How To Fix Webcam Problems
With broadband internet widely available, many PC users are actively using their webcams for video chatting and online meetings. Not only does the increased bandwidth facilitate the use of video over the internet, but improved webcams and better video compression also help a lot. But if your hardware is not working as it should be, a webcam is not much fun. So dealing with webcam problems can be a necessary evil. Webcam problems often simply mean there is no image to be seen, but in other cases, you might actually get an error message or will not be able to select the webcam as the video source in your programs.
In Windows Live Messenger, for example, you might get webcam error 0x8a70013, indicating a problem with the webcam device.
Steps to solve the webcam problems
Check the webcam connection
One of the very first steps is of course to check your webcam connection. Most webcams use the USB port to connect to the PC, so check if your USB cable is properly plugged in. For built-in webcams, these steps of course do not apply. Many new laptops have a built-in webcam. Also, try connecting your webcam directly to your PC instead of through a USB hub (if you are using one).
Enable the webcam
But don’t forget to check if you need to manually activate your webcam. In most cases, the webcam will be automatically activated by software that can use the webcam, but for some computer brands, it is necessary to press a certain key combination to activate the webcam (it will be a Function key, either with Alt or Ctrl or the Fn key, but check the laptop manual for details).
Some known key combinations:
<Fn> + <F9> (Alienware laptop webcams)
<Fn> + <F6> (Packard Bell laptops, MSI laptops, Lenovo laptops)
<Fn> + <F10> (Neo laptops, some Asus laptops)
Check the webcam in the Device Manager
The next thing to do is to check your Windows Device Manager and see if all hardware is recognized and installed properly. Use the Scan for hardware changes in the Action menu to make sure Windows lists all available hardware devices.
It might be that the hardware is recognized as a camera, but the right drivers are not installed. The yellow exclamation mark will indicate a problem.
If the device is not recognized in Windows, it will be listed under Other Devices.
In either case, you can try to update the drivers. Right-click the device, and in the popup menu select Update Driver Software (in Windows 11 – Update driver). Then follow the instructions on screen, but make sure you allow Windows to search the web for updated drivers.
In case no driver for the webcam can be found, you can try a third-party driver-finding program that scans your PC for installed hardware and allows you to install missing drivers.
Reinstall the webcam software
If this fails, the next step would be to uninstall the software that came with your webcam. Use the Add or Remove Programs feature in the Control Panel. If that does not work you can use a third party uninstaller.
After uninstalling the software, restart your PC and then reinstall the webcam software. In most cases, this will solve the problems. Depending on the software, you might need to unplug your webcam during the software installation. For many HP systems, you need to install the CyberLink YouCam software, which can be downloaded from the HP site (for Windows 7 and Windows 8). This program allows you to check the webcam feed to see if it is working.
Check the software settings
If the drivers and webcam software are correctly installed, and you still cannot see any video, there can be a problem with the program settings. Most chat and meeting software have a configuration option to select the video source for the webcam feature. If you have multiple devices that qualify for video, you might need to select your webcam device as the source for the webcam feature in that program.
Some webcams and programs require additional software, although that should be installed with the webcam if things are right. But is does not harm to check if your Java, Flash (discontinued in 2019) and Quicktime software (version 7.6) are installed and up to date. But certainly check your DirectX software, since all video applications, including webcams, use DirectX for video processing. Try downloading the latest DirectX version and install it (Windows XP: DirectX 9.0c – Windows Vista: DirectX 10 (version 11 for Vista with SP2) – Windows 7: DirectX 11 – Windows 8, 8.1: DirectX 11.2 is only available through the Windows Update function – Windows 10: DirectX 11.3 and 12 are included with Windows and updates are only available through Windows update).
Manual focus correction
Lastly, if your webcam’s image is not sharp, check to see if it has a focus ring. A blurry image can sometimes simply mean the webcam is not in focus. Adjusting the focus through the ring can solve that problem.
