16 Fixes: Laptop Camera Not Working On Windows

The laptop camera not working

All laptops have a built-in camera that is enough to handle your video calls. But things get frustrating if this little camera stops working. 

Want to know how to fix it? Use this guide to learn the possible causes and solutions.

What are the Causes of Your Laptop Camera Not Working?

  • The camera is disabled from the privacy settings.
  • The camera is turned off from a keyboard key or a physical switch on the laptop.
  • The video calling app or the camera app is buggy
  • Camera drivers are out of date or not supported
  • The camera protection or similar feature may be enabled on your antivirus
  • An application is already using the camera
  • A recent Windows update is causing camera issues
  • The camera is defective

How To Fix Your Laptop Camera Not Working on Windows 10/11?

  1. Look for a Physical Switch or a Keyboard Key
  2. Allow Your Camera App or the Video Calling App to Access the Camera
  3. Check If the Issue is with a Specific App
  4. Is Another Application Using the Camera?
  5. Use the Windows Get Help Troubleshooter
  6. Check If the Camera is Enabled on Device Manager
  7. Update Your Camera Drivers
  8. Uninstall Camera Drivers
  9. Roll Back Camera Drivers
  10. Use the UVC Driver
  11. Disable Camera Restrictions Applied by Your Antivirus
  12. Turn On the Camera from the Settings of Your laptop Manufacturer’s Software
  13. Remove a Recent Windows System Update
  14. Create Another User Account on Windows 
  15. Roll Back to an Earlier Build of Windows
  16. The Camera is Malfunctioning

1. Look for a Physical Switch or a Keyboard Key

Some laptops and tablets feature a physical switch for turning the camera on and off, While others have a camera cover. Moreover, some laptops have a keyboard key for activating and deactivating the camera.

1.1 Camera Switch

The camera switch is usually on the side of the laptop and goes in two ways. One has a camera icon with a slash, which means this position will disable the camera. 

When disabled, your device won’t recognize that it has a camera. Move the switch to the other side to turn on the camera.

1.2 Camera Cover

The switch for a camera cover is just above the built-in camera. It’s a thin bar-like switch. Moving it in one direction will cover the camera lens while sliding it in the other direction will make it visible.

A camera doesn’t disable the camera completely from your system. If you launch the camera app with the camera cover on your webcam, you won’t see a message that the camera is not found. 

Instead, you’ll see a black screen because of the cover on the lens.

1.3 Keyboard Key for Camera

Laptops have many keys to increasing brightness, decreasing brightness, controlling volume, enabling or disabling Wi-Fi, and other functions. With these keys, some laptops also have a function key for activating or deactivating the camera.

  • Find a camera icon on the function keys at the top row of your laptop’s keyboard. They are usually F6, F9, F8, or F10 keys.
  • When you find the key with the camera icon, press the key and check the camera.
  • Press that key with the Fn key if the camera isn’t enabled. For example, press Fn + F6 keys or Fn + F9 keys.

2. Allow Your Camera App or the Video Calling App to Access the Camera

For fixing camera problems on Windows, the first thing you should do is check the privacy settings. The camera app of Windows and any applications you install get camera permission access. 

But it’s possible that your video calling or camera app can’t access the camera or the camera access is disabled for all apps.

2.1 Change Camera Access Permissions on Windows 10

  • Open the Start menu and go to Settings.
  • Choose ‘Privacy’.
  • Select ‘Camera’ from the side panel.
  • Ensure that under ‘Allow access to the camera on this device,’ you see the text ‘Camera access for this device is on.’ If not, click the ‘Change’ button and enable camera access.
  • Now, in the section ‘Allow apps to access your camera,’ ensure the switch is on.
Allow apps to access your camera
  • Find the list of apps (built-in Microsoft apps and apps installed from the Microsoft Store) and enable or disable camera access to them with the toggle next to each app.
  • Scroll down further. You’ll find the switch enabling camera access for desktop apps (applications installed outside the Microsoft Store). Turn it on, and there is a list of desktop apps under it. You can enable or disable camera access to the apps individually.
Allow desktop apps to access your camera

2.2 Change Camera Permissions on Windows 11

  • Click the Start menu and launch Settings.
  • Choose ‘Privacy & security’.
  • Scroll down and select ‘Camera’ in the App permissions section.
  • Make sure that the switch for Camera access is on along with the app you’re trying to use.
Privacy & security
  • Similarly, check if the desktop apps are allowed to access the camera. If not, turn it on.

