You’re trying to video call someone on Messenger and your camera won’t turn on or they can’t hear you 🙁
What the hell is going on?!
Or maybe the call connects but you’re just staring at a black screen, or your audio keeps cutting out, or the whole thing disconnects after two seconds. I’m not gonna lie, Messenger’s video calling is buggy as FUCK and breaks for the dumbest reasons, deadass…
Why Your Camera And Audio Won’t Work
Messenger video calls fail for a bunch of different reasons, and most of them are permission-related or app glitches, no cap!
Here’s what’s probably breaking your calls:
- Messenger doesn’t have camera permissions – You never gave the app access to your camera
- Microphone permissions are turned off – Same deal but with audio instead
- Shitty internet connection – Video calls need decent WiFi or data, IYKYK
- Outdated Messenger app – Old versions have bugs that break video calling
- Another app is using your camera – Can’t run two camera apps at once
- Device software problems – Your phone’s OS is glitching out
Let’s break down each problem and actually fix this bullshit…
Messenger Doesn’t Have Camera Permissions
This is THE most common reason video calls don’t work.
If you never gave Messenger permission to access your camera, it literally CAN’T turn the camera on during calls!
iPhone – Turn On Camera Access
Go to Settings on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security. Select Camera. Find Messenger in the list and toggle it ON (should turn green).
If Messenger isn’t even in the list? That means you’ve never been asked for camera permission, which is weird but it happens. Reinstall Messenger and it’ll ask you again.
Android – Enable Camera Permission
Open Settings on your Android. Tap Apps or Application Manager. Find and select Messenger. Tap Permissions. Make sure Camera is toggled ON!
Some Android phones (Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.) have extra permission layers. Check your phone’s security settings too and make sure nothing is blocking Messenger from camera access. Check Facebook’s official troubleshooting guide if you need more help with permissions.
Microphone Permissions Are Disabled
Even if your CAMERA works, the other person can’t hear you if your microphone permissions are turned off. This is a separate permission you need to enable!
iPhone Microphone Fix
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. Find Messenger and toggle it ON, deadass.
Sometimes the microphone works in other apps but not Messenger. That’s usually because Messenger specifically got denied permission at some point. Just turn it back on and you’re good!
Android Microphone Fix
Open Settings → Apps → Messenger → Permissions. Toggle Microphone ON until it turns green.
If you’re still having audio problems after enabling permissions, test your microphone in another app like Voice Recorder. If it doesn’t work ANYWHERE, your phone’s mic might be physically broken…
And if you’re also dealing with Messenger not sending messages properly, that’s a whole different Facebook mess to troubleshoot…
Your Internet Connection Sucks
Video calls need DECENT internet speed. If your WiFi is trash or your mobile data is weak, video calls will fail or constantly disconnect!
Minimum requirements: You need at least 1-2 Mbps upload speed for video calls to work properly. Anything less and you’ll get black screens, frozen video, choppy audio, or calls that drop every 30 seconds.
Quick Internet Fixes
Switch networks – If you’re on WiFi, try switching to mobile data (or vice versa). Sometimes one connection is just better than the other.
Move closer to the router – WiFi signal weakens with distance and walls. Get closer to your router and see if calls work better.
Close other apps – If you’re streaming Netflix while trying to video call, your internet can’t handle both. Close bandwidth-heavy apps before calling.
Restart your router – Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, wait for it to fully restart. This fixes a LOT of connection issues!
The Messenger App Is Outdated
Old versions of Messenger have BUGS that break video calling. Facebook fixes these bugs in newer versions, but if you never update your apps, you’re stuck with the broken version.
Update Messenger Now
iPhone: Open the App Store, tap your profile pic, scroll to Messenger, and tap Update if available.
Android: Open Google Play Store, search for Messenger, and tap Update if there’s a newer version.
If there’s NO update available and video calls STILL don’t work, try uninstalling Messenger completely and reinstalling it fresh. This downloads the latest version and clears out any corrupted files!
Another App Is Using Your Camera
Your phone can only run ONE app using the camera at a time.
