Teams Crashes When Turning on Camera [Fix]

When Microsoft Teams crashes or freezes after turning on the camera, it usually indicates a conflict between the app and system resources. Video processing requires camera drivers, graphics drivers, and system permissions to work together smoothly. If any of these components malfunction or conflict with Teams, the app may stop responding.

One common cause is an outdated or incompatible camera driver. If your webcam driver is not updated or optimized for Windows 11 or Windows 10, Teams may crash when trying to access the camera hardware.

Another reason is hardware acceleration conflicts. Microsoft Teams uses GPU acceleration to improve performance, but sometimes the graphics driver does not work well with this feature. This can cause freezing or sudden crashes when the video starts.

Corrupted Teams cache files also trigger crashes. Cache data helps Teams load faster, but damaged files can cause the app to malfunction when activating camera features.

Camera permission settings are another major factor. If Windows privacy settings block Teams from accessing the webcam, the app may freeze when attempting to enable video.

High CPU or RAM usage can also be responsible. When the system is overloaded, turning on the camera increases resource usage and may cause Teams to stop responding.

Understanding these causes helps you apply the right fix quickly and prevent the issue from returning.

In this detailed guide, you have learned why Microsoft Teams crashes when enabling the camera, and now it’s time to learn how to fix this issue.

Teams Crashes or Freezes When Turning on Camera [Fix]

If Microsoft Teams crashes or freezes when turning on the camera, update your camera and graphics drivers, clear Teams cache, disable hardware acceleration, and check camera permissions in Windows settings. Restart the app after applying each fix to ensure the camera works without crashing.

Follow the steps below carefully to fix the problem completely.

Step 1. Restart Microsoft Teams and Your Computer

Before applying advanced fixes, restart Microsoft Teams and your computer. Temporary glitches in memory or background services often cause Teams to freeze when enabling the camera.

Close Microsoft Teams completely. Make sure it is not running in the system tray. Open Task Manager and end all Teams-related processes.

Restart your computer and launch Teams again. Join a meeting and try turning on the camera. If the problem was caused by a temporary system glitch, it should now be resolved.

Step 2. Check Camera Permissions in Windows Settings

If Teams does not have permission to access your webcam, it may crash when attempting to turn it on.

Open Windows Settings and go to Privacy and Security. Click Camera settings. Make sure camera access is enabled for the device.

Scroll down and ensure that Microsoft Teams has permission to use the camera. If the toggle is off, turn it on.

Restart Teams and test the camera again. Permission conflicts are one of the most common reasons behind camera-related crashes.

Step 3. Update Camera Drivers

Outdated webcam drivers can cause compatibility issues with Teams.

Open Device Manager from the Start menu. Expand the Cameras or Imaging Devices section. Right-click your webcam and select Update driver.

Choose the option to search automatically for drivers. Windows will install the latest available version.

After updating, restart your computer and test Teams again. Updated drivers ensure better compatibility and performance.

Step 4. Update Graphics Drivers

Microsoft Teams uses the GPU for video processing. An outdated graphics driver may cause freezing when enabling video.

Open Device Manager and expand Display Adapters. Right-click your graphics card and select Update driver.

Install the latest driver available. You can also download the newest driver directly from the official website of NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel for better compatibility.

Restart your PC and check if the Teams camera works smoothly.

Step 5. Disable Hardware Acceleration in Teams

Hardware acceleration improves performance but may cause crashes on some systems.

Open Microsoft Teams and click on Settings. Go to General settings. Locate the option Disable GPU hardware acceleration.

Enable this option and restart Teams. Turning off hardware acceleration often fixes freezing issues when using the camera.

Step 6. Clear Microsoft Teams Cache

Corrupted cache files can lead to crashes when enabling the camera.

Close Microsoft Teams completely. Press Windows and R keys to open the Run dialog. Type the Teams cache folder path and press Enter.

Delete all files inside the cache folders. Do not delete the folders themselves.

Restart Teams and sign in again. Clearing the cache removes corrupted data and improves app stability.

Step 7. Check for Windows Updates

Outdated Windows versions can cause compatibility problems with Teams and camera drivers.

Open Windows Settings and go to Windows Update. Click Check for updates and install any available updates.

Restart your computer after installation. Updated system files help Teams run smoothly with camera features.

Step 8. Repair or Reset Microsoft Teams

If the issue persists, repairing the app may help.

Open Windows Settings and go to Apps. Find Microsoft Teams in the installed apps list. Click Advanced options.

Select Repair first. If the problem continues, choose Reset. This will reinstall the app without deleting your account data.

Open Teams again and test the camera.

Step 9. Close Background Apps Using the Camera

Other apps using the camera can conflict with Teams.

Close applications such as Zoom, Skype, browser tabs, or camera software. Open Task Manager and end unnecessary processes.

Launch Teams and try turning on the camera again. Only one app should use the webcam at a time.

Step 10. Reinstall Microsoft Teams

If none of the fixes work, reinstalling Teams can resolve deep software conflicts.

Uninstall Microsoft Teams from Apps and Features. Restart your computer. Download the latest version from the official Microsoft website and install it.

Sign in and test your camera during a meeting. A fresh installation removes corrupted files and restores default settings.

Faqs

Why does Microsoft Teams freeze when I turn on video?

Teams usually freeze due to outdated drivers, hardware acceleration conflicts, or corrupted cache files. Updating drivers and clearing the cache often resolves the issue.

How do I fix the Teams camera crash on Windows 11?

Update camera and graphics drivers, enable camera permissions, disable hardware acceleration, and clear Teams cache. Restart the system after applying fixes.

Can an antivirus cause the Teams camera to crash?

Yes, some antivirus software blocks camera access or interferes with Teams processes. Temporarily disabling the antivirus can help identify the issue.

Does reinstalling Teams fix camera freezing?

Reinstalling Teams can fix crashes caused by corrupted installation files or settings conflicts.

Why does my camera work in Zoom but not in Teams?

This usually indicates a Teams-specific permission or cache issue. Check Teams camera permissions and clear its cache.