You want to make a video call with your best buddy or even have an interview with a distant company? With Skype it’s no problem – as long as the webcam plays along. If the camera in Skype doesn’t work properly and the person you’re talking to can’t see you (or the other way around), that’s no reason to panic. Below you can read about the causes behind it and how you can solve the problems.
Your conversation partner can’t see you
You can see the person you’re talking to on Skype, but they can’t see you? Then your Skype camera doesn’t seem to be working. The reasons for this can be found out below.
Note: All instructions for setting changes in Skype refer to Skype Classic for Windows 10.
Webcam blocked or room too dark
First check if something is standing or hanging in front of your webcam, and therefore it does not transmit an image. Also, make sure that you are really in the frame of the camera. Even a room that is too dark can make the webcam appear black. Make sure there is enough light in the room when you make a video call.
The video function is disabled
Have you activated the video function for the current call? If the small camera icon in the lower left corner of the video chat window is crossed out, the video function is disabled. Click on the icon to activate your camera for the call.
Webcam blocked by another program
Another program may be using your webcam at the same time, so close any applications that might be using the camera, such as other instant messengers or video recording programs.
Conflict of several installed cameras
If you have multiple cameras connected to your PC, Skype video chats can cause problems. Check Skype’s video settings to make sure the right camera is selected for the program. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Click Actions on Skype’s horizontal menu bar.
- Select options…..
- Go to Video Settings.
- Here you can see which camera Skype is using and change the setting if necessary.
You don’t see who you’re talking to
On the other hand, it can also be that the person you are talking to can see you, but you cannot see him. There are two reasons for this: Either something is wrong with your video settings or with the webcam or the video settings of your conversation partner. First, check if the problem is on your side.
Check your video settings:
On the Skype menu bar, click Actions and then click Options…..
- Go to Video Settings.
- If no one is selected under “Video and screen transmissions received automatically from”, this could be the problem: This means that Skype generally does not allow
- video transmissions to be received.
- Select either from anyone or contacts that are in my contact list.
- Test again if you can see the person you are talking to.
If you still cannot see the person you are talking to, there is a high probability that the problem lies with them. Therefore, ask him to check the points under “Your conversation partner cannot see you” to find out the cause.
Skype camera still not working? Further Tips
Even with the previous tips, you couldn’t get your Skype camera to work and still can’t see who you were talking to? Then try out the following tips.
Keep Skype up to date
Both parties should always use the latest version of Skype. Developers regularly publish updates to introduce new features or fix bugs, for example. Normally Skype will automatically notify you that an update is available. However, you can also trigger updates manually, like this:
Click on Help in the menu bar and select Check for updates.
If there is a new update, Skype will display a new window. Click on the download button to download the required data.
After the download is complete, click Update.
Check your Internet connection
If your Internet connection is not stable or fast enough, it can interfere with video transmission on Skype. Often the video stagnates, freezes or is no longer visible. Background: As soon as Skype notices that a caller’s connection is unstable or particularly slow, the program adjusts the video quality. In this way Skype tries to avoid interrupting the call.
To prevent this from happening, check whether the connection quality can be improved – for example, by using an Ethernet cable instead of WLAN usage. If only a wireless Internet connection is possible, try to get closer to the router and improve the connection quality.
Webcam connected correctly and drivers installed correctly?
If your camera doesn’t work properly in Skype, maybe the problem is with the webcam itself. If you are using an external webcam, first check that it is correctly connected – the USB cable is stuck in the computer. Also, try to connect the camera to the computer via another USB port. Sometimes that already solves possible problems.
Then make sure your computer recognizes the webcam:
To do this, click on the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the taskbar and then go to the settings (gear symbol).
Select the Devices sub-section and then click on Bluetooth and other devices.
If your webcam is not shown here, this could be the cause of the problem. In this case, click Add Bluetooth or other device and follow the on-screen instructions to reconfigure your webcam.
Whether you use an external or a fixed webcam in your laptop – also check the installed driver of the camera for up-to-dateness and install an update if necessary:
Open the device manager, for example by entering “Device Manager” in the search bar next to the Windows icon – it will then be displayed in the search results.
Click on the small arrow to the left of “Audio, Video and Game Controller”. A list of connected devices opens, including your webcam.
Right-click the name of your webcam and select Update Driver Software.
It’s usually easy to track down camera problems
If you can’t see the person you’re talking to when you’re making a video call, the webcam and the settings associated with it are often responsible for the problems. Whether a conflict between different installed cameras, incorrect video chat settings or an outdated version of Skype – often it’s just subtleties you can check and adjust. With these tips, you can quickly and easily fix the problem and get the video image up and run again when Skypeing.
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