If Instagram, Snapchat, or your phone’s camera app is open in the background, Messenger CAN’T access the camera during video calls, IYKYK!
How to fix: Close ALL other apps completely (don’t just minimize them, actually close them from recent apps). Then try your Messenger video call again.
On some phones, you also need to check if camera features like “floating camera” or “picture-in-picture” are using your camera. Disable those features temporarily and see if video calls work…
Also having trouble with Facebook videos not playing? That’s often the same root cause!
Clear Messenger Cache And Data
Sometimes Messenger’s cached data gets corrupted and breaks video calling. Clearing the cache can fix this without losing your messages!
Android Cache Clear
Go to Settings → Apps → Messenger → Storage. Tap Clear Cache (NOT Clear Data unless you want to log in again).
Restart your phone after clearing cache, then try video calling again!
iPhone Doesn’t Have Cache Clear
iPhones don’t let you manually clear app cache. Your only option is to delete and reinstall Messenger completely, which sucks but it works. You’ll have to log back in but your messages stay saved on Facebook’s servers.
Desktop Messenger Video Call Issues
If you’re using Messenger on a computer and video calls aren’t working, there are different troubleshooting steps!
Browser Permissions (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
Browsers need separate permission to access your camera and mic. When you start a video call, the browser should ask for permission. Click Allow!
If you accidentally clicked Block before, you need to undo it. Click the lock icon in your browser’s address bar, find camera and microphone settings, and change them to Allow.
Some browsers DON’T support Messenger video calls at all. Stick to Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Safari can be glitchy, and older browsers won’t work. Learn more about browser compatibility on Messenger’s help page.
Windows Privacy Settings
Windows has its OWN camera and microphone permissions separate from browser permissions, fr fr!
Open Settings → Privacy → Camera. Make sure Allow apps to access your camera is ON. Scroll down and make sure your BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) is also toggled ON.
Do the same thing for Microphone settings. Windows 10 and 11 both have this feature!
Your Device Software Needs An Update
Sometimes your phone’s operating system has bugs that break Messenger video calls. Updating your iOS or Android can fix these issues!
iPhone: Go to Settings → General → Software Update and install any available updates.
Android: Go to Settings → System → System Update (exact menu varies by phone brand) and check for updates.
Device updates can take 20-30 minutes to download and install, so do this when you have time. But it’s worth it because it fixes a TON of app compatibility issues!
Test With A Different Person
Before you go crazy troubleshooting YOUR end, make sure the problem isn’t on the OTHER person’s side, no cap!
Try video calling someone else. If it works with them but not the original person? THEY have the problem, not you. They need to check their permissions, internet, and app version.
If video calls DON’T work with ANYONE, then yeah, the problem is definitely on your end and you need to keep troubleshooting…
Having other Facebook problems? Check out why notifications aren’t working while you’re troubleshooting this mess…
Reinstall Messenger As Last Resort
If NOTHING else works, delete Messenger completely and reinstall it fresh. This fixes like 80% of persistent issues because it clears out all corrupted files and gives you a clean install!
Before you delete: Your messages are saved on Facebook’s servers, so you WON’T lose your conversation history. You’ll just need to log back in after reinstalling.
How to reinstall: Delete the Messenger app from your phone. Restart your device completely. Go to App Store or Google Play and download Messenger again. Log in and test video calling!
What Actually Works
Messenger video calls break for multiple reasons – disabled camera or microphone permissions, bad internet connection, outdated app versions, corrupted cache, or other apps hogging the camera!
Your best fixes: Enable camera and mic permissions in your phone settings, update Messenger to the latest version, clear app cache (Android) or reinstall (iPhone), close other camera apps, and check your internet speed, fr fr.
For desktop users? Make sure your browser has permissions, check Windows privacy settings, and stick to Chrome or Firefox since other browsers are glitchy.
Most video call issues can be fixed in 5-10 minutes once you know what to check. And if YOUR video calls work fine but the other person still can’t see or hear you? The problem is on THEIR end, not yours!
Now go fix those permissions and actually have a working video call 😉
If this helped you fix Messenger video calls, share it with someone else who’s been stuck staring at black screens and broken audio!