Fix Elgato Facecam not detected

The short answer

If your Facecam isn't showing up as a microphone in Zoom, Teams, Discord or your system sound settings, nothing is broken. According to Elgato's published specifications, the original Facecam and the Facecam Pro have no built-in microphone. No driver, firmware update or setting will make a Facecam audio input appear. To capture your voice, you need a separate microphone.

If the camera's video feed is also missing, that is a different problem. It is usually caused by the connection, permissions or another app using the camera, and the checks below help you find the cause. Elgato has released more than one Facecam model, so if yours isn't one of the two named above, check its spec sheet for a microphone listing before you assume a fault.

Work out what is actually missing

• Video works, but no Facecam microphone is listed: this is expected on models without a microphone. Skip to the sections on choosing and selecting an audio input.
• Video is missing in one app only: the likely cause is an app setting, a privacy permission or another program holding the camera.
• Video is missing everywhere, including Elgato Camera Hub: the likely cause is the port, cable, host computer or the camera itself.

How to isolate a missing video feed

Work through these checks in order. Each one is reversible. Treat each possible cause as a guess until a check confirms it.

1. Check whether the operating system sees the camera

On Windows, open Device Manager and look under Cameras or Imaging devices. On macOS, open System Information and look in the USB or Camera section. If the Facecam is listed, the hardware connection is working and the problem is in permissions or app settings, so go to step 3. If it isn't listed, the computer isn't detecting the camera at all, so start with the port and cable.

2. Check the port, cable and any hub

Elgato specifies a USB 3.0 connection for the original Facecam. A USB 2.0 port, an unpowered hub or a front-panel port with a weak internal connection can stop it from being detected. Use the cable supplied with the camera and plug it directly into a USB 3 port on the computer. On a desktop, use a rear motherboard port. If the camera appears after you change ports or cables, the previous port, cable or hub was the cause. If it still doesn't appear, try one more known-good USB 3 port before moving on.

3. Check camera privacy permissions

On Windows, open the camera privacy settings and confirm that camera access is turned on, including access for desktop apps. On macOS, open Privacy & Security, then Camera, and allow the app you are using. If the camera works after you grant access, the permission was the cause. Some apps only pick up the change after you restart them.

4. Close other apps that might hold the camera

Webcams are often available to only one application at a time. Close Camera Hub previews, OBS, browser tabs with video calls and other conferencing apps, then reopen the app you want to use. If the feed appears, another program was holding the camera. You can then decide which app should own it, or route the video through one program.

5. Use Elgato Camera Hub

Open Camera Hub and see whether it shows a live image. If it does, the camera and connection work, and any remaining problem is in the other app's device selection. While Camera Hub is open, install any firmware or software update it offers. If Camera Hub can't find the camera either, the cause is still at the connection or hardware level.

6. Test on a second computer

Connect the camera to another computer that has a USB 3 port, using the same cable. If it works there, the original computer is the problem. Likely causes include USB controller drivers, pending operating system updates or the port itself. If it fails on a second computer, with a known-good port and a second cable, a hardware fault becomes the most likely explanation.

When to contact support or seek a replacement

Contact Elgato support, or start a warranty or return claim, if the camera isn't detected by two different computers, using direct USB 3 ports and more than one cable. Do the same if it disconnects repeatedly under those conditions. Tell support which checks you ran and what each one showed, which can shorten the process. A missing microphone is not a fault, so it is not a reason for a service claim.

Choosing a microphone to pair with the Facecam

Because the camera captures no sound, voice quality depends entirely on the microphone you add and where you place it. Common options are below.

• Headset microphone: sits close to the mouth, so your voice level stays fairly steady and the mic picks up less room echo and keyboard noise. It is practical for calls in untreated rooms.
• USB desk or arm-mounted microphone: plugs straight into the computer with no extra hardware. It sounds best when positioned close to your mouth. At typical desk distances it picks up more of the room.
• XLR microphone with an audio interface: the interface converts the microphone signal into a USB audio input. This setup takes more equipment and configuration but gives more control over gain, which is the input level.
• Elgato's own Wave microphones: one option if you already use Elgato software, though any standard USB or interface-based microphone will work alongside the Facecam.

Selecting the right audio input in your apps

In conferencing apps such as Zoom, Teams and Discord, the camera and the microphone are chosen separately. Set the camera to the Facecam and the microphone to your actual microphone. Don't rely on a default such as a laptop's built-in mic. Setting your microphone as the system default input helps apps that don't remember device choices. Before an important call, use the app's microphone test to confirm the level moves when you speak.

In OBS and similar streaming software, the Facecam video source carries no audio. Add your microphone as a separate audio input source. If your voice and lip movement drift out of step, OBS's advanced audio properties include a sync offset for delaying the audio to match the video. The right offset depends on your setup and has to be found by testing.

Limits of this guide

This guide relies on Elgato's documented specifications for the original Facecam and Facecam Pro and on general USB webcam troubleshooting. It doesn't include hands-on testing or audio measurements. Port requirements and features can differ between Facecam models and software versions, so confirm details against the documentation for your model.