My camera is not working

Hello Andrea Bisquert

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

Do you mean your laptop camera cannot be recognized properly? If so, can it be recognized in any application? What's your laptop's make and model? Here are some troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue where your laptop does not recognize the built-in camera:

1. Check the camera access permissions:
   • Press the Windows key and select Settings > Privacy > Camera.
   • Make sure that Allow camera access on this device is turned on.
   • Also, make sure that Allow apps to access your camera is turned on and that specific apps you want to use have permissions to access the camera.
2. Check the camera's physical switch or button:
   • Some laptops have a physical switch or button that turns the camera on or off. Check if your laptop has this switch and make sure it is in the on position.
3. Update or reinstall the camera drivers:
   • Press the Windows key, type "Device Manager" and select it from the search results.
   • Find your camera in Cameras, Imaging Devices, or Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.
   • Right-click on your camera, select Update Driver, and follow the instructions to search for the updated driver software automatically.
   • If the update doesn't work, try uninstalling the camera driver (right-click > Uninstall device) and restart your laptop to allow Windows to reinstall the driver.
4. Check the camera's functionality with other apps:
   • Open the Windows Camera app (look for "Camera" in the Start menu) to see if the camera works there.
   • If it works in the Camera app but not in other apps, the problem may be with the settings or compatibility of the specific app.
5. Check the BIOS settings:
   • Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS setup (usually by pressing F2, F10, or Delete during boot). Look for the settings related to the camera and make sure the camera is turned on.
6. Consider hardware issues:
   • If none of the above steps work, there may be a hardware issue with the camera itself. In this case, please contact the laptop's manufacturer's official support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance.

If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, check to see if your laptop model has known camera compatibility issues or if there are specific drivers available on the laptop's manufacturer's official support site for your specific model.

Best Regards,

William.Y | Microsoft Community Support Specialist