3. Check If the Issue is with a Specific App

The problem may be with only an individual app. Try these steps to fix Laptop Camera Not Working:

  • If your Camera app shows an error, open another app, such as Skype, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams, and check the camera. 
  • Similarly, open the Camera app if the issue is on another app.
  • If the camera works on the second app, the first app is buggy or can’t detect the camera. Check the app’s settings and update the app.
  • But if the issue persists on the second app, follow the solutions in this guide.

4. Is Another Application Using the Camera?

Typically, two apps can’t access the camera simultaneously. When one app already uses a camera, and you open another that requires camera access, it may show an error.

This is common for users who keep the Camera app open. When they use Skype or a similar app for a video call or meeting, the camera may not work. So, if your laptop camera is not working, close all the applications or restart your computer and try again.

5. Use the Windows Get Help Troubleshooter

Get Help is an online troubleshooter by Microsoft that helps you solve common problems. It has answers for everything. So, if you can’t figure out why your laptop camera is not working, launch Get Help with these steps:

  • Make sure you’re online.
  • Open the Start menu, type.’Get Help’, and open the app.
  • On its search bar, type.’camera not working‘.
  • It’ll start the camera troubleshooter. You’ll be asked a question by Get Help. When you answer it, it’ll perform the necessary actions and then ask the next questions until your problem is solved.

6. Check If the Camera is Enabled on Device Manager

It’s also possible to disable a camera from Device Manager. And if disabled, your computer won’t recognize the camera even when you have enabled your camera from the keyboard key and the privacy settings.

But this is rare because it is never disabled by default. To fix the laptop camera not working, follow the below steps to check the status of your camera on Device Manager:

  • Open the Start menu, type.’device manager‘, and launch it.
  • Double-click ‘Cameras’ or ‘Imaging devices’ to see your webcam listed.
  • Right-click your integrated webcam. If you see an ‘Enable device’ option, your camera is disabled. Enable it and try again. But your camera is already enabled if you see the ‘Disable device’ option. No action is needed.
Enable device

Note: If your laptop webcam is not listed, the camera is defective or not properly connected.

7. Update Your Camera Drivers

Your webcam device needs updated and correct drivers to work properly. When the drivers are corrupted or out of date, your laptop camera may not work and show errors when you launch the camera apps. So, update your webcam driver.

7.1 Update Camera Drivers from Device Manager

  • Click the Start menu, type.’device manager‘, and open the utility.
  • Double-click ‘Image devices’ or ‘Cameras.’
  • Right-click your laptop camera and choose ‘Update driver.’
Update driver
  • This will open a driver update wizard. Select ‘Search automatically for drivers.’
  • It will search for drivers online and install them.
  • If the drivers are updated, close it and open the camera app to check the webcam. If it doesn’t find any updates, perform the update from the Windows updater or move to Method 8.

7.2 Update Camera Drivers from Windows Update

  • Open the Start menu, type.’windows update‘ and open the app.
  • Click ‘Check for updates.’
  • Let it update and restart your PC after the updates.
  • Open Windows Update again and check for updates.
  • When it completes the update check, click ‘View optional updates.’
  • Select ‘Drive updates.’ Find camera update. Checkmark its box and click ‘Download and install.’

