Unlike Facebook Messenger app on our smartphones or tablets where the camera and microphone can be easily accessed, on a Windows 10/11 desktop or laptop PC, there are certain things that have to be done for the cam and mic to work on the new FB Messenger app on Windows 10/11.
In this short guide, we will show you how to allow messenger to access to your camera and mic in the Windows 10/11 privacy settings and how to check if your camera or microphone is working properly.
Also see: How to Test Camera on Windows 11
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How to Turn On Camera on Facebook Messenger Windows 10/11
In Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC, most apps, including Facebook Messenger desktop app, by default are not set to have access to its connected generic camera or webcam device due to security and privacy concerns.
In most cases, when you do a video call for the first time on the Messenger app on your Windows 10/11 PC, the app will ask you for permission to have access to your camera. You only have to allow access for the first time and the Messenger app will not ask again in the future whenever the app requires access to your camera.
If you don’t see the pop up, follow the steps below to manually allow Messenger to use your webcam via the Windows 11/10 privacy settings.
Step 1: Search for and open Settings via Windows 10/11 search bar or Cortana.
Step 2: In the Settings window, select Privacy. Then, in the left pane, select Camera under “App permissions”.
Windows 11
Windows 10
Step 3: Under “Allow access to the camera on this device“, click on Change and make sure the “Camera access for this device” option is turned on.
Windows 10
Windows 11
Step 4: Under “Allow apps to access your camera“, make sure the option is turned on.
Windows 10
Windows 11
Step 5: Under “Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera“, look for Messenger app and make sure the switch beside it is turned on. This is to allow Messenger app to have access to your camera.
Step 6: When you’ve done all of the above, try to make a video call again. It should connect right away without asking for access permission again and your camera should work in the video call now.
If Messenger says no camera detected…
It could be due to your camera not properly connected, driver issue or faulty hardware. To check if you have a working camera connected to your PC, follow the steps below:
- In the Start menu, search for and open Device Manager.
- Expand Cameras and see if there is any listed camera.
- If there is, right-click it and select properties and see if the device is working properly.
If there is none listed under the cameras section, it means your camera isn’t connected or installed. Double check if the camera is correctly connected to your PC and make sure to install the camera’s driver using the driver CD that comes along with it when you purchase the camera.
To learn how to test your camera in Windows, read: How to Test Webcam on Windows 11/10 Laptop or Desktop Offline.
How to Turn On Microphone on Facebook Messenger Windows 10/11
Similar to camera privacy settings mentioned above, most apps by default do not have access to your computer’s microphone due to security and privacy reasons. You have to allow Messenger app to access your mic via Windows 10 or 11 privacy settings, so that it can use your mic to record and send voice messages, or to make voice calls.
Read: How to Test Microphone on Windows 11/10 to See If It’s Working
Follow the steps below to manually allow Messenger to have access to your microphone on your Windows 10/11 PC.
Step 1: Go to Start menu, search and open Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Privacy > Microphone (in the left pane).
Windows 11
Windows 10
Step 3: Under “Allow access to the microphone on this device“, click on the Change button. Then, click to turn on the “Microphone access for this device” option if it isn’t already turned on.
Step 4: Next, make sure the toggle option under “Allow apps to access your microphone” is turned on.
Step 5: Under “Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your microphone“, look for Messenger app and make sure the toggle option beside it is turned on. This is to allow Messenger app to have access to your microphone.
After completing all of the above, try to send a voice message or do a voice call in Messenger Windows 10/11. It should work now.
Similar issue: The Wizard Could Not Start Microphone in Windows 10/11 (Solved)
Facebook Messenger cannot detect Microphone
If Messenger shows “Couldn’t connect to your microphone” when you do a voice call, or keeps showing “Allow messenger access to your microphone” whenever you try to record a voice message, it could be due to your mic not properly connected, driver issue or faulty hardware.
