Windows 10 is one of the most diverse operating systems when it comes to supporting various devices and accessories that you can connect to the PCs running on it. Unlike the previous versions, with Windows 10 you do not need to install drivers separately for most of the devices, as the accessories supporting Windows 10 support plug and play.
However, there have been reports of some cases where devices fail to work normally on a computer. One such error is when the webcam doesn’t work on computers. Users have complained that either the webcam is not detected at all, or in some applications like Skype webcam not working.
Let us take a look at how you can troubleshoot and fix webcam in Windows 10.
FIXED Webcam Doesn’t Work!
You can face this error either after a recent Windows Update, settings change that you made or application you installed. On the other hand, if you recently dropped your webcam or laptop or it was subject to some other trauma, there may be a hardware issue that requires remedy.
These errors can lead to your USB webcam or your laptop camera not working on Windows 10. Let us take a deeper look at how you can easily solve this error on your computer.
Solution 1: Check If Camera Is Turned On
If you see laptop webcam not working on Windows 10, one of the primary reasons you may see this is because the camera may be turned off. Some laptops these days come with a physical switch, which is extremely important for security.
Check your laptop if it has a physical button that enables the webcam. Also, check if the webcam can be turned on or off using a keyboard shortcut. Most laptop webcams can be switched on using a Fn key shortcut.
This also applies to USB webcams that come with a physical switch. Check the camera for such switches, and turn on the camera for it to work normally on your computer.
Solution 2: Check If The Webcam Is Detected By The Computer
If you are using a USB webcam that isn’t working anymore, you should check if your computer has accurately detected your webcam or not. The easiest way to determine this is from the device manager, where all the devices connected to your computer are listed.
Follow these steps to check if your webcam is detected by your operating system:
- Open a Run dialog using the keyboard shortcut Win + R.
- Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter to launch the Device Manager console.
- Expand the Imaging devices section by clicking on the small arrow next to the entry.
- Make sure that your webcam is listed here.
- If you see your webcam not listed in the Device Manager console, first reconnect your webcam.
- Click on the Action tab in the ribbon menu at the top.
- In the additional menu that appears, click on Scan for hardware changes.
Now your system will look for any newly connected hardware, and install the necessary drivers. Restart your computer once your webcam is listed, and you should be good to go.
Solution 3: Connect Webcam To Another Port
If reconnecting the webcam did not add an entry to the Device Manager, there is a chance that the USB port you are using may be damaged or not functional at all. Connect the webcam to a different port and check if it works on the new port.
If the webcam works, then the USB port may be malfunctioning and is not able to provide enough power to the webcam, or the port may be damaged. Get the port repaired if you wish to use this port with other devices further.
Solution 4: Update The Camera Drivers
Drivers are configuration files for your hardware components, which facilitate the communication between the hardware components and the operating system. Outdated or corrupt drivers can lead to the hardware malfunctioning on your computer.
To update the device drivers, follow these steps:
- Open the device manager console as shown in Solution 2 above, and follow till Step 4.
- Right click on your webcam, and select Update driver from the context menu.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to update the webcam drivers.
This applies to both built-in and USB webcams. Update the device drivers and check if the webcam works now.
Solution 5: Allow Apps To Access Camera
Microsoft continuously plays around with the privacy settings with Windows 10. There is a chance that you see skype webcam not working in Windows 10 is because the apps do not have the appropriate permissions to the camera.
To allow applications to access your webcam, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app using the keyboard shortcut Win + I.
- Go to the Privacy section.
- From the left pane, scroll down and click on Camera.
- In the right pane, click on the toggle next to the option that says, ‘Allow apps to access your camera’.
- Scroll down to go the list of the apps that have access to the camera.
- Here, make sure to turn the toggle on next to Skype, and other apps that you wish to grant permission.
When all applications have the appropriate permissions, you will be able to use the webcam without any errors.
Solution 6: Run The Hardware Troubleshooter
Starting with Windows 10 v1709, the hardware troubleshooter was removed from the Settings app. Now you need to run the troubleshooter from the Run dialog, which can be accessed using the following steps:
- Open a Run dialog by pressing the Win + R
- Type the following command and press Enter to run the command:
%systemroot%\system32\msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic - Follow the provided instructions to diagnose and subsequently solve the error on your device.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it. Now you know how to fix if the webcam doesn’t work on Windows 10. Comment below if you found this useful, and to discuss further the same.
