How to fix camera not working

Question

My camera is not working although I have the most recent camera driver already installed. The image shows the message that pops up when I try to start my camera. The automatic troubleshooting through 'Get Help' did not fix it.

How can I fix this?

Answer 1

Hello Ralitsa Peeva!

Sorry to hear you’re having trouble with your camera, even after updating the driver and running the automated troubleshooting tool. Here are some steps you can try, since camera issues on Windows 11 can be caused by several factors:

1. Check Camera Privacy Settings: Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera and make sure camera access is “On” for your device and for the apps you want to use.
2. Test in Multiple Apps: Verify whether the camera works in different apps (e.g., Camera app, Teams, Zoom) to rule out app-specific problems.
3. Disable/Enable Camera Device: Open Device Manager, locate your camera under “Imaging devices,” right-click it, and select “Disable device.” Then, re-enable it.
4. Uninstall and Reinstall Camera Driver: In Device Manager, right-click your camera, select “Uninstall device,” then restart your computer—Windows should reinstall the driver automatically.
5. Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes, the latest cumulative updates include device fixes.
6. Close Conflicting Programs: Make sure no other program is using the camera in the background; sometimes, only one app can access the camera at a time.
7. BIOS/UEFI Settings: On some laptops, the camera can be disabled from BIOS. Restart your computer, enter BIOS/UEFI, and check if the camera is enabled there.
8. Physical Camera Switch: Some laptops have a physical switch or function key to turn the camera on/off—make sure it’s turned on.

If none of these resolve the issue and you still see the same error, the camera itself may be faulty, or there may be a deeper system issue requiring hardware diagnostics.

Wishing you the best with getting your camera working again!

Best Regards,

Jerald Felix

Answer 2

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Does this error message appear when you try to save an image or recorded video from the camera app to your local drive?

Try repairing or resetting the Windows Camera app-

1. Search for the camera in the search bar, right-click the result, and select App settings.
2. Scroll down and select Repair.
3. If that did not resolve your issue, select Reset.

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Check for the Latest Windows updates -

1. Go to Start > Settings > Windows Updates > Check for Updates.
2. Download and install all the available updates for your device.

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If you're still experiencing issues even after uninstalling the camera drivers from the device manager suggested above, try a Registry fix -

1. Click Windows + R key, type regedit and click ok.
2. Navigate to - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Media Foundation\Platform
3. Here, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named EnableFrameServerMode and set its value to 0.

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article.

https://support.microsoft.com/help/855140ad-e318-2a13-2829-d428a2ab0692

Let me know if you still need more help.

Answer 3

Your camera is reporting that it is blocked or turned off by a switch or button on your device. Please unblock it or turn the switch on to use it.

Answer 4

Provide more information about your computer and the operating system you are using. What model camera do you have? Have you checked the User Manual?

This image is from my desktop computer, Windows 11 Pro 25H2. The app for using the camera is Logitech Capture.