Fix Laptop Camera Not Working on Windows 10
Written by Rimvydas Iliavicius on
How to Fix Laptop Camera Not Working on Windows 10
Most modern laptops have built-in webcams, so they don't require separate devices. If your integrated laptop camera stopped working, read this article and find out how to fix it.
Webcams facilitate video conferencing, remote work, and social uses with friends and family. They are also useful tools for education, including distance learning, etc. For some people, webcams play a big part in their daily lives and, thus, it can be very frustrating when they stop working.
Why is My Laptop Camera Not Working?
The leading cause of this problem is outdated, faulty, or incompatible drivers. In this case, webcams do not respond, or associated applications display the error message, "We can't find or can't start your camera" (or similar).
Fortunately, you can solve this problem easily. In the guide below, we outline several solutions to get your laptop webcam up and running.
Video Showing How to Fix Laptop Camera Not Working on Windows 10
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Update Your Windows
- Run Windows Troubleshooter
- Re-enable Your Webcam
- Roll Back Webcam Drivers
- Update Webcam Drivers
- Reinstall Webcam Drivers
- Turn On Your Webcam Using Function Keys
- Video Showing How to Fix Integrated Webcam Not Working on Windows 10
Update Your Windows
First, try to update the current version of Windows. Checking for updates for the entire Windows operating system is usually a good idea and might help solve the webcam problem. To check for Windows Updates, type "check for updates" in Search and click the "Check for updates" result.
You should be automatically directed to the Windows Update section. Click "Check for updates". Windows will start checking for updates. If updates are available, install them and check for updates again (just to ensure that you have the latest updates on the operating system).
After installing updates, see if you still have problems opening and using your integrated (built-in) laptop webcam.
Run Windows Troubleshooter
Windows includes several troubleshooters designed to quickly diagnose and automatically resolve various computer problems.
Go to Settings, type "troubleshoot", and select "Troubleshoot" from the list to start troubleshooting.
Find "Hardware and Devices" under "Find and fix other problems", select it and click "Run the troubleshooter". The troubleshooting process will start. Follow the instructions and see if it finds and fixes any problems with the installed devices on the operating system, including the webcam.
Re-enable Your Webcam
Another method that might solve the webcam problem is to disable and re-enable it. Some users have reported that this simple trick solved the problem. To re-enable the webcam, type "device manager" in Search and click the "Device Manager" result.
You will see a list of devices connected to your computer. Find the webcam device under "Cameras", double click the "Cameras" section, and you will see the webcam device. Right-click it and select "Disable device" from the contextual menu. Then, right-click it again and select "Enable". See if this solves the problem with your laptop camera.
If you cannot find the webcam device under Cameras in the Device Manager list, look for the "Imaging devices" or "Sound, video and game controllers" section and expand it by double-clicking on it or clicking the arrow near it. Find "Integrated Camera" or other similar name and re-enable it by following the previously-mentioned steps.
Roll Back Webcam Drivers
Roll Back Driver is a Windows Device Manager feature that is available in all versions of Windows. This feature enables you to uninstall the currently-installed driver of a hardware device and then install the previous version.
This feature is typically used when newer drivers are not working properly. Note that the latest and updated drivers are usually better than previous versions and include specific improvements.
Despite this, updated drivers can actually cause problems rather than fix them. The Roll Back Driver feature enables you to simply uninstall the current driver and replace it with the previous version within a few mouse clicks.
To roll back your laptop's camera driver, access Device Manager. Find the webcam device under the "Cameras", "Imaging devices" or "Sound, video and game controllers" section and right-click it, select "Properties" from the contextual menu.
In the webcam properties window, go to the "Driver" tab, click the "Roll Back Driver" button, and follow the instructions. If the button is greyed out and you cannot click it, a previous driver version has not been installed for this device.
Update Webcam Drivers
If rolling back the webcam driver does not solve the problem, the problem might be caused by faulty or incorrect drivers. If the appropriate driver is not installed, the device might not function properly, if at all.
To update the drivers, go to Device Manager and find the webcam device under the "Cameras", "Imaging devices" or "Sound, video and game controllers" section and right-click it, and select "Update driver" from the contextual menu.
You will be asked if you want to search for updated driver software automatically or to browse the computer for driver software. If you select the first option, Windows will search the computer and the Internet for the latest driver software for your device.
If you select the second option, you must locate and install the drivers manually. Using this option requires having a previously downloaded driver on your computer or a USB flash drive.
Another way to update or install new drivers for devices is by using third-party software such as Snappy Driver Installer. You will need a computer with a working Internet connection to download it. Snappy Driver Installer (SDI) is a powerful free driver updater tool for Windows that can store its entire collection of drivers offline. You can download it from here.
Reinstall Webcam Drivers
If rolling back and updating webcam drivers does not solve the problem, try uninstalling and then reinstalling them. To do this, open Device Manager, find the webcam device under the "Cameras", "Imaging devices" or "Sound, video and game controllers" section and right-click it, and select "Uninstall device" from the contextual menu.
You will receive a warning stating that you are about to uninstall this device from your system. Mark the "Delete the driver software for this device" checkbox (if there is one) and click "Uninstall".
Then, restart the computer. Windows should automatically install the missing webcam drivers. If it does not, go to Device Manager and right-click the computer name, select "Scan for hardware changes". See if this solves the webcam problem.
Turn On Your Webcam Using Function Keys
A function key is a key on a computer or terminal keyboard that can be programmed to cause an operating system command interpreter or application program to perform specific actions. These function keys are those from F1 to F12 on the keyboard. Some F1-F12 keys include additional functionality when used in combination with the Fn key, which is usually located near Ctrl.
Some users have reported that using an Fn + F10 keyboard shortcut solved the problem. In these cases, the cameras were simply disabled - the keyboard shortcut was used to re-enable them. This solution works only on particular laptops. Try other Fn + F(any number) keyboard shortcuts to see if any turn on the webcam.
We hope that these solutions helped you fix your laptop camera not working. If you know of an alternative solution, please share it with us by leaving a comment in the section below.
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