Why does my Chromebook camera work in one website but not another?

Start with the website that fails rather than changing several settings at once. Open that site’s camera permission in Chrome and check whether camera access is allowed. Chrome supports reviewing permissions for individual sites. [S2]

Then check Chromebook Privacy controls, which can also control camera access. If your Chromebook has a physical camera switch, make sure it is on. [S1] Change one setting at a time, refresh the failing webpage, and test again; a refresh may be needed after changing camera access. [S1]

Yes, check the device-level setting separately. Chromebook camera access can be controlled in ChromeOS Privacy controls, while web-app permissions can also be changed in Chrome settings. [S1] These are distinct places to inspect, so an allowed setting for one site does not by itself confirm that device-level access is enabled.

If you change a device setting, refresh the webpage or app and test again. [S1] If the Chromebook has a physical camera switch, check its position too. [S1]

That is worth checking. In Chrome’s Site settings, you can select a default camera or switch to another camera. [S2] Check the camera setting and choose the one you intend to use, if it is listed. Then refresh the page and test again.

For a useful comparison, note which camera is selected and whether it works on the failing site. Avoid assuming that the sites use the same camera setting; check Chrome’s available camera selection rather than relying on the other site’s behavior.

The supplied Google guidance does not establish that another tab is necessarily using or blocking the camera. [S2] You can still make a controlled comparison without treating that as the explanation: end the camera session on the working site, then try the failing site by itself. If it works, repeat the test once to see whether the result is consistent. This is a troubleshooting comparison, not proof of what caused the issue.

Keep track of what changed between tests—site, camera selection, permissions, and whether the other camera session was active—so you can report useful observations if you need more help.

After checking site permission and system settings, Google recommends restarting the call, Chrome, or the computer. [S2] Try those in order, testing the same site after each step so you can tell whether anything changed. If you use a work or school Chromebook, an administrator may control these settings. [S2]

This checklist can narrow down where to look, but the cited guidance does not identify the cause of a failure on a particular website or guarantee that these checks will resolve it. If an administrator manages the device, ask them to review the camera settings. Otherwise, keep the site name and your test results handy when seeking support.