Windows Hello using an external camera - 21H1

Alan Alden 241

Hi,

Don't know if this has been reported, but I'm using an external windows hello camera (built into a philips 499p monitor) on a Surface laptop 3 (has a built in windows hello camera)
Running 21H1 (19043.928). When the laptop screen is open Windows hello works perfectly through the external camera.
However, when the laptop lid is closed (set to do nothing in power settings) I cannot log in using the camera, clicking the hello icon at the login screen does nothing (no error messages)
Also with the lid closed, if I log in (using PIN etc) and go into Windows Hello settings, I can improve recognition which means the camera works with the lid closed, but will not allow logging in
Hope that makes sense, can anyone help?

Many thanks

Alan

Daisy Zhou 18,706 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2021-04-30T06:19:43.99+00:00

Hello @Alan Alden ,
Would you please tell me how things are going on your side. If you have any questions or concerns about the information I provided, please don't hesitate to let us know.
Thanks for your time and have a nice day!

Best Regards,
Daisy Zhou

============================================

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
Daisy Zhou 18,706 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2021-05-05T09:20:50.22+00:00

Hello @Alan Alden ,
I just want to confirm the current situations.
Please feel free to let us know if you need further assistance.

Best Regards,
Daisy Zhou

============================================

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
Terry L. Duckett 1 Reputation point

2021-05-24T14:34:06.61+00:00

I'm seeing the exact same thing. Frustrating it is. I use my laptop in a "clamshell" mode when docked. It will not activate the external camera IR unless the screen is open.
Terry L. Duckett 1 Reputation point

2021-05-24T14:34:45.437+00:00

I'm seeing the exact same thing. Frustrating it is. I use my laptop in a "clamshell" mode when docked. It will not activate the external camera IR unless the screen is open.
Alan Alden 241 Reputation points

2021-08-05T15:35:57.773+00:00

So... it's only taken me 4 months... but I've cracked it.
Simple registry change to fix
Browse to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power
Then change the LidNotifyReliable from 1 to 0
Enjoy!
Nick C 1 Reputation point

2021-08-20T11:38:58.457+00:00

Nice one - that reg key sorted it for me using 21H2
Jamie Coleman 1 Reputation point

2021-08-30T07:49:02.927+00:00

This is awesome thanks.
I did this and its the only thing that fixes this issue for me, but every time I reboot it reverts back to 1.
Do you know if there is a way to make this change permanent?
Jamie Coleman 1 Reputation point

2021-08-30T07:53:50.82+00:00

This is awesome.
This is the only thing that works for my external camera for windows Hello.
But every time I reboot it reverts back to 1.
Do you know if there is a way to make this change permanent.
Alan Alden 241 Reputation points

2021-09-01T14:09:41.28+00:00

Only thing I can think is a group policy or something like that on your PC?
Has stayed on through multiple reboots on mine and a couple of other Surface Laptops we have here, sorry I can't be much more help on that one!
mscherer 1 Reputation point

2021-09-03T14:11:44.183+00:00

I have the same issue as Jamie, a reboot resets the value to 1 and this is a personal computer
Ricardo Vargas 1 Reputation point

2021-09-24T20:19:26.083+00:00

Thanks, just did this on the W11 preview build and it's working!
Phalle, Mahesh 1 Reputation point

2022-04-25T08:36:57.477+00:00

Hello All, thank you for the Fix, It works like a charm.

The Only issue I have is; We are using Microsoft Intune and whenever I change the value for LidNotifyReliable to 1; Its reverts back.

We even deployed Power Settings using Intune under 'Configuration Profile' and it still doesn't make that registry permanent.
Would could be alternatives ?
77293397 16 Reputation points

2022-04-25T18:46:12.447+00:00

I suppose you could add the registry entry in... then take ownership with your admin account and change the permissions on the registry key to "Read-Only" for everyone. That should prevent intune from being able to modify it. It's a bush fix for sure... but it may do it.

Microsoft needs to fix this. This is their issue to resolve with a group policy setting.
Steve Paltridge 1 Reputation point

2022-06-15T03:45:54.023+00:00

Holy cow! Worked perfectly for me. Rebooted about a dozen times now and still working with notebook closed using either the Logitech Brio or the new Yealink camera which is half the price of the Brio but doesn't have a microphone built in.

NOTE: For me on my Surface Book 3 the registry setting was at Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Power

THANK YOU!!!

ps Why doesn't MS know this stuff???
77293397 16 Reputation points

2022-06-15T16:44:16.827+00:00

I agree. MS should be all over this with a GPO. This worked great for me too.

Accepted answer

Alan Alden 241 Reputation points

2021-08-05T15:37:07.447+00:00

So... it's only taken me 4 months... but I've cracked it.
Simple registry change to fix
Browse to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power
Then change the LidNotifyReliable from 1 to 0
Enjoy!
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7 people found this answer helpful.
Greg Butler 11 Reputation points

2021-08-11T12:39:42.787+00:00

You're a rockstar. This worked for me on my Surface Book 3! Fairly embarrassing that Microsoft had no answer for this for months on end when it was so simple.

Thanks!

Leo 1 Reputation point

2021-09-18T21:30:11.557+00:00

Yeah man, you rock! Quick question for those with clean installs, is it a 32 bit DWORD, or different kind of variable?

Andrea Shank 6 Reputation points

2022-01-12T03:54:49.593+00:00

I want you to know how much I appreciate your solution!! I upgraded to a new Surface laptop two months ago and I was so frustrated with this issue. I'm so glad and greatly appreciate you sharing your resolution!!

Scott 36 Reputation points

2023-06-06T17:57:04.16+00:00

this setting is no longer working for Win 11 22H2

it does work for Win 10 still
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Scott 36 Reputation points

2023-06-06T18:01:57.2066667+00:00

the reg fix LidNotifyReliable no longer works in Win11 22H2
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Alan Alden 0 Reputation points

2023-10-04T14:08:09.98+00:00

It's still working for me on 23H2 Win 11 - admittedly I've only updated since Win 10 on mine and haven't clean installed
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