Camera Not working

Question

When attempting to use the camera it states blocked or switched off, how do I unblock or turn camera on?

Device name [Moderator note: PII removed] -HP-2023

Processor 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1355U (1.70 GHz)

Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)

Device ID [Moderator note: PII removed] 

Product ID [Moderator note: PII removed] 

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch Pen and touch support with 10 touch points

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Moderator: moved from System Center Service Manager

Answer 1

Hi Fred Lindstrom,

Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post an error or other details to protect personal data.  

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum. I understand that when you try to use the camera, Windows reports that it is blocked or switched off, and you want to know how to turn it back on.

Please make sure you already tried the Q&A Assist steps. In addition, please try the following.

Before we proceed, I need to narrow this down a bit:

1, Does the camera show up in Device Manager under Cameras or Imaging devices, or is it missing entirely?

2, Does this issue happen in all apps (for example Camera app and video calls), or only in one specific app?

In the meantime, you can try these steps:

1, Check camera status in Device Manager

• Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager
• Expand Cameras or Imaging devices
• If the camera is listed, right‑click it and select Enable device
• If it is enabled, select Disable device, restart the PC, then enable it again

2, Restart the Windows Camera Frame Server service

• Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter
• Locate Windows Camera Frame Server
• Right‑click it and select Restart

3, Reset the built‑in Camera app

• Open Settings
• Go to Apps, then Installed apps
• Find Camera, select Advanced options
• Select Repair first, then Reset if Repair does not help

4, Check BIOS or firmware camera setting

• Restart the PC and enter BIOS or UEFI setup
• Look for a setting related to Integrated Camera or Privacy
• Make sure the camera is set to Enabled
• Save changes and exit

5, Check if another app is blocking camera access

• Close all apps that may use the camera
• Restart the PC and test the camera again using only the Camera app

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Answer 2

Hi! Let me help you with this.

If the camera cover or shutter has been toggled and you are still getting the same error, please try to perform a hard reset.

Shut down the laptop completely

Click Start → Power → Shut down

Make sure it’s fully off (no lights, no fan)

Unplug everything

Remove the charger

Disconnect USB devices, mouse, keyboard, headset, HDMI, etc.

Drain residual power

Press and hold the Power button for 20–30 seconds

Don’t release it early

Reconnect power

Plug only the charger back in (nothing else)

Turn the laptop on

Answer 3

To unblock or turn on your camera, follow these steps:

1. Check Camera Settings:
   • Open the Settings app by searching for it in the Windows search bar.
   • Navigate to Bluetooth & devices > Cameras. Here, you can see the list of connected cameras.
   • If your camera is listed but marked as disabled, select it and choose Enable.
2. Camera Privacy Settings:
   • If the camera is still blocked, check the camera privacy settings. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera. Ensure that access to the camera is allowed for apps you want to use.
3. Physical Camera Switch:
   • Some devices have a physical switch or a function key (like F1-F12) that can disable the camera. Make sure this switch is turned on.
4. Check for Drivers:
   • If the camera still does not work, visit your device manufacturer's support page to download and reinstall the latest camera drivers.
5. Troubleshoot:
   • You can also troubleshoot the camera by selecting it from the Connected cameras list in the camera settings page and clicking on Troubleshoot. This will guide you through resolving common issues.

If you follow these steps and still encounter issues, consider restarting your device, as some changes may require a reboot to take effect.