The integrated camera on my Lenovo Thinkpad has stopped working

Question

The integrated camera on my Lenovo Thinkpad has stopped working

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

On a Lenovo laptop, options 1 and 2 are the most likely cause of the problem with the webcam.

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 3

Follow these steps in order on the ThinkPad running Windows 11:

1. Test whether the issue is app-specific
   1. Select Start > Camera and check if the preview works.
   2. If the camera works in the Camera app but not in another app (for example, Teams, Zoom, browser), adjust that app’s camera or privacy settings.
2. Check for Windows and camera driver updates
   1. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
   2. Then go to Advanced options > Optional updates and install any driver updates for the camera.
   3. Restart the PC: Start > Power > Restart (do not just wake from sleep).
   4. After restart, open the Camera app again and test.
3. Run the Camera troubleshooter
   1. Select Start > Settings > System.
   2. Select Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
   3. Find Camera and select Run. Apply any fixes it suggests, then test the camera.
4. Check antivirus or security software
   1. Open the antivirus or security suite installed on the ThinkPad.
   2. Look for any webcam/camera protection or privacy blocking feature and temporarily disable it.
   3. Test the camera in the Camera app. Re‑enable protection after testing.
5. Verify the camera is detected and drivers are healthy
   1. In Search on the taskbar, type device manager, then open Device Manager.
   2. Look for the camera under Cameras, Imaging devices, or Sound, video and game controllers.
   3. If it is missing, select the Action menu > Scan for hardware changes, wait for detection, then restart and test.
6. Roll back, reinstall, or switch the camera driver
   1. In Device Manager, right‑click the camera > Properties > Driver tab.
   2. If available, select Roll Back Driver, confirm, restart, and test.
   3. If that does not help, in Device Manager right‑click the camera > Properties > Driver tab > Uninstall Device. Check Delete the driver software for this device, select OK.
   4. In Device Manager, select Action > Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the driver, then restart and test.
   5. If the webcam still misbehaves and it is a USB Video Class (UVC) device, in Device Manager right‑click the webcam > Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer > choose USB Video Device > Next, then close and test. Note: using the in‑box UVC driver may disable advanced features such as Windows Hello face recognition.
7. Check for very old, incompatible cameras (if Device Manager shows one)
   1. In Device Manager, right‑click the camera > Properties > Driver tab > Driver Details.
   2. If a file name including stream.sys appears, the camera was designed before Windows 7 and is not compatible with modern Windows; replacement hardware is required.

If the integrated camera still does not work after these steps, use the Lenovo support page for the specific ThinkPad model to download the OEM camera driver, or contact Lenovo support for possible hardware failure.

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References:

• Camera doesn't work in Windows
• my camera does not function in windows - Microsoft Q&A
• my camera is not listed under device manager camera is not listed and it's not under imaging devices - Microsoft Q&A