8. Uninstall Camera Drivers

The laptop camera is often not working due to corrupted drivers or incorrect driver settings. In this case, all you need to do is uninstall the driver. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver with default settings and stable files, which may fix the problem. Use these steps:

  • Click the Start menu, type.’device manager‘, and open the app.
  • Double-click ‘Imaging devices’ or ‘Cameras’ to see the list of cameras.
  • Right-click your webcam and choose ‘Uninstall device.’
  • Your camera will be removed from the list.
  • After a few seconds, click the ‘Scan for hardware changes’ icon (magnifying glass on a computer).
  • Go to ‘Imaging devices’ or ‘Cameras’ again. Your camera device will be installed.
  • Check your webcam by opening the Camera app.

9. Roll Back Camera Drivers

If your camera stops working after an update, the recent update may be incompatible with the camera device. You should remove that update. Use these steps to roll back camera driver updates.

  • Click the Start menu, type.’device manager‘, and open the utility.
  • Double-click ‘Imaging devices’ or ‘Cameras.’
  • Right-click your camera and select ‘Properties.’
  • Go to the ‘Driver’ tab.
  • Select ‘Roll Back Driver.’ (If the option is grayed, then it’s not available because the driver was never updated. Move to the next Solution.)
Roll Back Driver
  • After the completion of the rollback, restart your computer.

10. Use the UVC Driver

If you updated the camera driver, uninstalled and reinstalled it, and rolled back updates, but it’s not working, switch to the Windows default camera driver (UVC Drivers).

  • Click the Start menu, type.’device manager‘, and open the utility.
  • Double-click ‘Imaging devices’ or ‘Cameras.’
  • Right-click the integrated camera device and choose ‘Update driver.’
  • On the driver update wizard, select ‘Browse my computer for drivers.’
  • Then, choose ‘Let me pick from a list of available drivers…’.
Let me pick from a list of available drivers…
  • It’ll show available drivers. Select ‘USB Video Device’ and choose ‘Next.’
USB Video Device
  • The driver will be installed.
  • Reboot your computer.

11. Disable Camera Restrictions Applied by Your Antivirus

Antiviruses such as Kaspersky have privacy settings that block apps and desktop applications from accessing your camera. This is done to keep hackers from taking control of your camera.

So, check out the settings of your antivirus program. The following steps are for Kaspersky antivirus. These steps may vary depending on the version of the antivirus. 

If you have any other antivirus software, the steps will be different, but the procedure below will give you an idea of where to look.

  • Open your antivirus from the system tray icon on the taskbar.
  • When the antivirus program opens, select ‘Privacy Protection.’
  • Turn off ‘Webcam Protection.’

12. Turn On the Camera from the Settings of Your laptop Manufacturer’s Software

Many laptop manufacturers provide their official software for managing laptop settings. If your camera is disabled on that program, it won’t be accessible to any application.

This problem is common in Lenovo laptops as they have their software Lenovo Settings (now Lenovo Vantage). So, perform these steps if you own a Lenovo laptop.

  • Open the Start menu, type ‘Lenovo Settings’ or ‘Lenovo Vantage,’ and launch the app.
  • Go to ‘Hardware Settings’ or ‘My Device Settings’ to see the list of devices. Select the camera to look for an option to turn it on.

For other laptop brands, browse your laptop manufacturer’s software settings.

13. Remove a Recent Windows System Update

Windows updates are essential for the security and improvement of your computer. But some updates conflict with some devices and drivers. 

This results in some devices or features not working. If your camera was working fine before and the issue started after an update, remove the recent update with these steps:

  • Open the Start menu, type.’Windows update,’ and open the updater.
  • When the Windows Update window opens, select ‘View update history.’
  • On the next screen, select ‘Uninstall updates.’
Uninstall updates
  • A new window will appear that has all the Windows updates listed. They also have installed data next to them.
  • Right-click the most recent update and select ‘Uninstall.’
Uninstall
  • Restart your computer.

14. Create Another User Account on Windows 

User accounts on Windows save all the settings of the account. If any of those settings are corrupted, some devices or features won’t work properly. This could be the reason why your laptop camera is not working.

Create a new user profile and check the camera from the new account.

