Windows 11 Camera Not Working Issue, How to Fix?

Webcam issues are quite common among desktop or laptop users across the globe and especially when people are engaging with others online in this COVID-19 pandemic. So, having a fully functional web camera on your Windows computer is really important for taking online classes or official meetings. Now, some Windows 11 users are reporting that the Web Camera is not working for some unfortunate reasons.

Well, if you’re also one of the victims and want to resolve this issue as early as possible then make sure to follow this full troubleshooting guide completely. Now, it could display a black screen or the camera light might be turned off or the webcam connectivity isn’t strong enough with the computer in most cases. Whereas software-related issues, improper webcam configuration, and even some other issues can be found.

Windows 11 Camera Not Working Issue, How to Fix?

Sometimes issues with the hardware or software can be one of the major reasons behind the camera not working because that doesn’t indicate or throw out any kind of error on the PC. So, unless you fall into that problem, you might not be able to understand what’s going on. In secondary possible scenarios, the webcam could be damaged or incompatible with your PC or some other third-party apps are conflicting.

As we’re saying, most of the Windows webcam issues are almost related to the software. As per some reports, if Windows 11 OS doesn’t have permissions to the camera or the webcam application, it may eventually block the camera access whatsoever. Additionally, webcam driver issue, USB port issue, some interference with the webcam, system glitch, camera privacy settings, etc are other possible reasons out there.

1. Check Webcam Compatibility with Windows 11

First of all, you should try checking the web camera model whether it’s fully compatible with your Windows 11 OS or not. If in case, the external webcam is much older then the chances are high that it may not be compatible with the newer version of Windows OS. It’s better to check out the webcam box package thoroughly or just head over to the official website and search for the particular webcam model for further info.

If the webcam doesn’t support your Windows 11 computer then make sure to cross-check it by connecting to another computer that’s also running on Windows 11 or Windows 10 or even older version to ensure it. If the webcam is only supporting Windows 10 or the previous generation then you’ll need to purchase a new webcam for your Windows 11 compatibility.

Whereas if the webcam is compatible with another Windows 11 running computer then you should check out other solutions below to keep troubleshooting the main conflict.

2. Restart your PC

The second thing you can do is simply reboot the PC to check whether it’s working well or not. Sometimes any temporary system glitch or cache data issue on the computer may cause such conflicts. So, a normal reboot to the system can easily fix the issue in most cases. If this workaround didn’t come in handy then check out other methods too.

3. Check for Camera Driver Update

If you’re using an outdated or corrupted camera driver on a Windows 11 computer, it may cause several issues with the webcam such as not working or stability issues or quality issues, etc. Make sure to update the camera driver by following the steps below:

• Press the Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
• Now, click on Device Manager to open it > Double-click on Cameras.

• Right-click on the Integrated Camera or external webcam > Select Update driver.
• Click on Search automatically for drivers > Wait for the process to complete.
• If there is an update available, the system will automatically check for it, and install the update.
• Once done, make sure to reboot the system to apply changes.

It’s also highly recommended to note down your specific computer model number or the motherboard model number and then head over to the respective manufacturer’s website directly to download & install the latest webcam driver (applicable for the laptop’s integrated webcam only).

If you’re using an external webcam then head over to the respective webcam’s manufacturer’s website and grab the latest driver for your particular model then install it properly on the Windows 11 computer.

4. Install Pending Windows Updates

The chances are also high that you haven’t updated your Windows OS build for a while and it becomes either outdated or the current build is buggy enough somehow. In that scenario, we’ll recommend you to check for the pending Windows updates and install them one by one. To do so:

• Press the Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Click on Windows Update from the left pane > Click on Check for updates.

• The system will automatically start checking for available updates. If available, it’ll notify you.
• Just click on the Download & Install button to start updating.
• It may take some time to complete the download and installation process. So have some patience.
• Finally, the system will ask you to reboot it. Just restart the computer to apply changes immediately.

5. Check Camera Privacy Settings and Access

Sometimes an improper configuration or any disabled option in the camera settings or camera menu can cause such an issue whatsoever. Keep in mind that you’ll need to configure camera privacy settings on Windows 11 which is important to work the webcam properly. To do this:

• Press the Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Click on Privacy & Security from the left pane > Now, scroll down the right pane window a bit.
• Here you’ll find out the Camera option under the App permissions section.
• Next, click on Camera > Make sure to turn on the Camera access toggle.
• Then turn on the Let apps access your camera toggle > If you’re facing issues with the camera on any specific application then you should turn on the app toggle from the list too.
• Once done, scroll down a bit, and make sure to turn on the Let desktop apps to access your camera toggle.

