General webcam troubleshooting

The following webcam troubleshooting instructions can be used to repair a desktop or laptop computer's broken webcam. The procedures are more general in nature and are not webcam brand-specific. The troubleshooting procedures listed below may not apply to all webcams. Some may need additional, unique steps.

Test in Windows Camera program

Use the Windows-integrated Camera program to test the camera if your computer has Windows 7 or a later version installed. If Windows detects your webcam, this simple program can tell you.

When the Windows search box appears, press the Windows key, type "camera," and then press Enter to open the Camera program. After pressing the Windows key on Windows 8, type the camera on the Start screen.

If Windows detects the webcam, a live video feed will appear in the Camera software. If there is no video or the Camera software indicates that no camera is connected or discovered, move on to the following troubleshooting area below.

Replug everything

Nearly all webcams today attach to a computer's USB port. Due to issues with the operating system or the USB port itself, USB devices, including cameras, may stop functioning. Unplugging the USB device and then plugging it back in is one of the simplest methods to try and fix it.

The webcam should be unplugged from the computer and then replugged. Try connecting the webcam to a different USB port than the one it was originally plugged into if it doesn't work. Removing and re-plugging the webcam did not fix the issue. Remove the webcam from the computer and restart it. Connect the webcam to a USB port following the restart and operating system loading of the computer.

The operating system will re-identify and refresh the device drivers or software as a result of the plugging and unplugging procedure to resolve problems with USB devices. Continue to the following section if the unplug and replug procedure was unsuccessful.

Uninstall and reinstall

Corrupted webcam software or device drivers might occur occasionally. You can fix driver or software damage by uninstalling the device, erasing it from the computer, and then reinstalling it.

You can reinstall the webcam on your computer by following the procedures listed below.

1. Remove all webcam software from the computer.
2. Activate the Device Manager.
3. The webcam should be in the device list when you expand the area for Universal Serial Bus controllers. The name of the equipment should include the manufacturer or webcam model number.
4. Pick the camera device from the list, then select Uninstall device from the context menu.
5. Take the webcam off of the computer.
6. Turn the computer back on.
7. Plug the webcam back into the computer after the operating system has loaded. The operating system ought to detect the webcam and reinstall the necessary drivers.
8. Any extra software that comes with the webcam should be reinstalled.

Check to see if the issue has been resolved by reinstalling and testing the webcam. If the issue still exists, you can also attempt the next one.

• The webcam's most recent drivers can be downloaded and installed on the manufacturer's website.
• Restart the computer after updating the drivers.

Check the webcam once more to determine if the issue was fixed by installing the most recent drivers. Continue to the following section if the issue still exists.

Connect to another computer

Because of a problem with the operating system, the computer could not be recognizing the webcam. Try connecting your webcam to a different computer, if you can, to see whether it functions. If the webcam functions well on other computers, your computer's operating system or USB ports may be the cause of the problem.

Continue to the following section if the webcam is functional on another computer. Go straight to the last troubleshooting phase if the webcam doesn't function on another computer.

Open a Windows restoration point.

You might be able to use a Windows restore point to solve the problem if the webcam recently ceased working. Information on how to activate a restore point on your computer can be found by clicking the link below.

Continue to the section after activating a restore point if the issue is still not resolved.

Repair Windows

Corrupt Windows system files may prevent Windows from recognizing or allowing your webcam to function at all, resulting in problems with your webcam not working at all. The Windows Repair procedure must be used to fix damaged system files. To see the instructions for starting the Windows Repair process, click the link below.

Go to the final stage below if the Windows Repair procedure does not resolve the webcam issues.

Defective webcam

The webcam is probably damaged and no longer functional if none of the troubleshooting methods mentioned above is successful. Consult the manufacturer's support or customer care team for assistance in getting the webcam fixed if it is still covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Replace the webcam with a new one if the warranty has expired. Because the expense of fixing it is higher than the cost of a new one, getting it mended is not cost-effective.