The camera works in one app but not in others: permission conflict explained

When the camera works in one app, but not in others, The problem usually lies in the system's permissions and access management.If you frequently use video calls or visual tools, this permission conflict can be a real frustration. Today, we'll see why this happens, how to identify it, and what steps to take to resolve it on both Windows and Android.

The camera works in one app, but not in others, why is this permission conflict happening?

If the camera works in one app but not in others, it's almost always due to a permissions conflict. What does this mean? That One application may have authorized access, while another has restricted access. or blocked. Another reason is that an app is using the camera in the background, preventing it from being used simultaneously. Here are some reasons:

• Different applications, different permitsEach app must request access to your device's camera, whether in Android or Windows. If you granted it to one app but denied it to another, the second one won't be able to access the camera.
• System privacy settingsBoth Windows and Android have a privacy menu where you can choose which apps have access to the camera. If an app is not enabled by mistake or lack of knowledge, it will be blocked from using the camera.
• Simultaneous use of the cameraOn Android, it's not possible to use the camera in two or more apps simultaneously. And in some versions of Windows, this isn't the case either. As a result, the camera works in one app but not in others.
• Updates and driversOn your PC, the camera drivers may be outdated, causing incompatibility.

When the camera works in one app but not in others: solution

If the camera works in one app but not in others due to a permission conflict, that's the first thing you should check. This often happens when we first download an app and, for security reasons, deny it access to both the camera and microphone of our device. However, sometimes we realize that granting access was actually necessary. Let's see how to fix it..

On Android

The first thing you should do if the camera works in one app but not in others on your Android is review the permissions granted to the applicationsTo do this, follow these steps:

1. Enter Configuration – Applications – Manage applications.
2. Search for the application in question (for example, WhatsApp).
3. Now, click on the option Permits of the application.
4. Seeks Camera Among the options. If it's not there, enable camera permission.
5. Finally, open the app and verify that the camera is working, and you're all set.

It is also possible to grant camera permissions to an application from Configuration – Permits – Camera. There you can check which apps have camera access and make the necessary adjustments to fix the conflict. But what else can you do if that doesn't work?

Something else you can do is Make sure that no other application on your mobile is using the cameraThis could be because the Camera app is open or you're on another video call. If there are any apps running in the background, close them and try again. If that's not the case, remember that sometimes a simple restart can fix temporary problems on your phone.

On Windows

If your Windows PC camera works in one app but not others, you should also check the camera permissions. However, to ensure the camera is working properly, Open the Windows Camera app to see if it works.If so, then proceed to check the application permissions.

1. Open Configuration on Windows.
2. Go to Privacy and security – Camera.
3. Next, enable camera access for the apps that need it (or the one where the camera isn't working, such as Windows Hello, For example).
4. Done. Open the application to verify that it now works.

In addition, you can Verify that the privacy settings are not preventing the camera from functioning correctly.Go to Settings – Privacy and security – Camera – Camera access. Make sure the switch is turned on (blue). If this option is turned off, the camera won't work in one app but not others; it won't work in any app at all.

Keep Keeping your PC updated is vital for the camera to work properly in any application. On the one hand, it's good to keep the applications that use the camera up to date. On the other hand, you can update the camera drivers on your PC from Device Manager. If the drivers on your computer are very old, that might be the cause of the problem.

Enable the "Use camera in multiple applications" option in Windows

Did you know that In Windows 11 it is now possible to use the camera in multiple applications at the same timePreviously, in Windows 10 and early versions of Windows 11, the camera could only be used in one application at a time. If you tried to open another, you would get an error message. But after a recent update (Windows 11 24H2), it's now possible to use it simultaneously.

To activate this feature on your PC, Follow the steps below:

1. Open Configuration with Windows + I.
2. Enter Bluetooth and devices – Cameras.
3. Choose the name of your camera (built-in or external).
4. In Advanced settings, enable the option “Allow multiple apps to use the camera at the same time"
5. Confirm by clicking OK to activate multi-application on your PC.

Activating this feature has many advantages.First, you can live stream on multiple platforms simultaneously. Second, you can participate in different virtual meetings without turning off your camera. And, if needed, you can also record while on an active video call.

When the camera works in one app but not in others: conclusion

In conclusion, if the camera works in one app but not in others, there's a permissions conflict because each app manages its access to the camera independently. And, in the case of mobile phones and some operating systems, simultaneous use isn't available. The solution? Check permissions, close background apps, and keep everything updated.