Frequently Asked Question
Use this article if a webcam source is black, frozen, or does not show video in DeskCamera.
What you see
The webcam picture is black or frozen, or the NVR/VMS shows no webcam video.
What to do
Check the webcam first
- Close the DeskCamera window and click Yes to confirm.
- Open the webcam in another app, such as the Windows Camera app.
- If the webcam does not work there, check the webcam driver, Windows camera privacy settings, USB cable, or USB port before changing DeskCamera settings.
Close other apps using the webcam
Most webcams can be used by only one app at a time. Close apps that may already be using the webcam, such as Teams, Zoom, a browser, or the Windows Camera app.
Test the webcam in DeskCamera
Open DeskCamera.
Click Stop.
Open Video & Audio Settings.
Select the webcam source.
Check that the Enable switch is on. If Require Media Approval is turned on, approve the webcam.
Click Test RTSP.
Choose a stream and click OK. A test video opens. If you do not see it, click its button on the Windows taskbar.
Check the picture, then click OK in the DeskCamera message.
If the test video shows the webcam, click Start.
Try another Encoder setting
If the webcam still shows no video, open the Encoder list and choose DShow video device.
Click Test RTSP again.
If the test works, keep this setting and click Start.
If it still does not work
- Disconnect and reconnect the webcam.
- Restart the PC.
- Try another webcam if available.
If the webcam works in DeskCamera but the NVR/VMS still has no video, see NVR/VMS Cannot Find DeskCamera or Show Live Video.
If the webcam does not work in DeskCamera after the checks above, collect logs and contact support. See Collecting DeskCamera Log Files.