(LENOVO) Camera locked on Windows 11 (Camera app and other apps that use the camera)

Anonymous
2022-01-03T21:46:25+00:00

EDIT: I ended up fixing it. I don't know if it was an actual OS system issue or just a manufacturer issue (I suspect the second), but I was able to activate the camera disabling a "Privacy Mode" that was somehow enabled in a manufacturer built-in app (laptop is a Lenovo, app is Lenovo Vintage) despite the Privacy settings disabled in the OS settings.

Hi everyone:

I was about to start a meeting and my camera (the one that's part of my laptop) wouldn't work in the meeting platform, but then I realized not even the Windows camera app was working, showing me the attached image. I tried rolling back the driver, uninstalling driver and scanning for hardware changes, rebooting, shutting down, and nothing. It was working fine the last time I used it, around a week ago, and I don't remember doing any changes or installing anything since then.

I would thank you for any guidance on how to proceed to get my camera working (I have an USB one but it's a bit of a hassle)

Thanks in advance.

J.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2022-02-21T05:39:14+00:00

Lenovo Vantage setting was also overriding the Win 11 camera setting for me. Thanks for posting the edit to point to that as an issue.

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-01-05T20:55:53+00:00

    Attaching the requested screenshots. Also, I haven't been able to get my USB cameras to work either, so maybe it's something a bit bigger than just the built-in camera.

    Thanks in advance.

    J.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-01-05T21:12:47+00:00

    How the USB camera has the same problem, restoring Windows to a previous point should fix this problem.

    1-Restart your computer while holding the SHIFT button

    2-The Advanced Startup menu will open on the boot.

    3-Go to Troubleshoot.

    4-Now, go to Advanced Options >System Restore

    5-Select a date before the problem starts and click to restore.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-01-15T13:37:02+00:00

    I ended up fixing it and did not get to try this, but thank you very much for all the help. (It looks like a manufacturer built-in app had somehow activated an extra layer of privacy protection)

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-02-21T23:04:13+00:00

    Great, glad to hear that !!

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