After adjusting these settings, make sure to check for the camera app whether the webcam is working or not.

6. Uncover the Lid of the Webcam

It seems that most of the external or internal webcams do come with a cover/lid to block camera access which may prevent privacy issues. Some apps or hackers can easily access your webcam but if the camera is covered then the webcam can’t capture anything. If the webcam lid is covered then your camera lens will also be safe from scratches or dust.

7. Cross-Check Webcam Connections

It seems that the webcam isn’t working on your Windows 11 computer due to some connectivity issues. The external webcam can be connected via USB or Bluetooth. It’s needless to say in both cases, the USB connectivity or port and the Bluetooth connectivity can cause issues if not properly connected with the webcam or PC.

So, make sure to check out the USB port or try connecting to another USB port. Similarly, if your webcam uses Bluetooth then make sure to properly connect to the Bluetooth of your PC. If you’re facing any connectivity or pairing issues with Windows 11 then you can check out our guide to Bluetooth not working issue on Windows 11.

8. Check if Webcam has a Physical Switch

Most of the newer external webcams do have a physical switch to turn it on/off manually. If your webcam has also the same button or the switch then make sure to turn it off and on multiple times to check for the issue. Obviously, you’ll have to turn it on before trying to access the webcam directly or via the app.

9. Enable Webcam in Device Manager

If in case, your webcam is somehow disabled on your Windows 11 computer then you may receive the error. So, you’ll need to manually check for the same, and enable the webcam in Device Manager by following the steps below:

• Press the Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
• Now, click on Device Manager to open it > Double-click on Cameras.
• Right-click on the Integrated Camera or external webcam > Select Enable device.
• Restart the system to check for the webcam issue.

However, if the webcam is already enabled, we’ll recommend you to select Disable device and then re-enable it again to refresh the system glitch (if any).

10. Turn Off Antivirus Software

Sometimes the default or third-party antivirus software can aggressively block your camera access or block camera permissions on the application. If you’re using the Windows Defender or any other third-party antivirus program on your Windows 11 then make sure to temporarily turn off the antivirus scanning and real-time protection to avoid the issue.

• Head over to Windows Settings > Privacy and Security.
• Now, go to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
• Click on Manage settings >Then turn off the Real-time Protection option.
• Once done, make sure to reboot your PC to apply changes.

If you’re using any third-party antivirus program then make sure to turn it off manually.

However, if you don’t want to disable the antivirus software then we’ll recommend you to add the specific apps in the whitelist that you want to use with the webcam access. Allowing access to the app can also fix issues with webcam access.

11. Check Optional Updates for Drivers

It seems that Windows 11 operating system also allows users to install driver updates directly from the PC (if available) by following the steps below:

• Press the Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Click on Windows Update from the left pane > Now, click on Advanced Options.
• Scroll down the right pane window a bit and click on Optional Updates under the Additional Options section.
• Here you’ll be able to see available or pending Windows updates as well as the driver updates.
• Just make sure to be up-to-date always with the software and driver on the computer to avoid several bugs or glitches whatsoever.
• Once you’re done with the update installation, make sure to reboot the computer to apply changes.

12. Reinstall Webcam Device (Driver)

If none of the methods worked for you then try uninstalling and reinstalling the webcam device or driver on the Windows 11 computer to resolve the webcam not working issue. To do so:

• Press the Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
• Now, click on Device Manager to open it > Double-click on Cameras.
• Right-click on the Integrated Camera or the external webcam device > Select Uninstall device.
• Click on Uninstall again to confirm the task > Wait for the process to be completed.
• Once done, make sure to restart your computer to apply changes.
• After the reboot, the Windows 11 system will automatically reinstall the missing camera driver or camera device (if connected).

However, if it doesn’t get installed by the system automatically then make sure to note down the computer model number or the motherboard model number and directly visit the official manufacturer’s website to download & install the latest webcam driver.

For some unfortunate reasons, if the webcam driver/device gets reinstalled, but the issue still persists then you’ll need to follow the next method.

13. Check the Camera App

Make sure to finally check the Camera application again on the PC by following the steps below. If the camera app opens properly and the camera works fine then you’re good to go. If not, then the chances are high that your webcam (external/internal) is physically damaged from inside or has some issues with the lens.

In that scenario, you should contact the respective manufacturer support (if under warranty) or just rush to your nearest official service center to get it checked and repaired too. If your budget is tight or the webcam or laptop is a few years old then you can also visit the nearest computer/laptop repairing shop to get it repaired or replaced with a new webcam.

This is how you can easily resolve the webcam not working issue on your Windows 11 computer.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.