Are you experiencing a zoom camera Black screen while trying to connect to a meeting on Zoom?
If the answer is yes, then you have come to the right place whether the Black screen is on your PC, Laptop or Mobile Device.
Because the Zoom app needs to be configured to a webcam connected to your computer or granted access to the built-in camera on your laptop or mobile device, it is essential that your privacy settings are correct and give Zoom permission to access an optimally configured camera.
Easy fix is here to assist you in fixing the black or blank screen on Zoom for your required device in 6 easy steps.
Why is my camera showing a Black screen?
Zoom camera black screen
Your Zoom app may be showing a Black or blank screen due to the following reasons
- There are apps running in the background that have access to your camera, blocking access to the Zoom app.
- Your privacy settings are set incorrectly
- There is an error with the graphics card
- Camera settings need to be updated
- Installation issues when installing the Zoom app
How do I fix a Black screen on Zoom
With multiple causes of a black screen on Zoom, here are the 6 most common fixes;
Fix 1: Restart your PC
This is the easiest step and sometimes fixes the issue. Simply restart your computer and access the Zoom app to check if the black screen has disappeared when trying to join a video.
Fix 2: Turn off your automatic GPU switching
The Graphics processing unit is what creates your images and videos.
When there is more than one graphics card at use this may cause the Black/blank screen as it interrupts the processes on Zoom therefore the automatic switching would need to be turned off.
Step 1. Search for the control panel in your search bar.
Step 2. Locate and select your graphics card control panel
Step 3. Choose ‘Manage 3D Settings’ which should be under the main 3D settings
Step 4. Select the ‘Programme Settings’ tab and choose ‘Add’ on the right.
Step 5. Select ‘Browse’
Step 6. Choose Cpthoste.exe from the Zoom listing found at (C:/>users>YOURUSERNAME>AppData>Roaming>Zoom>bin)
Step 7. ‘Select preferred graphics processor’ should have ‘Integrated graphics’ selected below it
Step 8. Lastly, select ‘Apply’ at the bottom right
Fix 3: Make sure your ‘graphics driver’ is up to date
Ensure your graphics driver is up to date as this could cause the driver to stop being compatible, resulting in Zoom experiencing a black/blank screen.
Step 1. Go onto your manufacturer’s website to check what the latest driver is, and download the one that is compatible with your Windows platform.
Note, If you are wary of downloading a new driver on your own, you can make use of ‘Driver Easy’ which is a downloadable app that will be able to identify your current software and tell you the compatible driver for your computer.
Fix 4: Stop other running apps
If there are apps running in the background that require access to your camera, this may stop Zoom from working when you launch it, as the camera will be in use by a different app.
Step 1. (For Windows) Push down CTRL + ALT + DELETE
Step 2. Choose the ‘Task Manager’
Step 3. Select all the apps running that would require access to the camera
Step 4. Choose ‘End Task’
Fix 5: Check your privacy settings (Windows & MacOs)
Zoom may be experiencing a black or blank screen due to the privacy settings blocking Zoom from gaining access to the camera. This can be checked on Windows as well as MacOs
Windows
Step 1. In the search bar, type in and select ‘Camera Privacy Settings’
Step 2. The ‘Allow access to the camera on this device should be set as ‘on’
Step 3. ‘Allow apps to access your camera’ will have a toggle that should be set as ‘on’
Step 4. As you scroll down, you’ll come to ‘Allow desktop apps to access your camera’ this should be set to ‘on’ as Zoom is not a Microsoft store app
MacOs
Step 1. Click on the Apple on the top left
Step 2. Select the ‘System Preferences’
Step 3. Choose ‘Security and Privacy’
Step 4. Select the ‘Lock’ icon and fill in your credentials to make any edits
Step 5. Choose ‘camera’ from the sidebar and ensure that your chosen search engine and Zoom are selected
Fix 6: Reinstall Zoom
If Zoom is still experiencing a black/blank screen, it may be due to an installation error and may need to be reinstalled.
Windows
Step 1. Press down on the Windows button and the letter R simultaneously
Step 2. Write in appwiz.cpl and select OK
Step 3. Find Zoom, right-click on it and choose to uninstall
Step 4. Redownload and Install Zoom
MacOs
Step 1. Open the Zoom up on your Mac
Step 2. Select the zoom.us option at the top left of the page
Step 3. Choose ‘Uninstall Zoom’
Step 4. Select OK to confirm
Step 5. Redownload the Zoom app onto your Mac
Zoom Black screen during screen share
Photo by visuals on Unsplash
Screen sharing is essential when conducting a Zoom call, so when you see a black screen you must be able to rectify it as soon as possible
Experiencing a black screen on Zoom while screen sharing could be due to the following reasons
- The owner of the meeting has not permitted other participants in the meeting to screen share
- Your internet connection is not solid
- Your video is already enabled when trying to screen share
Here’s how to fix this problem in 3 easy fixes
Fix 1. Check if the host has enabled others to screen share
The host of your meeting may have unintentionally disabled others to screen share. To check this, you can do the following
Step 1. Click on the ‘Share Screen’ button. If it pops up with the notification ‘Host disabled participant screen sharing’ it will need to be changed.
Step 2. If you are not the host of the meeting, you can send them a message via the chatbox to get them to enable the setting.
Step 3. If you are the host of the meeting, you can allow screen sharing for other participants under the ‘Screen Share Settings’
Fix 2. Check your internet connection
Zoom requires a stable internet connection with adequate internet speed in place for the screen sharing function to operate without any disruption
Step 1. Disconnect from your Wifi and reconnect
Step 2. Reset your Wifi router
Step 3. You can check your internet speed by using SpeedTest, just click go.
Note, for a good video conferencing experience, you’ll need 800kbps to 1mbps for the download and upload speed, and 150kbps for screen sharing.
Fix 3. Switch off your video before attempting to screen share
The video function on Zoom takes up a lot of bandwidth when in use and may stop the screen sharing from being able to operate.
Step 1. Select ‘Stop Video’ at the bottom of the screen
Step 2. Once the video has been stopped, you can now click on ‘share screen’
Note, if you came into the meeting with your video already operating, this could potentially obstruct the screen sharing function from running. To amend this, leave the meeting and re-join but with your video turned off.
Conclusion
Having a Zoom camera black screen while trying to conduct a meeting or screen share with other participants is the last thing you want to experience.
We hope this guide has assisted you in getting rid of the black screen, as well as provided you with the necessary steps to ensure you know what to do the next time your Zoom app comes up with a black or blank screen.
If you have any other Zoom errors, be sure to check out the Easyfixpro website in the future.
