One of the most common system errors that people encounter when trying to start using a camera or microphone.
The "hardware error has occurred" message typically appears when your browser or app cannot access your camera or microphone. Here are the most common causes and solutions.
Common causes
Most webcams can only be used by one application at a time. If another app is using your camera, you'll see this error.
Solution:
Close other apps that might be using the camera (Zoom, Teams, Skype, etc.)
Check for video calling apps running in the background
Look for the camera indicator light — if it's on, something is using it
Tip: If you can't find which app is using your device, use Windows Process Explorer to identify and close it.
Even if you've allowed access in your browser, Windows privacy settings might still be blocking the device.