How to Install Webcam Drivers
When you buy a web camera, all the associated webcam drivers should be on the installation disk that came with your webcam. And whatever operating system you are using – Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 – your installation disk should contain the related drivers. You need to install webcam drivers for the webcam to work properly.
Your webcam most likely will have a USB connection cord. You must first install the webcam drivers, before plugging in your new webcam. Insert the installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. The setup screen should automatically appear. If your operating system did not pick up the auto run feature, you may load the setup yourself. You can follow these simple steps to get to your webcam drivers setup.
• Click Start.
• Click Run.
• Click Browse.
• Choose your CD-ROM drive from the drop down box.
• Highlight the SETUP.EXE or INSTALL.EXE.
• Click Open.
Tip: If there is no setup.exe or install.exe, try opening the autorun,inf file with notepad to see which executable should be used.
You should now have the setup screen showing. The steps are simple and the on screen prompts will walk you through loading your webcam drivers. Once all your webcam drivers have been loaded successfully, you will be prompted to restart your system. After you have rebooted and are back into Windows, you will be asked to plug in your webcam. All your webcam drivers should be loaded and your webcam working properly!
Webcam Drivers for Wrong Windows Version
In case you do not have the right driver for your Windows version, for example you have no Windows 7 driver for your webcam, you can always try using a driver for a previous Windows version. Windows Vista drivers often work as is in Windows 7, but even Windows XP webcam drivers can sometimes be used in Vista or even Windows 7. Likewise, Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 can very often be used in Windows 10. If running the installer does not work the first time, try running the installer as an adminstrator or run it in XP compatibility mode (both by right-clicking the installer file).
Missing Webcam Drivers Installation Disk?
If you have purchased a webcam without an installation disk (or lost the disk), you will need to find the necessary webcam drivers yourself. You can go to the manufacturer’s web site and usually find the webcam drivers. If the manufacturer does not have the webcam drivers you are looking for, search the net. You can search with the major search engines to locate the webcam driver’s specific to your operating system. It is also possible to seek out forums or blog posts that may relate to your webcam (links to your webcam drivers may be found here).
The same is true if you have a netbook without a CD/DVD drive. It would be possible to use a USB stick to transfer the webcam driver files, but the common solution in that case is also to simply download the drivers from the manufacturer’s website through the Internet.
Why You Need to Update Your Webcam Drivers
True, the required drivers are on the installation disk of your webcam when you bought it but guess what? These drivers may not be the latest drivers at all.
You see, that installation disk was compiled when the webcam was produced. Now, consider warehouse time, delivery time to stores, time on the shelf, and others, and many months – even years – may have passed. Since then, the webcam maker may have released several updated versions of the driver already.
In addition, if you install new software or change to a new operating system, the webcam drivers may need updates to suit these changes.
You can find updated webcam drivers on the manufacturer’s site. You can also find the webcam drivers online via forums and driver-related blogs. You can also use a third-party tool such as DriverFinder, which can scan your PC for webcam drivers and check if you need updated ones.
Once your webcam is working again, have some fun with your instant messenger friends and record each others webcam chat with EatCam.
If you want to make your own movies with your webcam, have a look at our article on recording video with your webcam.
Installed the webcam drivers, but the webcam is still not working? Check out our article on troubleshooting webcam problems.
I have been trying to hookup my “Smart Webcam” now for about 2 hours. I am having issues, because when I try to execute the setup (Setup.exe) I am told to “Please insert camera before setup!” The thing is I have my webcam hooked up already in the USB port…so what am I doing wrong?
@brandon – It appears to me that you do not have the right webcam driver. What is your webcam brand and model? Or notebook brand and model in case of a built-in cam. And what is your Windows version?
Also, please don’t post your email address in the comments, it will just be picked up by crawlers for spam.
okay i have downloaded the driver for my webcam but when i start that it says it cant find the cam. but when it says it found NEW HARDWARE when i plug in the cam it says it cant find the software. and it gives me 2 options install software automatically or install from a list of specific locations.
the automatic one requires a disk (which i dont have) so ive been tryin to find where i download the drive for it but cannot.
