Multiple Wecams on Windows 10 - PC only recognizes 1 Webcam - So, so frustrated!!!

Question

Multiple Wecams on Windows 10 - PC only recognizes 1 Webcam - So, so frustrated!!!

Steven Schuyler 1

I have Corel MuliCam Capture software. The frustrating thing is I have a really old PC and it recognizes all 3 webcams without any issues at all, BUT, I have a much, much new PC and no matter what I do, for some reason, it just wont recognize more than ONE webcam!! I have a USB strip and a light comes on next to each device that it recognizes and only ONE light comes on next to ONE of the cameras! What can I do? So, so very frustrating! This is NOT a software issue because it is an issuee of the PC recognizing that the cameras are even there before I even get to the software!

Mr. Chapman 1 Reputation point

2022-07-10T03:02:54.767+00:00

The bad news: It's 100% hardware. On my home computer, I was able to get all webcams to work, but not at the same time. I have a logitec, and 2 off-brand identical cameras. The Logitec plays along side one of the other webcams. But not the identical webcams at the same time. It's firmware or the driver, that can't change. I've tried javascript, java, and many other webcam apps and get the exact same resutls.

The good news: After trying everything on my home computer. (Win10 Dell PC). I finally gave up and tried it on my laptop. (Win10 dell laptop). The first time I tried it, it worked like a charm. All 4 cams worked at the same time. And my new javascript works beautifully, as well as obs. The Logitech, the 2 identical off0brand cams, as well as the built-in cam.

Symptom: The identical cams have the same hardware id (device id), the PC thinks it's one cam and won't play them both at the same time. The Win10 PCwith USB2 ports mostly, and a couple of USB3 ports. The laptop was all USB3 ports.

Solution: You'll need a new PC. Or at least a new USB3 card. I wish I could say exactly what the issue is. But not 100% sure. I'm leaning toward the USB ports. I'm a software expert, so hopefully some hardware expert can expound on exactly what's different between my desktop vs. laptop. No issues at all getting multiple webcams, even if they're identical, to work on my laptop. Also note that my laptop is newer and more powerful than my desktop.

6 answers

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Mr. Chapman 1 Reputation point

2022-07-10T03:02:54.767+00:00

The bad news: It's 100% hardware. On my home computer, I was able to get all webcams to work, but not at the same time. I have a logitec, and 2 off-brand identical cameras. The Logitec plays along side one of the other webcams. But not the identical webcams at the same time. It's firmware or the driver, that can't change. I've tried javascript, java, and many other webcam apps and get the exact same resutls.

The good news: After trying everything on my home computer. (Win10 Dell PC). I finally gave up and tried it on my laptop. (Win10 dell laptop). The first time I tried it, it worked like a charm. All 4 cams worked at the same time. And my new javascript works beautifully, as well as obs. The Logitech, the 2 identical off0brand cams, as well as the built-in cam.

Symptom: The identical cams have the same hardware id (device id), the PC thinks it's one cam and won't play them both at the same time. The Win10 PCwith USB2 ports mostly, and a couple of USB3 ports. The laptop was all USB3 ports.

Solution: You'll need a new PC. Or at least a new USB3 card. I wish I could say exactly what the issue is. But not 100% sure. I'm leaning toward the USB ports. I'm a software expert, so hopefully some hardware expert can expound on exactly what's different between my desktop vs. laptop. No issues at all getting multiple webcams, even if they're identical, to work on my laptop. Also note that my laptop is newer and more powerful than my desktop.

Answer 1

Hi,

Type "Device Manager" in the search box on the taskbar then select it from the menu. Can the webcams be found in the Device Manager? If not, you'd better contact the manufacturer of your new PC.

Best Regards,
Ian Xue

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Answer 2

Check for updates. Select Start , then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. If you see the option to View optional updates, select it to see if there are updates available for your camera. Allow available updates to install, then restart your device when it's ready.

Before any app can access your camera, make sure camera access is turned on for apps in your user account. Make sure that Allow apps to access your camera is turned on.

After allowing access to the camera, go to Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera and turn on camera access for the apps you want. Only apps installed from the Microsoft Store will show in this list.

In your antivirus software settings, look for settings that block access to your camera or permission to use your camera.

