera. To update drivers, take the disk that came with the camera to install the driver. If there is no disk, download them from the official website of the device manufacturer.
If the driver is marked with an exclamation mark, it is not configured correctly. To check its functionality, perform the actions as in the screenshot:
A window will open where there should be an inscription that “The device is working correctly.”
Otherwise - problems with drivers. Remove the broken one and install a new one. To do this, do this:
After uninstalling, reinstall the driver.
Webcam does not work in Skype (Skype)
The reason is a camera malfunction. To check, open the video player installed on the system. Next, “Open the device.” Depending on the selected player, this item will differ.
If the image with is displayed in the player window, it is working. If there is no image and the drivers are installed correctly, the device does not work.
Do things differently. Use the services located at: webcamtoy.com/ru. To work with it, click the “Use my camera” button.
Setting up the camera via Skype
After completing the steps described above, check the program settings. Let's look at how to do this in different versions programs.
Skype 8
Skype 7
The settings are made in the same way as described above. The only differences are in the program interface.
Click “Tools” - “Settings”.
Find “Video settings”. Make sure the program sees the camera. Make sure the right camera is connected. For example, if the laptop has two cameras. If the device is recognized but there is no image, click the "Settings" button.
Further, the same as with the settings in Skype 8.
Reinstall the program
If the methods described above do not help, reinstall the program. A possible reason is corruption of the application files. Uninstall Skype. I recommend uninstalling the application using the program. Then install the latest version.
Camera not working after Skype update
The latest application updates are not available for older webcam models. If possible to purchase new camera no, install the old version of the program. Read what the messenger developers themselves think about this. You will need information about the Skype version. To watch this click:
The camera is being used by another application
The web camera transmits the image to only one program. If several applications try to access the camera at the same time, there will be no image or a message will appear.
To work, close programs that can intercept the video stream. If this is difficult to determine, restart your PC. Sometimes it helps to turn off the camera for 2-3 seconds.
Why the webcam doesn't work in Skype
This problem is encountered by users who still have installed old version OS. For example, XP SP2 users. To normalize operation, install modern system. If your computer is older, Skype may no longer support it.
The camera does not work in Skype on a laptop
There are no special function keys, with the help of which the volume level, brightness, and so on are adjusted. Perhaps you have keys that are responsible for turning on the camera. Look carefully. They are located on the keys labeled F1-F10. They will show a camera image. Try turning it on. These keys work in combination with the Fn key.
Conclusion
We looked at what to do if the webcam on Skype stops working. Problems with video playback may be hardware or programmatic. Use the recommendations described above and you will fix all problems.
Skype is the most popular program for communicating with friends over the Internet. Its most important function is the ability to make video calls. This is very convenient, because you can see any interlocutor without even leaving home.
But what to do if you start communicating, but the interlocutor does not see you. Let's look at what problems there are with the camera and where it turns on in the Skype program.
Why the camera doesn't work on Skype
Skype settings
First of all, let's check whether it works directly in the program itself. Let's go to Skype. Opening “Tools – Settings – Video Settings”. If we see our display on the right side of the window, then everything is working.
Perhaps you have a parameter set under the video “don’t automatically share your screen with anyone”. Then, with every video call, you need to turn on the video during the conversation. Or simply change the value to show the video to users from your contacts.
Equipment check
Most common cause Camera malfunctions in desktop computers are due to the carelessness of the users themselves. Check if your device is plugged into an outlet. (Laptop owners should skip this point.)
Checking drivers and camera functionality
Let's go to "Control Panel - Hardware and Sound - Device Manager". Find your device in the list. If it is marked with a yellow exclamation mark, then the problem lies in the drivers or the camera itself.
Download the driver for your camera from the official website of the manufacturer. Right-click on the device in the task manager and click "Update drivers". Or you can first delete them and then install the downloaded ones.
After this, be sure to reboot the computer.
If after these steps the camera still does not function, then most likely the problem is caused by a malfunction of the device itself or you did not install the drivers correctly.
Using the camera with other applications
It is not uncommon for a computer to have several programs that work with the camera. If one of them is active and uses the camera, then Skype will not be able to use it until the program is closed.
Some programs can run in the tray (icons in the lower right corner), so the user does not see it, and it blocks access for Skype.
Low internet speed
And this is perhaps the most common problem, the fact is that if one of the interlocutors low speed Internet connection, you will not be able to establish a video call. Check your Internet settings. For normal video operation you will need at least 128 Kbps. If your parameters match, contact another person with a normal Internet connection and evaluate the quality of the connection.
In most cases the problem goes away. If you have completed all the steps, and the camera does not work in Skype and other programs, take the camera to a service center for further diagnostics.
Hello, dear readers!
Problems with the correct operation of the webcam when communicating on the network may arise both when connecting new video equipment and at other times. At the same time, it is quite possible that just yesterday you were calmly communicating via video conference, and today you were horrified to discover that the camera in Skype does not work. To solve this problem, it is necessary, first of all, find the cause of its occurrence.
