With the growing popularity of online meetings in recent years, having a working webcam has become essential. Whether for work or study, you'll almost certainly be required to use one. But what if your webcam stops working? This can happen with both built-in and external cameras. Fixing built-in webcams is more difficult than fixing external webcams, due to the large number of special treatments available for the latter. We offer you a perfect guide that will teach you how to fix it. Windows 11 webcam not working issue.
How to Fix Camera or Webcam Not Working in Windows 11
We will discuss hardware troubleshooting first and then move on to software troubleshooting to fix the said issue.
Method 1: Troubleshoot webcam connection (external cameras)
There's not much you can do with built-in webcams because all connections are hidden. When your webcam stops working, the first thing you should do is check the connections.
For Bluetooth cameras
- Establish a Bluetooth connection between your computer and your webcam if it isn't already.
- Turn on airplane mode for a few minutes before turning it off. Connect to your webcam now and see if it starts working.
- It is also recommended to remove the webcam from the Bluetooth settings and reconnect to it.
For USB cameras
- Check to see if the USB cables are damaged. Replace them and check again.
- Often, the problem is blamed on the USB port itself, which may be damaged or dead. In this scenario, plug it into a different USB port and see if that resolves the issue.
Method 2: Make sure the webcam is not covered.
Many users prefer to cover their webcams with a sticker or tape for privacy reasons. However, they often fail to remove it at the last minute. When the webcam is covered, the feed is replaced by a black screen, giving the impression that the webcam is not working. You'll be able to tell with a quick glance whether the lens is covered or not.
Method 3: Turn on the physical switch (if applicable)
A hardware switch can be found to enable or disable the webcam on many computers. Check to see if you have one on your camera. If there is a switch, make sure it's turned on to fix your webcam not working on Windows 11.
You can find more information about the same in the booklet or manual that came with it or on the manufacturer's website.
Method 11: Restart your Windows XNUMX computer
This is probably the most tried-and-true solution for most minor issues because it works like a charm. Your webcam issues can be resolved simply by restarting your computer. The operating system updates itself, eliminating any errors that may have caused the webcam to malfunction. This solution applies to both built-in and external webcams.
Method 5: Use Windows Troubleshooter
Windows provides several built-in troubleshooting tools for various devices, and the webcam happens to be one of them. Here's how to fix a webcam not working in Windows 11 by running the camera troubleshooter:
1. Press the keys Windows + I To open Settings Windows.
2. In the tab "the system" , scroll down and tap find the mistakes and resolve it , as shown.
3. Click Troubleshooters Other within Options.
4. Click “Run camera troubleshooting".
5. Click yes In the control prompt User account Allow the troubleshooter to run.
6A. You will either be asked to apply fixes As suggested by the troubleshooter.
6b. Or, no changes or Updates required / A message will be displayed that no problems were found.
Method 6: Allow camera access in privacy settings
Another common cause of webcam issues is incorrect settings. You may have intentionally or unintentionally disabled your webcam from the privacy settings at some point. Therefore, ensuring the correct camera privacy settings is recommended to fix the webcam not working issue on your Windows 10 computer:
1. Click on the icon Search And write settings Camera privacy.
2. Click open , as shown.
3. Turn on toggle switch Selected as Camera access and Allow apps to access the camera, also highlighted.
4. Scroll down to List of installed applications Find the app you're having problems with. Make sure it's running.
Method 7: Re-enable your webcam
Re-enabling your webcam is another effective solution for fixing webcam issues that aren't working on Windows 11 computers. It fixes many of the underlying issues that prevent your webcam from working. You can turn off or re-enable your camera via Device Manager, as follows:
1. Type, search, and run. Device Manager From a list START YOUR As shown below.
2. Here, scroll down to List of installed devices Double click on cameras.
3. Right-click on the driver. webcam (Such as HP TrueVision HD Camera) and click Disabled Device from context menu.
4. Click "Yeah" In the confirmation dialog box to disable it.
5. Right-click the camera driver again and click “Enable device”, as shown below.
Method 8: Update camera drivers via Device Manager
Hardware manufacturers regularly release driver updates to ensure proper device operation and efficient transmission of commands between the operating system and the installed device. Windows typically checks for and installs driver updates without requiring any user intervention. However, this may not always be the case. To fix the webcam not working issue in Windows 11, update your webcam driver as described below.
Method 8a: Automatic update
1. Go to Device Manager> Cameras As above.
2. Right-click on the camera driver (such as HP TrueVision HD Camera) and select Update Driver, as shown.
3. Click Search automatically About drivers in the Update Drivers window. Allow the update wizard to search for any Updates Available for driver for your webcam.
4 a. If the processor finds any Updates , it will install it automatically.
4b. Instead, you will be notified that it has already been installed. Best Drivers For your device. Click closing.
Method 8b: Manual update
Hardware manufacturers sometimes upload driver updates to their official websites instead of submitting them to Microsoft. If this is the case, you won't be able to download it through the Device Manager's automatic update. Instead, you'll have to manually search for it, download it, and install it to fix your webcam not working in Windows 11 or 10.
1. Download Updates Driver by searching for driver name and version Windows On the device manufacturer's website.
Note: Some popular programs are: Lenovo و Dell و Acer و HP Laptop camera drivers.
2. Go to Device Manager> Cameras> HP TrueVision HD Camera> Driver update wizard by following steps 1-3 of the previous method.
3. Click review My computer for drivers in window Software update Operation as described.
4. Click "review" Locate the downloaded drivers. Then, click Next , as shown.
5. Let Healer Installs files Operating system After Installation , Click closing.
Method 9: Update the driver via Windows Update settings
Here's how to fix a webcam not working on Windows 11 by updating drivers through Windows Update settings:
1. Click on the icon Search And type Settings.
2. Then click to open.
3. Click Windows Update in the right pane.
4. Click Advanced Options On the right side, as shown in the figure.
5. Click Optional updates Under additional options, as shown.
6. Check the boxes for the available drivers and click Download and install.
7. Click “Reboot nowTo restart your computer, if prompted.
Method 10: Update Windows
Updating Windows is always a good option to fix webcam issues, as bugs and errors often cause the problem. Follow the steps below to fix your Windows 11 webcam not working by updating your Windows operating system:
1. Press the keys Windows + I At the same time to open the menu Quick Link.
2. Click Windows Update in the right pane.
3. Click on the blue button “Check for updates".
4. If there is any Update Available, click on the option Download And the installation shown.
5. Allow the update to download and install. Restart your Windows computer. Windows 11 And try again.
We hope you found this article interesting and helpful on how to fix a webcam not working on Windows 11. Feel free to share your suggestions and questions in the comments section below. We'd love to hear what topics you'd like us to explore next.
