A webcam has many applications ranging from taking photos to making video calls on Skype or other live video applications. Unfortunately, your camera may stop working at a time you need it most. Webcam issues may result from a number of reasons including Windows 10 app permission settings, hardware fault, or even driver software among others. If you are having problems with your webcam, this article will show you various ways of fixing the problem in Windows 10.
Webcam Quick Fixes
Like any other hardware problem, webcam issues can be resolved with basic troubleshooting. Before you try other solutions, first try the following:
- Restart your PC in case you are experiencing the camera problem for the first time.
- If you are using an external webcam, check that the device is connected properly. You may try to change the port or test the device on a different computer.
If the above didn’t solve the problem, you can try the options below.
#1: Allows Apps
The Windows 10 privacy feature allows users to allow which apps have access to the webcam. The webcam will not work, if the app in question is blocked from using the device. To fix this problem, you need to check the apps permission status in the privacy settings and allow access to the camera.
- Press the “Win + I” keys to open the settings app and go to “Privacy” settings.
- Under the “App permission” sections on the left pane, select “Camera” permissions.
- At the top of the camera permissions window, ensure that the camera access for the device is on. If the option is off, click the “Change” button and toggle the switch to turn it on.
- Similarly, ensure that the allow app access is switched on and turn it on if otherwise.
- Below this option, you can selectively allow/deny certain apps from access the camera by turning on/off the switch beside the app. Confirm that the camera app and the app trying to use the webcam are on. Click the switch to turn it on or off.
#2: Check and Fix Webcam Drivers
Your webcam requires proper working drivers to function correctly, and a problem with the device drivers could be the cause of the frustrating issue.
- Open the Device Manager by pressing the “Win + X” keys on your keyboard and click “Device manager” from the menu items.
- Expand the “Imaging devices”, and if you see a yellow exclamation mark next to your webcam driver, it means that the drivers are the root of the problem.
Update Webcam Driver
- Double click the device to open the properties window and switch to the “Driver” tab.
- To update the device, click on the “Update Driver” button.
- Choose to install the drivers manually (If you have downloaded the latest driver updates to your PC) or allow Windows to search for updates and install them automatically.
- Updating your Windows 10 OS could also work as it updates the various system features including the drivers.
Uninstall and Reinstall Webcam Drivers
- First, you need to visit the device manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of the drivers and store them on your computer.
- Click the “Uninstall Device” button and confirm the action by clicking the “Uninstall” button on the prompt that appears.
- Then reinstall the drivers you downloaded manually from your computer storage. You can also uninstall the device and restart the PC, and Windows will reinstall the device automatically.
Roll Back the Drivers to a Previous Working Version
Some users experience the webcam problem after updating the OS or the drivers. In such a situation, restoring the drivers to the previous state could fix the issue.
- To restore the drivers to an earlier version, click the “Roll Back Driver” button and wait for Windows to uninstall the latest updates.
#3: Check Security Software Settings
Sometimes antivirus software settings could be causing the webcam problems. To fix the issue:
- Go to your antivirus configurations and look for the webcam protection settings. If enabled, disable the feature and check if the webcam works.
- If you cannot locate the feature, you can try to disable the antivirus software and see if this resolves the issue.
#4: Replace Your Webcam
If none of the available solutions solves the issues, it is likely that the webcam is broken and you need to replace it. Contact your device manufacturer to ensure that you purchase a camera that is compatible with your PC.
Summary
If your PC webcam is not working in Windows 10, there are a host of possible causes of the problem. The above steps help you to troubleshoot webcam issues to identify the cause and resolve the problem. The best approach is to try one solution at a time until you find the fix.
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