Adjust video capture quality
Other picture quality problems with webcams can be addressed by changing the video capture properties for the webcam. Most programs that can use a webcam will have the option to access the properties of the video source, which will bring up the video capture properties window.
Do keep in mind that not all settings will be enabled depending on the webcam and the webcam driver installed on your computer. In the example, you can see that some settings are disabled. The example shows the video capture properties for an Acer Crystal Eye webcam.
In Windows 11 the Camera properties look different. Access them by opening Settings from the Start menu, then select Bluetooth & devices in the left-hand pane, click Cameras in the right-hand pane, and then click your camera.
Camera Privacy Settings Causing Webcam Problems
Starting with Windows 8.1 (and Windows 10) there is a privacy setting in Windows that allows (or blocks) access to the camera. If access to the camera is blocked to Apps, your webcam will not work in certain applications.
Here are the steps to ensure that the camera is not blocked in Windows 10:
- From the Start menu, select Settings.
- In the Settings window, click on Privacy.
- Make sure that the setting for Let my apps use my camera is turned On.
Fix Flipped Camera Issues
Having the image from the camera shown as mirrored or upside down has been a long-time problem on some Windows-compatible webcams. In most cases, the right device driver for the camera will fix the issue.
If the camera image is not showing correctly, or changes to an incorrect image when using it to capture video, try the options below to fix it.
Registry tweak to flip camera
Although this solution is not applicable to all webcams, it is good to check if it is applicable in your case.
- Open the Registry Editor using the Windows + R keys and then type
regedit
in the Run box. Press Enter or click the OK button. - In the Registry Editor, select the top-level entry (Computer), and then use the File menu Export option to make a backup of the registry.
- Next, locate the following registry entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\
{6BDD1FC6-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}\0000\VIDEOPROCAMP - With the key selected, change entry in the right-hand panel called
HFLIP
from 0 to 1 (or from 1 to zero, depending on the current value). If the entry does not exist, you can create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value with that name.
Note: Use theVFLIP
entry for a vertical flip.
If you cannot find the key, this option probably will not work for your webcam.
Use software settings to flip the camera
If you cannot get the webcam image corrected in Windows itself, using the driver, settings, or registry tweak, you can often use program settings to correct the webcam image.
Do keep in mind that many video chat programs show you the mirrored image of the webcam while people on the other end see the correct image of you. So consider if it is really something that needs to be addressed!
In Zoom you can toggle video mirroring to change the image.
- Click the up arrow in the Video button on the Zoom meeting window.
- Select the Video Settings option in the popup menu.
- In the Video settings pane, unmark the option Mirror my video.
- Close the Video settings pane.
- Close and restart Zoom (close it completely from the Taskbar icon).
If you prefer working with web-based interfaces for online meeting and chat programs like Zoom, Google Meet, and others, installing a browser plugin or extension is the better way to go. For Chrome, there is VideoMirror, which is free and supports camera mirroring. There are others, but make sure to check that the mirror function is available in the free version before you install it.
If you are using your webcam for instant messaging / video chatting with one of the popular chat programs, have a look at ManyCam, which allows you to record your webcam but also allows screen recording, which allows you to record any video stream! Third-party programs like ManyCam act as a virtual webcam and even work to mirror the camera image in Discord, which is not otherwise possible.
Windows 10 Camera Problems
In one of the initial Windows 10 updates, a camera problem was introduced that needed a specific fix. The update causes the camera to stop working in most apps trying to use it. The update pertained to the Windows Frame Server Mode for processing webcam images. Microsoft disabled support for webcams using MJPEG and H264 compression. The way to address this is to disable the Frame Server Mode to allow it to work.
- Open the Registry Editor in Windows.
- Make a backup of the registry using the File -> Export option.
- Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Media Foundation\Platform
- Right-click in the left-hand pane and select New in the popup menu.
- Select DWORD (32-bit) Value and enter the
EnableFrameServerMode
as the name. - The value should be zero (0) by default, if not, change it to zero (0) by double-clicking the new key.
