📷 Fix Camera Not Working in Windows 11 or Windows 10: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Webcams have become essential for work, study, and communication. Whether you’re attending online meetings, streaming, or making video calls with family, having a working camera is a must. But what happens when suddenly your camera stops working on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC?

You might see error codes, a black screen, or applications like Zoom, Teams, or Meet may fail to detect your camera. Sometimes, the error message simply says “Camera not found” or “Your camera is being used by another application”.

📷 Fix Camera Not Working in Windows 11 or Windows 10: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

In this article, we will go through all the possible reasons behind this issue and show you step-by-step methods to fix it. These steps progress from simple fixes to advanced troubleshooting, so follow them in order.

1. Common Reasons Why Your Camera Stops Working

Before jumping into solutions, it helps to understand why this issue happens. Here are the most common causes:

Camera access disabled in Windows privacy settings.
Outdated, missing, or corrupted camera drivers.
Conflicts with other apps using the camera.
Incorrect BIOS or chipset drivers from the manufacturer.
Outdated Windows build with known bugs.
Corrupted system files.
Finally, a hardware failure in the camera module itself.

Now that we know the possible culprits, let’s move into fixing them one by one.

2. Check and Enable Camera Privacy Settings

Windows 10 and 11 come with strong privacy features that allow you to control which apps can access your camera. If this setting is turned off, your camera will never work.

Here’s how you can check it:

Click on the Start Menu and open Settings (Windows + I).
Navigate to Privacy & Security.
Scroll down and click Camera.
Ensure that Camera Access is turned ON.
- If it’s OFF, turn it ON.
- If it’s already ON, try toggling it OFF and then ON again.
Scroll further and check which apps have access to your camera.
- For example, make sure Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or your browser has permission.

👉 Many users find their issue solved immediately after re-enabling this setting. If not, let’s move to the next step.

3. Use Device Manager to Detect, Enable, and Update Camera Drivers

If the privacy settings didn’t fix it, the next thing to check is Device Manager. Sometimes the camera driver gets corrupted, disabled, or not recognized at all.

Steps:

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
Look for Cameras in the device list.
- If you see your webcam listed, right-click on it.
Choose Disable device, wait 5 seconds, and then choose Enable device again.
Right-click again and select Update driver → Search automatically for drivers.
If Windows finds a newer driver, it will install it automatically.

👉 If your camera isn’t listed at all, don’t worry—we’ll handle that in the next section.

4. Show Hidden Devices and Scan for Hardware Changes

Sometimes, the camera won’t appear in Device Manager because Windows has hidden it due to driver corruption or hardware misdetection.

Steps to check hidden devices:

In Device Manager, click View in the menu bar.
Select Show Hidden Devices.
If the camera shows up in gray, right-click and enable it.
If still missing, click on your computer name at the top of Device Manager.
Then click Action → Scan for hardware changes.

This forces Windows to re-detect connected hardware. If the camera reappears, repeat the steps to update or reinstall the driver.

5. Update BIOS or Manufacturer Drivers

If Device Manager doesn’t bring back the camera, the issue may be with your system’s BIOS or manufacturer drivers. Every laptop brand—HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer—has its own support page for drivers.

Find Your System Model

Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter.
Note your System Model and System Type.
Alternatively, check the sticker on the bottom of your laptop for the serial number.

Download Drivers

Go to your manufacturer’s official driver page:
Enter your model number or let the site auto-detect your laptop.
Download the latest BIOS update and chipset/camera drivers.
Connect your charger before installing a BIOS update (very important).
Restart your PC after installation.

Many users report their webcam starting to work again after a BIOS update because it reinitializes hardware detection.

6. Keep Windows Up to Date

An outdated version of Windows can sometimes cause webcam issues due to unresolved bugs.

Open Settings → Windows Update.
Click Check for Updates.
Install any pending updates and restart your PC.

Microsoft frequently pushes patches that fix hardware issues, so this is an important step.

7. Run System File Checker (SFC) for Corrupt Files

If your operating system files are corrupted, it could prevent the camera from functioning. Windows has a built-in tool called System File Checker (SFC).

Steps:

Search CMD in Start Menu, right-click, and select Run as Administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

Wait for the scan to finish. If any corrupted files are found, Windows will automatically repair them.
Restart your PC and check if the camera works.

8. Reset Windows as a Last Resort

If none of the above methods worked, you may need to reset your PC. This reinstalls Windows and often fixes stubborn issues.

Steps:

Open Settings → Recovery.
Under Reset this PC, click Get Started.
Choose one of the following:
- Keep my files (keeps personal files but removes apps).
- Remove everything (clean reset).
Choose Cloud download for the latest drivers directly from Microsoft.
Follow the instructions to complete the reset.

💡 Before resetting, make sure to back up your files, especially from the C drive.

9. When It’s a Hardware Problem

If even after resetting Windows the camera still doesn’t work, it’s likely a hardware failure. At this point, the only solution is to:

Replace the internal webcam through your laptop’s service center.
Or use an external USB webcam as a reliable alternative.

10. FAQs About Camera Issues in Windows

Q1. Why does my laptop camera randomly stop working?
It could be due to driver conflicts, Windows privacy settings, or a recent update.

Q2. Can antivirus or security software block my camera?
Yes. Some antivirus software includes privacy protection that disables camera access. Check your antivirus settings.

Q3. Is updating BIOS risky?
If done incorrectly, yes. Always ensure your laptop is charged and you’re using the official BIOS file from the manufacturer.

Q4. Can malware disable my camera?
Yes, certain malware can hijack or disable cameras. Running a full antivirus scan is always recommended.

Q5. Should I use third-party driver updater tools?
It’s safer to download drivers from the official manufacturer website rather than using unknown third-party tools.

11. Final Thoughts

When your Windows 10 or 11 camera stops working, it can be frustrating, especially if you rely on it for work or school. But in most cases, the problem is software-related and can be fixed by following the steps above:

Check privacy settings.
Enable and update the driver.
Show hidden devices and rescan.
Update BIOS and manufacturer drivers.
Keep Windows updated.
Run SFC for corrupt files.
Reset Windows if necessary.

And only if all else fails, consider it a hardware issue. A reliable camera is key in today’s digital-first world, so it’s worth investing the time to troubleshoot properly.

Disclaimer

This guide is provided for educational purposes. Performing BIOS updates, driver installations, or system resets carries some risk. Always back up important files before making major changes to your system.

Hashtags

#Windows11 #Windows10 #Webcam #Troubleshooting #CameraFix #TechGuide #MicrosoftWindows

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Sneha Rao

Sneha is a hardware reviewer and technology journalist. She has reviewed laptops and desktops for over 6 years, focusing on performance, design, and user experience. Previously working with a consumer tech magazine, she now brings her expertise to in-depth product reviews and comparisons.

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