  • Open the Start menu and go to Settings.
  • Navigate to Accounts > Family & other users.
  • Choose ‘Add someone else to this PC’ (Windows 10) or ‘Add account’ (Windows 11).
Add someone else to this PC
  • We’re creating a local account, so on the next screen, select ‘I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.’
I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
  • Select ‘Add a user without a Microsoft Account on the next screen.’
Add a user without a Microsoft Account on the next screen
  • Now you can enter details for a local account. Name the account and create a password.
  • Once the account is created, click the account and select ‘Change account type.’
Change account type
  • Make this account an ‘administrator.’
  • Sign out from your primary account and log in to the new account.
  • Use any camera app. If the camera doesn’t work, delete the new account and go to the next solution in this guide. But if the camera starts working, your primary account’s camera settings are the culprit. Follow the below steps:
  • Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users from the new account.
  • Select your primary account, and choose ‘Change account type.’
  • Under ‘Account type,’ on the new window, choose ‘Standard users.’
  • Restart your computer.
  • Sign in with the new account and change the account type of your primary account to ‘Administrator.’
  • Log in to the primary account and check the camera.
  • Moreover, you can also choose to migrate to your new account.

15. Roll Back to an Earlier Build of Windows

Microsoft rolls out builds of Windows that are different from updates. A build contains many improvements and changes. If your camera stopped working after installing a new Windows build, roll back to the previous build.

Going to the previous build is not recommended unless Microsoft publishes a press release and tells users to roll back. So, before performing this method, apply the methods mentioned in this guide. Because they may fix the problem without you having to roll back to an earlier Windows build.

  • Open the Start menu and go to Settings.
  • Head to ‘Windows & Security.’
  • Choose ‘Recovery.’
  • Find the option ‘Roll back to the previous version of Windows 10’ and click the button ‘Go back.’ If you can’t find the option, you don’t have any new Windows build installed, so Windows can’t roll back to an earlier build.
  • After pressing the ‘Go back’ button, another wizard will open. It’ll ask why you are going back to the previous build. Choose any reason from the list and select ‘Next.’
  • Follow the on-screen instructions.

On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Recovery.

16. The Camera is Malfunctioning

If you tried all the above fixes and the camera is not working, your laptop camera may be defective. In some cases, the issue is simply a detached switch of the camera. 

This happens if your laptop was repaired or opened recently or the laptop fell on the ground. You can try to open the screen and cover yourself to check the camera or go to a maintenance specialist. However, if you don’t want to fix it and need a better camera, simply get an external webcam.

Conclusion

The laptop camera not working issue on Windows is typically due to disabled camera access permissions. Always follow all the solutions to fix your in-build laptop camera or consider getting a USB webcam.

FAQs

How Do I Enable My Camera On My HP Laptop?

Some HP laptops have a webcam switch or a keyboard key for enabling or disabling the camera. Check the sides of your laptop to find a switch. Change the switch location to turn the camera on or off. Similarly, look for a camera key on the top row of your laptop’s keyboard. Press it to enable or disable the webcam.

Why Is My Built-In Camera Not Working On My Laptop?

– Your laptop may have a switch or key that may have disabled the camera.
– The camera is disabled from the privacy settings on Windows.
– The app you’re using doesn’t have camera access permission.
– The app you’re using has incorrect camera settings.
– Your camera drivers are outdated or incompatible.
– The camera is disabled from Device Manager.

How Do I Enable My Webcam On Windows?

To enable your webcam on Windows, follow the below steps:
– Go to Settings > Privacy > Camera.
– Turn on the toggle to let apps access the camera.
– Scroll down and turn on camera access for desktop apps.

How Do I Reinstall My Webcam Driver, Windows 11?

Open the Start menu, type.’device manager,’ and launch the app.
– Double-click ‘Imaging devices’ or ‘Cameras.’
– Right-click your camera and choose ‘Uninstall.’
– Under the menu bar, click the ‘scan for hardware changes’ icon (magnifying glass on a computer).
– The camera drivers will be reinstalled automatically.