- If you are running a 64-bit version of Windows, you need to repeat these steps for the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Media Foundation\Platform
- Close the Registry Editor and check if the camera issue is fixed.
A restart of Windows should not be required, but if the fix does not work, restart Windows to make sure the changes take effect.
Realtek Webcam Problems
If your Windows system is using a webcam that is using Realtek components, a specific problem can occur. The Windows service host will report errors that report the camera frame service terminated unexpectedly. The error is caused by a Realtek driver file (RsProvider.dll). The file resides in the path: C:\Program Files\Realtek\RsProviders\RsProvider.dll (unless your system drive is not the C-drive).
You can either delete or rename the RsProviders folder or try a registry option to disable it. Lenovo provides a patch for its affected systems to disable it. The patch removes the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Analog\Providers\RsProvider
Before you change the registry, make a backup! If you decide to delete the RsProvider folder, also make a backup first (the better option is to try and rename it first).
Windows 11 Camera Troubleshooter
Microsoft has included a troubleshooter feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that can help fix common problems. So, if you experience a camera-related problem in one of these Windows versions, run the Camera Troubleshooter first.
- Open the Settings from the Start menu.
- Select Bluetooth & devices in the left-hand pane.
- Click Cameras in the right-hand pane.
- Select your Camera (USB2.0 HD UVC WebCam in the example).
- Click the Troubleshoot button.
Errors that can be solved this way include the 0xA00F4244
error showing NoCamerasAreAttached
. The Camera window will show the message “We can’t find your camera“.
A second frequent error in Windows 10 and Windows 11 relating to the webcam is error 0xA00F429F WindowsShowFailed
. The message, in this case, is “Can’t start your camera“.
In most cases, this is an App access issue (permissions), but just run the troubleshooter to see if it can be fixed by Windows automatically.
@jake – First thing to try is to reinstall the drivers. Later installed programs or driver software might have affected the webcam operation. Another thing to try is to use webcam application sharing software like ManyCam or SplitCam.
webcam* and its a samsung netbook
my laptop has a built in laptop and when i try to use in on msn it says please check that it is currently being used by another programme is it the cyberlink you cam which is already with the laptop or something else, help
@arjun – if the webcam only woks for a little while after a fresh installation, the webcam itself must have a problem, or something is being updated that affects the webcam operation negatively. Maybe there really is not compatible driver for your webcam for Windows 7 yet.
@Prasanna – Problems like that are in general not the result of the webcam, but indeed the connection. Try using a webcam recording program to record some video and see if that lasts beyond 2 minutes.
@eyqaa sb – first check if any other software is operational that could be using the webcam. One thing to try is a webcam sharing application, like ManyCam. Could also be a conflict with another USB device, so try unplugging other uSB devices.
@dent – First try reinstalling the drivers. Also test with different webcam programs to see if they all have the same problem.
@fraz – What is you webcam brand & model?
@noman – Try ManyCam to interface between your webcam and Yahoo messenger. If you have recently updated YM, try reinstalling the webcam drivers, the sequence can matter.
@yvonne ackles – You’ll need to be more specific with your problem description.
problem with webcam with laptop because i try apply for zooms,fouce, etc from hp.
Hi,
my cam is not workin on yahoo meessenger i have a4tech modle PK-710MJ cam .. its show connected but have’nt gt any image on window ..can u haelp me out ?
i am using windows 7.i think the drivers doesnt support my web cam on it…i have updated my drivers but its still not working..
HEY..i am in a dire need of ur help…
my web cam is appearing on MY COMputer option,,but when i open it the camera doesnt work..it doesnt show me my photage…the video screen just blackens..
hey. i have a problem with my webcam :(
whenever i try to open my webcam, it says “camera is busy”
what shoud i do? i have a built-on webcam.
i hate it when my webcam got problems. oh and sometime i can use the webcam. but most of the time, i can’t. psssh!
hie guys, m using iball c12.0. while m on video chat, the connection breaks within 2 minutes…but i checked d connection, it was proper. is there any fault in ma webcam? because it happens only when i m in video chat.