Try using it with a different USB port on your device first.

I shall also suggest you to update the driver abd application as well. Visit the support site of the manufacturer to download the same.

Answer 3

Alasdair W 1

Window 11 and Windows 10 can not use two cameras
both cameras show in devices manager as device is working
used windows camera, Cam Wizard, SkyStudio Pro, Total Recorder
Windows Camera give an error of 0xA00F4243<CameraReservedByAnotherApp>(0xC00D3704
Cam Wizard refuses to connect to 2nd camera - it sees it but reset to the camera already in use by another instance of itself - it is supposed to connect to upto 4 cameras and show <ERROR 1>
SkyStudio give Can't start capture - 2147943850 - 800705AA OR 2147942431 - 8007001F when trying to select the second camera

Windows 10 AND Window 11

Pupunnn 6 Reputation points

2021-11-09T19:03:28.013+00:00

2 month ago i can use two webcam in windows 10 using USB HUB in streamlabsOBS

*FYI : i use Logitech C922 and NYK NEMESIS A90
but yesterday when i try open streamlabsOBS , they cant active both , only 1 can show, if i turn off Logitech C922, NYK NEMESIS A90 can on, and if i turn off NYK NEMESIS A90 , Logitech C922
after that i think my windows error, so i upgrade my windows 10 to windows 11

but the same result they cant show both in streamlabsOBS

but after trying, i change the USB port
so Logitech C922 i put in USB 3.1 Gen 2
and NYK NEMESIS A90 in USB 3.1 Gen 1

and its work now

so in my problem i think because windows update , they not accept 2 webcam in 1 usb Gen again
Péter Nádasi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-09T20:23:50.713+00:00

Thank you for the tip.

Plugging the 2 webcams into 2 separate port -> OBS can use both.
Prior this solution I tried to use them in the same USB hub - and that did not work.

Answer 4

Alasdair W 1

-update-

finally got SkyStudioPro to recognise two cameras but it records them as a single video

little steps

Answer 5

This is for a Windows 10 Home 64-bit Intel computer at version 21H before the reinstall.

It would be nice if I did have an answer but maybe I have more info to add. Weeks ago I had two similar USB logitech or Logitech type cameras. They are both over 5 years old, very possibly 10.

I used the default camera App as well as other camera simple software on occasion and both cameras showed up. I mean the app would let me switch between them easily to select which one was currently showing a video display.

Some update or magic event occurred. The camera app ran and blinked yet would show no actual picture. It still showed 2 select-able cameras. It would switch to the other but it too blinked repeatedly having no picture to display.

The cameras are mounted in really hard to access areas. Even if I could instantly get super new models to prove a point, it doesn't help the true problem. "Used to work recently. Now it doesn't."

No switching ports or isolating a camera got either camera back working.

System Restore was my GOTO for fixing such things. Manually created restore points always drop off over time. Two recent System points showed up but nothing older. Both politely failed to restore at all.

I REALLY use these cameras often and eventually reformatted my C: drive and installed Windows 10 from scratch. The computer is at Windows 10 Home 22H2 OS Build 19045.3803

NOW, one camera (at a time) works so that is a great improvement.

"Device Manager" and System Devices show both of them but indicate they are the same type.

The fact that BOTH cameras show up in the system settings made me believe both should be individually seen by any camera software. Not true.

Either works plugged in alone or if they are both plugged in, whoever got there first wins. If the recognized first plugged in camera is removed, the one left is now found. That 'active' designation does not change whether either OR both are plugged in to a USB 2 OR 3 port. I have tested between those choices. The 2nd plugged in one is always the software unseen camera.

I can state that some other different type just as old USB cameras will not work at all on this system. They also do not show up under devices so I safely discount them.

The computer hardware did not change. That really puts the ball in the software/operating system court.

A reasonable possibility is that OS software or drivers got fussier or more exclusive in their behavior.

It also occurred to me that a change in the Registry could make the 2 cameras appear more separate if their presumably too much alike-ness is the real catch here after the RE-install of Windows 10 Home.

Maybe someone has explored further and found an answer.

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Multiple Wecams on Windows 10 - PC only recognizes 1 Webcam - So, so frustrated!!!

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