Audio disabled in Windows 11 when plugging webcam

Anonymous

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!

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Anonymous

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.

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67 additional answers

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?
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Anonymous

2024-06-05T18:24:38+00:00

Need an option that does NOT require Administrator access... my office has that access restricted.
Tried to put this on the shoulders of the helpdesk... no dice.
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Anonymous

2023-09-07T15:03:35+00:00

Thank you, I did this but it didn't change things. I wonder if the driver from the webcam audio controller is the problem, I should maybe try to downgrade to an older one. I will try this and let you know if it solves the problem or not.
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Ferdinand Nanalig 32,965 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2023-09-07T11:20:23+00:00

Hi, I am an Independent Advisor.

Please go to the Device Manager then remove all Audio devices under Sound, video, and game controllers, make sure to tick the box to delete the device driver then reboot. If you installed the driver for the webcam please uninstall and reinstall it.
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