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Snap Camera Not Working? It’s No Longer Available: How to Uninstall It and Fix Your Webcam

Snapchat says Snap Camera is no longer available as a standalone desktop app. Our tip: if it’s still installed, it may still be selected as your camera in video calls. Here’s how to remove it and switch back to your normal camera.

Reviewed 3 min read 2 fixes App errors & performance

Quick answer

Quit Snap Camera first (Mac: its icon in the menu bar > Quit; Windows: the arrow at the bottom right > right-click Snap Camera > Quit). Then uninstall it: on Mac, move it from Applications to the Trash; on Windows, run Uninstall Snap Camera from the Start menu. Restart your computer, and in your video app’s settings, change the camera from Snap Camera to your normal webcam. To keep using Lenses, Snapchat points to its Snapchat Camera for Chrome extension or Snapchat for Web.

What do you need?

Does this match what you see?

  • Snap Camera is no longer available.
  • You can’t uninstall Snap Camera because it’s still running.
  • Video calls still use Snap Camera instead of your webcam.

Computer (browser)

For Mac and Windows computers. Based on Snapchat Support “Snap Camera” and “How do I install the Snapchat Camera for Chrome extension?” (supplied by the site owner).

Why this happens: the possible causes

Why Snap Camera causes problems.

Problem and fix
ProblemFix
Snap Camera is no longer availableUse the alternatives
Can’t uninstallQuit it first
Calls still use Snap CameraSwitch camera source
  • Snap Camera is no longer availableCheck this first

    Snapchat says it’s no longer available as a standalone app.

  • It’s still running in the backgroundCheck this first

    Snapchat says that if Snap Camera is still running, you need to quit it before you can uninstall it.

  • It’s still set as your cameraPossible

    Snapchat says to switch the camera source to your default camera.

Try these 60-second checks first

  • Quit Snap Camera before uninstalling it.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Fix 1: Quit Snap Camera

Safe & reversible1 minComputer (browser)

Snapchat says if your computer says Snap Camera is still running, you need to close it before uninstalling.

  1. Mac: click the Snap Camera icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen, then Quit.
  2. Windows: click the arrow at the bottom right of your screen, right-click the Snap Camera icon, then Quit.

Did it work? Snap Camera is closed.

Fix 2: Uninstall Snap Camera

Safe & reversible3 minComputer (browser)

These are Snapchat’s uninstall steps.

  1. Mac: open Applications in Finder, right-click Snap Camera and choose Move to Trash. Enter your Mac’s password if asked.
  2. Windows: find Uninstall Snap Camera in the Start menu and run it. Click Yes and follow the steps.
  3. Restart your computer.

Did it work? Snap Camera is gone from your computer.

Switch your video calls back to your webcam

Snapchat says to go to your video app’s video settings and change the camera from Snap Camera to your default camera. In Chrome: Settings > search for Camera > Site settings > Camera (under Permissions), and choose your normal camera.

Still want Lenses on your computer?

Snapchat says you can install the Snapchat Camera for Chrome extension to use Lenses on website video feeds, or use Lenses with Snapchat for Web (external site, opens in a new tab).

  1. Install the Snapchat Camera for Chrome (external site, opens in a new tab) extension from the Chrome Web Store (Snapchat calls it a public preview).
  2. Sign in with your Snapchat account.
  3. In the web app’s camera settings (in Chrome), choose Snapchat Camera.
  4. Click the Snapchat Camera extension icon to open its pane, then pick a Lens.

How to know it worked

  • Snap Camera is uninstalled and your video calls use your normal webcam.

Still not working? Your next steps

  1. Problems with the Snapchat app itself? See Snapchat not working.

Official help routes

SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.

Frequently asked questions

Is Snap Camera discontinued?

Snapchat says Snap Camera is no longer available as a standalone app.

Why can’t I uninstall Snap Camera?

Snapchat says that if Snap Camera is still running, you need to quit it before you can uninstall it. Quit it from the menu bar (Mac) or the system tray arrow (Windows), then uninstall.

What replaced Snap Camera?

Snapchat points to its Snapchat Camera for Chrome extension and Snapchat for Web for using Lenses on a computer.

Sources and how we checked this guide

We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.

  1. Snap Camera (external site, opens in a new tab)Snapchat Support · checked 21 October 2026
  2. How do I install the Snapchat Camera for Chrome extension? (external site, opens in a new tab)Snapchat Support · checked 21 October 2026

Last reviewed 29 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 29 April 2027. How we write and review guides.

What changed
  • 29 October 2026: First published.

SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Snap Inc.. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.