Why Your Windows 11 Camera Isn’t Working
There are two possible broad reasons: hardware or software. Unlike something within Windows malfunctioning, a webcam is a physical device, so the issue could lie in the device itself or in your computer’s understanding of how to connect to it. Most Windows webcam issues have something to do with software. That is, Windows 11 doesn’t understand the camera is plugged in or the software you’re using (like a browser or video program) doesn’t have the right permissions enabled, effectively blocking access to the camera.
How to Fix a Webcam Not Working in Windows 11
If you’ve already connected and set up the webcam with Windows, but your computer isn’t detecting it, walk through these troubleshooting steps to identify where the fault is and what you can do about it. Test the webcam after each step to see if it’s fixed before moving on to the next tip. Really old cameras likely won’t work with newer versions of Windows and won’t respond to any of these troubleshooting tips. Your only option in that case is to purchase a newer camera. Plus, there might be another app or browser tab already using the camera. Restarting the whole PC ensures the webcam gets disconnected from those sources. One quick way to reboot Windows 11 is through the Start menu: right-click it and go to Shut down or sign out > Restart. This could be the fix for a camera which appears to be really low quality or shows only a black screen. If you’re using Chrome, for example, ensure the webcam isn’t blocked. If there’s webcam software installed, look through the menus to confirm the camera isn’t disabled. Windows 11 has its own controls: Settings > Privacy & security > Camera. Toggle on both Camera access and Let apps access your camera. A bit further down the page are toggles for specific apps; check the apps you need are have enabled rights to use the webcam. If turning off these programs makes the camera work, examine their settings to find out what needs to be changed, and then promptly re-enable them. There’s probably a Webcam Protection option enabled, or something similar that’s preventing your apps from using the camera. If this works, but you still can’t get the webcam to work with a different program, reinstall the software. Starting fresh will delete any customizations you’ve made in the program and re-establish a connection to the webcam. If this doesn’t work, there could be a problem with the camera hardware or there might be another software issue at play. Continue with these steps.
Enable the webcam if it’s disabled. This is an unlikely solution unless you disabled yourself, but it’s still something you can check. The hardware must be enabled for Windows 11 to use it. Disable the webcam if there’s an internal and external one installed and the wrong one is being used. Windows won’t use both webcams at once, and some apps don’t let you pick which one to prioritize. For example, if the built-in camera is active, but you’d rather use the external one, disable the internal webcam in Device Manager.
To do this, open the Imaging devices area of Device Manager, right-click the camera, and choose Uninstall device > Uninstall. Finish by restarting the computer. Get there through Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters; select Run next to Camera.
