Hardware Access Error - Messenger - Webcam and Mic

I had this same issue. The root of the problem seems to be your (by your I mean you the reader in general and not just the O.P.) system having multiple devices that fall under camera/microphone. For example someone here mentioned having a bluetooth device with a microphone that they removed as having solved the issue for them.

In my case, under device manager I have two devices under cameras: the regular camera and an IR camera/sensor. After disabling the IR camera I stopped receiving the error.

So with that being said the solution I would suggest if none of the other suggested solutions worked for you is to check to see if you have more than one camera and/or mic sensor, then try disabling whichever ones you don't need.

Something to point out though, this issue only occurred on Messenger with Chrome. Messenger worked fine in Edge and and a a call in the web version of Skype worked fine on Chrome. I didn't try other browsers but based on that it seems that the issue is specific to Messenger on Chrome (or perhaps Chromium based browsers).

Thank you so much! Disabling the IR camera didn't immediately solve the problem - but it led me to notice that Messenger was auto selecting a certain camera from the options within Chrome itself. The camera and microphone drop down menu within the Messenger call was unselectable, so I couldn't change the camera Messenger was attempting to access - so I looked in the Chrome settings, and, alas, a camera option by the same name was there. By activating that camera option (instead of the normal camera that was selected previously) and restarting the browser, everything is working now!

Interestingly, now, in the Chrome settings, there is only one camera option, just the normal camera (which was selected before...). So I don't have any record of what I changed it to to fix the problem, unfortunately.

Thanks very much for your help. Now I can delete the Messenger app from my computer... which I'm not a huge fan of!

I found a  permanent fix for the hardware access error.Hp tech rep told me to try the Microsoft app store for both Facebook desktop app and messenger app.Both worked with no problem.Problem is solved.She said that Facebooks desktop site has been crashing lately.So they  went with  applications instead.I guess Both Facebook and Microsoft got tired of messing with the website and went with apps to solve the problem and hardware access error.It took me  me over  almost 2 years to find a solution.Everyone please call hp to thank them for suggesting other options.Desktop version sucks.Go with the appliciation.We might have to get use changes from on.It sucks to get use to apps.It's the only way it works.At least our lap tops aren't worthless. Also before you get mad for me.It does work so you have to follow the privacy options and facebook app and messneger cam and mic are off.You have to turn it on for the app to work for the video calls.Please inform other webs,forums of this solution.

I am having this same issue. My FB comes up with two devices, one is the HP camera and the other is AV Stream Media Device.  I don't know how to get rid of that!

Please help me!

AlexKh_834 so the CorekVideo maker was the problem to the video call being blocked.So it read Corel video maker as a software driver.The 2nd driver showing up in the Camera section with Hp Camera is a Hp IR camera.I Uninstalled the device and i exited device manager to open up Google chrome and dialed out to a friend of mine.It started calling my friend Alicia.When i restart Windows it will scan for new hardware.The  device starts messing up again.It may not be a software issue.I'm thinking more hardware conflict which might be a defect or  not a sure if it is a defect.Just figuring out the problem and trying to debate if it is a hardware hardware camera.The Hp Camera dial outs with  only certain browsers.Opera has issues too.Other browsers work fine.I can take  a desktop image of the problem to show.Maybe you could help me out dude.You seem to know more about these issues than me.