Can you PLEASE HELP! i have legit spent 4 hours on trying to make this work but have failed….i dont go on this site so do you think u can email me your response at ….? thanks you sooooo much in advance
@sarah lei carlos – That means Windows cannot find the right driver for your webcam. What Windows version are you running and what is the webcam brand and model? Or is it a laptop with built-in webcam? In that case, please list the laptop brand and model.
kyle: under the “other devices ” with a yellow question mark… what other steps can I do so that i can use my webcam?
@sarah lei carlos – Is the webcam device showing up in the Device Manager under Imaging devices? If not, the driver is not correctly installed or it is not the right driver.
@Dawn – The obvious option is to copy the CD to a USB stick on a computer that does have a CD driver, but you can also try the website of the webcam manufacturer and see if they have the driver available for download. What is the webcam brand and model and which Windows version are you using?
The webcam I bought came with a set up disk, but my laptop is all USB and doesnt have CD-ROM Drive, is there any way I can install my webcam without the disk? Please help !!
hi.. just wanna ask or help.. my computer is newly format, and i already install its driver.. i need to install my webcam but the installation can’t complete thought i alredy install the webcam’s cd driver.. hope can help me.. tnx.. this is my e-mail..
Luv u Kyle for your hard work. I knew what is a driver, but actually i just wanted to note your reply!! Plz can you mention and give me your email id, in case if there is any kind of help needed????
@Sifat – Have a look at our device drivers explained article.
What is a driver? plz help me….:(
@Rhens – Can you tell me the webcam brand and model, or is it a built-in webcam? In that case, what is the laptop brand and model?
And what Windows version are you running?
If you get an error regarding unsigned drivers, you might need to get different drivers, or try to install them in compatibility mode.
how can i install it easy..
i try it on.. but in dell board, usb 2.0 can’t install driver, says driver devices had passed in windows.. can help me please..
@Samnadar – If it is asking for the USB device driver, that means the right driver for the webcam is not on the computer.
Did you install the drivers for it? What is the webcam brand & model and what is your OS?
i have a problem in installin my philips web cam i have installed it but it is asking for theusb device driver
how can i use my webcam,during i use yahoo.messenger..my webcam do not work..can help me how to use may belt in webcam..im using mac computer,but microsoft OS.
@Kristina – First place to check is the compaq support website. If you can’t find the driver there, you can try a driver finder tool.
@Fixa – Same suggestion, try a driver finder tool to identify the webcam and see if it finds a driver for it. It might at least have a compatible driver for your webcam.
@Omer Raza – I think your Caps Lock is stuck…
Driver update tools will identify the webcam based on the hardware id, so that will tell you the model.
@cherish – Have you tried Debut Video Capture, which can be used to record videos using a webcam?
Excuse me, but I have a camera in my laptop. I try to look for it in my computer but I can find it :/ it only works when I’m webcaming with someone. I want to use it to post video’s on youtube but I cant find it. Help?
SIR I HAVE A WEBCAM BUT NOT THE DRIVERS CD AND I ALSO DON’T KNOW WHICH MANUFACTURES IT BECAUSE OF FOUND NOTHING WRITTEN ON THE WEBCAM. IT CREATES A PROBLEM FOR ME TO SEARCH FOR THE DRIVERS. WOULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM.
Hey can u help me ? My friend give me DELUX camera and i dont have instalation cd and i dont know which model is
I have a rocketfish webcam with no software or anything. What do I have to do to make it work?! My computer is a compaq presario, and I have windows. Help:(
@alexander – Sorry for the late reply… You should double-click the My Computer icon on the Desktop and then double-click the CD/DVD-drive icon (while the CD is in the drive obviously). It will either auto-start, or it will open an explorer window with the files in it. Look for a “setup.exe” or “install.exe” file and double-click that.
@christine – Yes, you can try downloading it from the Philips website.
Hi….i recently bought a Philips SPC530NC webcam…and discovered that i my disc drive is broke so i can install the software….i wont be able to get it fixed for a few weeks….and i was wondering if there was anyother way of gettng the software installed….
No I don;t know how to browse for the cd, any help?