How to fix a camera showing a black screen and no video

Question

My camera is built-in: HP True Vision 5MP camera. The camera light on the laptop (HP ENVY x360) appears on, but there is no photo or video image. It only has a black screen in the camera or video settings. The camera does not work in any apps requiring video.

Troubleshooting did not correct the issue. My updates are up to date.

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Answer 1

1

Look at the function keys (F1 - F12) on your keyboard, if one of them has a camera icon, press that key or Fn + that key to unlock the webcam.

2

If that was not the problem, look at the camera lens above your screen, is there a small privacy slider that needs to be opened to access the webcam?

3

If the webcam is still not working, go to the support page for your laptop on the manufacturers website, then from there, download and re-install the version of webcam drivers they provide

Answer 2

If your HP True Vision 5MP camera is showing a black screen and not functioning in any applications, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check Camera Settings: Go to the camera settings page in Windows. You can access this by searching for Settings in Windows, then navigating to Bluetooth & devices > Cameras. Ensure that the camera is enabled and check the basic settings.
2. Disable and Enable the Camera: In the camera settings page, select your camera and choose the option to Disable. After disabling, wait a moment and then select Enable to re-enable the camera. This can sometimes reset the camera's functionality.
3. Restart Your Computer: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve issues with hardware not functioning correctly. Restart your laptop and check if the camera works after the reboot.
4. Update Drivers: Ensure that your camera drivers are up to date. You can do this by going to Device Manager, finding your camera under Imaging devices, right-clicking it, and selecting Update driver.
5. Check for Conflicting Applications: Make sure that no other applications are using the camera simultaneously. Close any applications that might be accessing the camera and try again.
6. Test with Different Applications: Try using different applications that require camera access (like the Camera app, Zoom, or Skype) to see if the issue persists across all of them.
7. Hardware Issues: If none of the above steps work, there might be a hardware issue with the camera itself. In this case, contacting HP support for further assistance may be necessary.

If you continue to experience issues, consider checking for any specific troubleshooting guides related to your camera model or the HP ENVY x360.

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References:

• Camera settings page
• Troubleshooting