Laptop Camera Not Working? Here Are 5 Fixes You Can Try
Many of us depend on our laptops for professional work and leisure activities, so any issues with them can be highly frustrating. One such common problem is the laptop camera not working, and is acommon Windows issuethat can disrupt important meetings, virtual classes, or catching up with loved ones.
Various factors, both software-based and hardware-based, could lead to this issue. If there are no hardware malfunctions, an outdated, missing, or corrupted camera driver is usually the culprit. If your OS has been outdated for a long time, it can also result in the webcam not working. Other than that, theprivacy settings within the systemor the app you are using can also prevent the camera from turning on. The security programs installed on your system, such asantivirusor firewall, can also disrupt the normal working of the camera. An insecure website or insecure Wi-Fi could possibly cause malware entering your laptop and perhaps preventing the webcam from turning on.
Solving the webcam issue on a laptop is generally easier than it seems, especially if it’s software-related. We’ll provide you with some working ways to do so with step-by-step instructions. The methods listed in this guide are performed on Windows 11, but all will work on Windows 10 — albeit with slightly different steps.
Preliminary checks
Before implementing some complex fixes, first go through some preliminary checks. Start with checking the physical switch that covers the webcam, if there is one. Some laptops (especially Lenovo’s) have a privacy switch that turns the webcam on or off on the hardware level. Ensure that it’s turned on — it’s generally located just above the camera lens.
Next, thoroughly inspect thecamera lensfor any visible damage or obstruction. Over time, dust can accumulate on the lens, or it can get scratched by contact. Try gently cleaning the lens with a soft cloth. Sometimes, the security apps on your laptop can block camera access due to unknown apps asking for access. If you trust the application, go to your security program’s settings and lift the webcam block.
In case you are using anexternal webcamon your laptop, check its compatibility with the laptop and the operating system you are using. Also, ensure that it’s properly connected and that there’s no damage to the cable or the USB port.
Allow camera access from the settings
It might be possible that the camera access is accidentally turned off from the Windows settings. To check it and turn it on, follow these steps:
If Camera access is on and the laptop camera is still not working, it might be that the app on which you are trying to access the camera is restricted. To allow access:
This would enable the camera access for that app, and hopefully, the problem will be solved.
Run camera and hardware troubleshooters
Windows 10 and 11 have built-in troubleshooters that can help solve various Windows issues, including the camera not working.
Here are the steps to run the camera troubleshooter on Windows 11:
If the camera troubleshooter couldn’t solve the issue, try running the hardware troubleshooter to check for any hardware faults. Follow these steps:
After running these two troubleshooters, the problem should be fixed; if not, follow the next methods.
Roll back, update, or re-install the camera driver
A corrupted or outdated camera driver can fail to connect the webcam to the operating system. To fix it, you can first try to roll back your driver if the error starts occurring after a recent Windows update.
If the roll back didn’t work or the Roll Back Driver button is greyed out, tryupdating the driverinstead. Here are the steps for that:
If the problem persists, maybe freshly installing the driver will help. Here is how to re-install the camera driver:
If Windows didn’t install the driver automatically, check for a Windows update or manually install the driver after downloading it from the manufacturer’s website.
Update Windows and applications
Windows Updates not only brings new features and enhancements to the OS, but it also contains driver updates. If you haven’t updated Windows for a long time, your laptop camera might become incompatible and stop working.
Here is how to update Windows 11:
Other than updating the Windows OS, it is also essential to keep your applications updated. If you try to access the camera with an outdated application, it might create a compatibility issue. So, ensure that your applications are updated. Either check for updates from the internal app settings or download the latest version from the Microsoft Store or the official website.