See if the camera's indicator light is on when connected. If not, most likely you have purely technical problems and the device needs to be shown to the service center staff.
Further restart your PC, while checking the speed of data transfer or, simply, the Internet. So, for example, if the camera turns off during a conversation, but the microphone works, this may indicate that the speed is too low, and the video is automatically turned off to compensate for the transmission of other data. To remedy the situation, disable unused interactive applications, close the browser, and also change the video quality settings to a lower level.
If the camera does not turn on from the very beginning, it is quite possible that manual confirmation of video communication is set in the settings. Pay attention to the icon at the bottom of the video communication window: if you see an icon with a camera crossed out, just click on it with the mouse to turn on the camera.
If everything is fine with the first points, update the version of Skype for your operating system. Next, go to the settings and check the camera operation - perhaps the video connection is completely disabled. At the bottom of the contact list window click on the "Skype" icon and in the menu that appears, select “Settings”. In the settings window, select "Video settings" and check for a checkmark next to the item "Enable Skype Video".
Next, check whether the camera is selected correctly, because if, for example, there is a built-in non-working device and you want to connect an alternative one, it must be reassigned as the main source of the video channel. Also select the desired setting automatic connection video.
The operation of the webcam when communicating via Skype may be incorrect when incorrect settings display(brightness, contrast), as well as when additional effects are accidentally turned on. In such a situation, installing automatic mode camera operation.
If the transmitted image on your PC is without interference or glitches, but the interlocutor does not see you, it is likely that the problem lies in the Skype settings installed on his PC.
Thank you for attention! Sincerely,
Nikolay Murashkin, author
Problems with calls on Skype? Most likely, this is due to your or your interlocutor’s Internet connection. Low Internet connection may result in connection to remote calls, delays and low quality sound and video. Additionally, if problems occur, you will see a call quality indicator. Take advantage the following tips.
Make sure you have good wifi signal or if possible use a wired connection.
If your Internet connection deteriorates during a call, Skype may turn off some video streams in group calls. When the connection returns to normal, Skype will automatically turn the video back on.
If you are having connection problems on Windows, you can perform troubleshooting as described in Solve network connection problems.
Close all applications that may negatively affect call quality. File sharing apps, audio or video streaming and even open browser- all this can take up bandwidth.
If you're using Skype on a laptop that's running in low-power mode, try connecting it to a power source or switching to maximum performance mode.
Check your computer and Internet connection.
A poor connection can result in dropouts, unclear or freezing video, and poor quality sound. If your connection quality is poor, you may receive the following notification: Poor network connection.
In addition, the following may affect call quality:
- Checking your system's privacy permissions. For Mac OSX Mojave (10.14 or later) and Skype for Windows 10 (version 14) users, make sure to grant permission for Skype to use microphone and cameras.
- Mac OSX Mojave (10.14 or higher):
-Go to the Mac section System Preferences>security and privacy>tab Confidentiality > Microphone or camera and providing access to Skype. - Skype for Windows 10 (version 14):
-Go to Start and then select Options gears > privacy> select cameras or microphone. In the section, make sure that Skype is replaced on. Restart Skype and go to your Skype audio and video Options to check the correct devices are selected in Skype.
- Mac OSX Mojave (10.14 or higher):
- Check your webcam. Make sure it is turned on, pointed towards you and not blocked by anything. In Skype for desktop, select your avatar > Audio and video settings and in the section Video check what the webcam shows in the window preview.
Note. Skype for Windows 10 requires your webcam to meet minimum app requirements Microsoft Store. - on Skype. During such a call, you will be asked to record a message, which will then be played back. This is the easiest way to check your audio settings. In Skype on your desktop, select your avatar>Audio and video settings >Make a free trial call.
- Check the sound
- . The range of devices available is vast, and there are a number of possible reasons why functionality may be impaired. Each brand has its own quirks, so we always recommend visiting the manufacturer's website to view the user manual or get troubleshooting help
Below are some steps you can follow.
- Check your microphone, speakers, or headphones. Make sure they are connected and not muted. If it's a Bluetooth device, make sure it's connected as well.
- Check your webcam. Make sure it is turned on, pointed towards you and not blocked by anything.
- Make a free test call on Skype. During such a call, you will be asked to record a message, which will then be played back. This is the easiest way to check your audio settings.
- Can you hear the echo of your voice? There may be a problem with your interlocutor's device. Ask him to turn down the audio volume.
- Check the sound. Try playing a song or using another audio app to check the volume. If you hear sound, the problem may be on the other person's side. Ask him to do the same.
- Refer to the manufacturer's website. The range of devices available is vast, and there are a number of possible reasons why functionality may be impaired. Each brand has its own quirks, so we always recommend visiting the manufacturer's website to view the user manual or get troubleshooting help.
