Camera of laptop

Ranvijay Rathore 0 Reputation points
2026-09-15T01:04:06.6233333+00:00

Seems my laptop camera isn't working at all. I tried fixing it through my camera settings. No luck

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. EmilyS726 267.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-15T01:38:10.06+00:00

    If you open the Camera app, what does it say? Any error message? Or is it just a black screen? Any additional information would be helpful if you don't mind.

    Most camera issues can be due to a physical privacy cover covering the lens. Make sure that's not the case.

    Otherwise there is usually a physical button/key/switch you can use to turn the camera on or off. For example, most Lenovo uses F8 or Fn+F8, or a switch above the lens, HP has a camera key or a button on the side of the laptop, MSI uses F6 or Fn+F6, etc.

    If you are not sure, tell me what the camera app says/shows, and then please hold down Windows + R keys, type in msinfo32.exe and hit enter. Then share a screenshot of the System Information window. Thanks!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

  2. AI answer

    2026-09-15T01:04:20.82+00:00

    Try this order on Windows 11:

    1. Run the automated camera troubleshooter in Get Help. It can run diagnostics and fix many camera problems automatically.
    2. Check camera privacy settings:
      • Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
      • Make sure Camera access is On.
      • Make sure Let apps access your camera is On.
    3. Check whether the camera is disabled in Windows:
      • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras.
      • If the camera appears under Disabled cameras, select it and choose Enable.
      • Administrator access is required to enable a camera.
    4. If the camera appears under Connected cameras, open it and select Troubleshoot to launch Get Help for camera diagnostics.
    5. Check Device Manager:
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Cameras.
      • If the camera is listed, uninstall it from the Driver tab using Uninstall Device, then restart the laptop so Windows reinstalls it.
      • Warning: do not do this on Surface Pro X. On that device, uninstalling camera drivers can require a full system reset to restore them.
    6. If the camera works only sometimes or is detected intermittently:
      • Open Settings.
      • Go to your camera settings.
      • Open Advanced camera options.
      • Turn on Basic camera driver mode.
      • Restart the app being used and test again.
    7. Also check for a physical camera shutter, privacy slider, or camera privacy key on the laptop. If privacy mode is enabled, Windows apps can appear to have a broken camera even when permissions are correct.

    If the camera does not appear in Bluetooth & devices > Cameras or Device Manager, Windows may not be detecting the hardware.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.