Why can nobody hear me when the microphone looks fine?

Usually the wrong microphone is selected in the meeting app, for example a monitor's built-in microphone instead of your headphones. Open the app's audio settings, pick the right microphone by name and make a test call before the meeting.

The camera shows black, what causes that?

First check whether a small shutter is covering the lens; many laptops have one that slides sideways. If the lens is clear, another program is probably using the camera. Close other meeting windows, Skype and FaceTime and try again.

Do I have to grant permission every time?

No, once per app is enough. Windows and macOS ask the first time an app wants the microphone or camera. If you answered no once, you have to switch it on manually in system settings and then restart the app.

Does it work better in the browser or in the app?

The app is steadier for longer meetings. In a browser you need to allow the microphone and camera for that specific site by clicking the icon at the left of the address bar.

Microphone or camera not working in Teams or Zoom

When people cannot hear or see you in a meeting, it comes down to two things almost every time: the meeting app has not been given permission by the computer to use the microphone and camera, or the wrong microphone is selected inside the app. Both take a couple of minutes to check, and the best moment to check them is before the meeting starts.

Try this first

Check that you are not muted in the meeting. The microphone icon in the meeting bar should not have a line through it. Click it and see it return to normal.
Check that the camera is switched on in the meeting, and that no small shutter is covering the lens. Many laptops have one just above the screen.
If you use wireless headphones, make sure they are charged and connected before you join.
Pick the right devices in Teams. Click the three dots in the meeting bar > Settings > Devices, and choose the right speaker, microphone and camera by name. Use Make a test call to hear yourself.
Pick the right devices in Zoom. Click the arrow next to the microphone icon to choose the microphone, and the arrow next to the camera icon for the camera. Under audio settings, Test Mic shows a bar that moves while you speak.

If the bar moves when you speak, the meeting can hear you and that part is done.

If that did not help

Grant permission in Windows. Settings > Privacy and security > Microphone. Turn on Let apps access your microphone and check that Teams or Zoom is allowed. Do the same under Camera.
Grant permission on a Mac. System Settings > Privacy and Security > Microphone, and the same under Camera. Turn on the switch next to the app, then restart it.
On phones and tablets: Settings > the app's name > turn on Microphone and Camera.
If you use Teams or Zoom in a browser, click the icon at the far left of the address bar and allow the microphone and camera for that site. Reload the page afterwards.
Close anything else that might be holding the camera, such as another meeting window, Skype or FaceTime. Only one program at a time can use the camera.
Restart the computer and update Teams or Zoom to the latest version.

If the camera does not appear in the device list at all, or you can hear others while nobody hears you despite the right settings, ask us for a test call. That beats troubleshooting while the meeting runs.

One habit for next time

Join the meeting ten minutes early and listen to yourself with the test function. That leaves time to switch microphone, charge headphones or move closer to the router without any pressure. Troubleshooting and taking part at the same time rarely goes well, and ten minutes of margin covers most of what tends to come up.