Audio disabled in Windows 11 when plugging webcam

Anonymous
2023-09-07T10:40:27+00:00

Hello everyone,

Each time I plug my webcam, all audio gets disabled on Windows 11. I had a Logitech C920 and bought a Creative LiveCam to see if the problem would persist and it does, so it must be Windows related.

The only fix for now is to go under device manager, scroll down to "Sound, video and game controllers" disable device there and wait for 30 seconds or so. The issue is that it also disables the built-in webcam microphone, which can then not be used anymore for my Teams calls.

This is a major issue for me as I use this for work. I hope Windows can find a solution to this issue.

Thanks for your help!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2023-10-10T16:05:13+00:00

after many days of banging my head against a wall I found a fix online... I wish I remembered where so they could get the credit.

While logged in with admin permissions:

plug in the webcam, you'll see the speakers disable and you have no sound

open services 'as administrator'

go to windows audio and double click it to open

go to the login tab

switch it to log on as Local System account radio button at the top, hit apply

restart the windows audio service

now you have the right icon but still no sound

go to Windows Settings > Sound

scroll down to input devices, find your webcam and select it

scroll to the sound enhancements section and turn it off

close the settings window

go back to services

open the windows audio service again

go to the login tab

select This account

click browse

click advanced at the bottom

click find now on the right

select the LOCAL SERVICE account, click ok

The password fields need to be blank.. delete the ******** entries

click apply

restart the windows audio service

Sound is back and working

This was all done with a Logitech C920 webcam.

So far this change has stayed in place with no issues.. I haven't tested to see what happens if I connect a different type of webcam or if a future Windows update will break it again.

Very hard to find a way to handle this through gpo... if anybody has insight on how to implement that I'd be interested.

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

67 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-06-16T18:45:52+00:00

    I have the same logictech C920 webcam and this fix worked for me.

    I would have never figured how to fix this without this article.

    Thanks!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-04T13:08:28+00:00

    did you right click the service and select restart?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2025-06-03T23:54:13+00:00

    I get all the way to the end of your instructions to the step "The password fields need to be blank.. delete the ******** entries > click apply", but then I keep getting this message after I click apply: "the new logon name will not take effect until you stop and restart the service". It doesn't save the changes with the ****** password deleted. The password reappears and the audio still doesn't work. Any suggestions?

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2025-05-02T19:25:25+00:00

    Thnx, helped me out of this problem

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments