how to enable windows camera

Question

How do I enable the windows camera? It is disabled. Why, I do not know.

Answer 1

Hi, I'm Bernard, a fellow Windows user. I'm happy to help!

When you open the Camera app, is there any particular error message or code? While waiting, kindly follow the steps below:

Check the Camera Privacy:

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera

Make sure the Camera access is turned on

If the Camera is turned on and still having an issue, kindly follow the steps below:

Rollback Camera driver:

-Press the Windows key + X

-Select Device Manager

-Expand the Camera or Imaging Device

-Look for the Camera driver that was installed

-Right-click and click Update Driver

-Select Browse my computer for drivers

-Click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer

-Choose an old driver or another driver name, then select it and hit next until it installs.

-Restart the PC and check.

Note: If the issue persists, please download and install the BIOS and Camera drivers from your manufacturer's website.

You can also refer to the troubleshooting steps from the link below:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/camera-doesn-t-work-in-windows-32adb016-b29c-a928-0073-53d31da0dad5

Answer 2

Use Camera settings and privacy settings to re‑enable it.

1. Enable the camera device in Windows 11
   1. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras (or use this shortcut from the article: Bluetooth & devices > Cameras: Open Bluetooth & devices > Cameras).
   2. In Bluetooth & devices > Cameras, look under Disabled cameras.
   3. Select the camera that should be enabled.
   4. Select Enable.
   Notes:
   • Administrator access is required to enable cameras.
   • If there is no Disabled cameras section, then no cameras are disabled via this setting.
2. Make sure apps are allowed to use the camera
   1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
   2. Make sure Camera access is turned on.
   3. Make sure Let apps access your camera is turned on.
   4. In Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera, turn on access for the apps that should use the camera.
   5. If using desktop apps (for example, Microsoft Edge or Teams), ensure Allow desktop apps to access your camera is turned on.

If the camera still does not work after enabling it and turning on access, test it with the built‑in Camera app (select Start > Camera) to confirm it is working at the system level.

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References:

• Manage cameras with Camera settings in Windows 11
• Camera doesn't work in Windows