Discord, initially created as a group-chatting program and a platform for gamers to communicate, has grown to include other online communities. Launched in 2015, it now hosts various groups such as writers, educators, artists, and K-pop fans.
Discord is categorized into different servers, with each server having its own members, rules, topics, and channels. You can send messages to any member of the server, or connect via voice and video chat. Discord also allows users to live stream games from their computers.
Discord members use their cameras a lot, whether it’s for video chatting or live-streaming their games. Although you can tinker with the camera settings on Discord, you usually don’t have to worry about the setup because the program automatically configures it for you (unless you need specific settings or effects for your camera).
Recently, we have seen several reports of webcam not detected by Discord for some reason. All they see is a black screen with an error message whenever they try to use the camera. What do you think causes this camera issue and how do you make the webcam function again? The first thing we need to figure out is why this happens.
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Why Discord Camera Is Not Working
Are you seeing a black screen instead of a video when you’re chatting with your friend in Discord? Here are some of the error messages you might have come across:
- Camera Unavailable
Derp, we can’t detect any camera. - We can’t find your camera
Check to be sure it’s connected and installed properly, that it isn’t being blocked by antivirus software, and that camera drivers are up-to-date.
If you need it, here’s the error code: 0XA00F4244(0XC00D36D5)
This can be frustrating, especially if you know that your camera is working fine when used by other programs. So what brings about this error?
If you look at the second error message, this gives you an idea of what to check when you get this Discord error. First, make sure that your camera is properly connected to your computer, especially if you’re using an external camera. Check the cable if it is properly inserted into the USB port and try to reconnect it if possible.
If your camera has been freshly installed, check whether something went wrong with the installation process or if the installer was corrupted. A corrupted or outdated camera driver can also trigger this error.
It is also possible that a third-party program is interfering with your camera. For example, your antivirus app or firewall might be preventing it from working properly or another app is already using the camera. For instance, if you have a Zoom or Skype video call that you forgot to close in the background and the camera is being used, then you won’t be able to use it simultaneously with Discord. The camera can only be used by an app one at a time.
How to Fix Webcam Not Detected by Discord
If your webcam is not detected by Discord, the first thing you need to check is the camera itself. If you’re using an external camera, unplug it then plug it back in using a different port. For built-in cameras, search for the Camera app on your PC and click it to start automatically. If the camera works, then the issue is related to Discord.
After you’ve determined that your camera has no problem, the next part of the troubleshooting process involves dealing with Discord. But before you do so, try some of the general webcam fixes here to make sure you’ve got everything covered:
- Close your apps and reboot your computer to give it a fresh start.
- Close all apps that might be using the camera.
- Clean up your computer to delete junk files using PC repair tool.
- Scan your computer for malware and delete all threats.
If the above steps resolved Discord’s camera issue, then you’re in luck. If not, try the alternative solutions below:
Solution 1: Update Your Camera.
If it’s been a while since you’ve updated your hardware, then you need to check if your camera’s driver is outdated. You can do this using the Device Manager by following the instructions below.
- Press the Window key, then type in device manager in the search box.
- Click on Device Manager from the list of search results.
- Look for your camera in the list of devices.
- Right-click on it, then choose Update Driver.
- This would prompt your computer to search for the latest drivers for your camera and install it on your computer.
While you’re at it, it is also recommended that you update your graphics driver to make sure you don’t run into other errors while using the Discord app.
Solution 2: Launch the Discord App as an Admin.
Another reason why Discord is not working properly is that it does not have enough admin privileges to access the camera and microphone. To launch Discord as an admin, right-click on the application shortcut on the Desktop, then choose Run as Administrator.
Solution 3: Change Your Default Camera.
When you’re using your computer’s default camera, it might fail to work on Discord if it is also being used in the background by some other application. If this is the case, you should use another camera dedicated to Discord.
To do this:
- Close Discord and quit all of its process in the Task Manager.
- Change your default camera on your computer by going to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Hardware and Sound.
- Look for the camera you want to set as default, then right-click on it.
- Choose Set this device as Default.
Now launch Discord and see if you can now use the camera normally.
Solution 4: Reinstall Discord.
If the above solutions were not effective in resolving the issue, then you might need to reinstall the Discord application. Follow the steps below to do this:
- Quit Discord and close all of its processes.
- Press Windows + I, then choose Apps & features.
- Look for Discord from the list, expand it, then click the Uninstall button.
- Follow the onscreen prompts to uninstall Discord, then restart your PC.
- Upon restart, open File Explorer and navigate to the following path: %appdata%
- Delete the Discord folder here.
- Next, go to: %LocalAppData%
- Delete the Discord folder and restart your computer.
After restarting, install the latest version of Discord and check if the camera issue is resolved.
Solution 5: Access Discord on Another Platform.
If you really can’t make the camera work, then you can try using Discord on another platform. If you encountered the camera issue when using the app, then try the Desktop version to see if it will work, and vice-versa.
Summary
Discord is a popular app among the younger generation, whether it’s for live streaming or video chatting. If your camera is not working on Discord, you can refer to the guide above to fix it. If they don’t work, you can access Discord on other devices instead.