Pla help…………..
Thnx for the reply……………..But still am unable to Find the Webcam………..Cz the windows 7 itself cannot find the device ………Only 2 weeks back it shows my Webcam under the name HP WEBCAM 101………this is the name of my webcam….I installed hp webcam driver also ……No use its not detectng Its says best driver is already installed …………….what to do?
@FRaz – Are you certain you have right driver for the webcam? And what program are you using, do all programs give this error?
@arjun – Are you using any other USB devices? Try unplugging all other USB devices and see if that helps. You can also try the tips in our article about usb device not recognized errors.
Hi……..I have problem with my webcam…….am using compaq cq50-106au lap top…One day i was working suddenly i got an error regarding usb not reconganized and it malfuncitoned ……that day on wards i couldnt able to use my webcam…….after i changing to windows 7 ……..i got the cam work in the name of hp webcam 101…after few days again i got the same error usb malfuncioned………..now again i lost my cam from its working……….i tried all the softwares recommanded from Hp site but its not giving a solution ………..after installing also my in built webcam is not working…….i dont know what is the real problem behind this…….Hope u can solve this awaiting for u r reply…………….Thx
i hava accer aspire 5920..it has a built in web cam..i also installd the driver..but whn i try to opn it this error appears (camera not found).Help me.
Ok, thank you for your help!
@Jonathan Assouline – It is of course possible that the webcam really has a connection problem. In that case you will need to take it to an HP service center, or get a new external webcam.
@jay – Are you certain you have the right driver for your webcam and Windows version? Do you see the Crystal Eye webcam at all in the device manager, or maybe an unknown device?
@Sandy – Were new updates installed or something? What do you see in the device manager, is the webcam at listed there?
@Sara – A few things you can try. First try reinstalling the Acer webcam drivers. If that does not help, try downloading and (re)installing the DirectX runtime version for your system. You can type “dxdiag” at the Run option in the Start menu to find out the current version.
@edd – What is your Windows version? You can try using SplitCam or Manycam, which will allow you to use your webcam simultaneously in multiple applications.
ello i have a sweex cam , and when i try to use it on msn says that this device is already in use, ive done all of yours steps above adn i have no clue what to do
Well, I have the Acer Crystal Eye Webcam on my Laptop. And every time I open the webcam..its frozen. I open it up and it just freezes the picture. Everything is fine..even when i went on the device Manager..It says this webcam works properly. I don’t know what to do. But also there is no error message when i’m video chatting.
Hello, I just rebooted my laptop & it’s a vaio one. The nest thing I know that my webcam isn’t working. Can you please help me?
i have an acer ASPIRE 5532-5535 laptop and it says it has a webcam. i downloaded the driver and it still says that no device is found. what to do?! please help fast
Alright, I just restored the system to Feb 2nd, where I don’t recall any problem with the cam. And it still doesn’t recognize it. Still says “USB unknown device”.
I am starting to believe that there is no solution to my problem…
@Jonathan Assouline – Setting the system date back won’t help. You need to use “System Restore” to bring the configuration back to an earlier period. Just type system restore in the Windows help.
@Luke – You tried reinstalling the webcam software and driver? What is the laptop brand and model?
@Sean – Well something obviously changed, so somehow you need to bring it back to that state. If system restore does not work, reinstalling all software, or worse case even the operating system, might be required :(
@Marina – “It does not show any errors”, does that mean the webcam device is listed and indicating no errors, or is the webcam device not there? Should be under Imaging devices.
And what program are you using to access the webcam? Maybe try a different program to see if that also gives the error.
@Darren Preece – Are you certain the webcam is not in use by any other program? That could explain the unavailability in NetMeeting. Check for any startup programs that are related to the webcam as well.
I have a MS LifeCam NX3000 successfully installed (LifeCam 3.0.215.0 drivers) and working but I can not see the video in NetMeeting on an XPSP2 laptop. When I make a call I can see host video but not send mine. All the video controls in Netmeeting for sending or selecting a video device are greyed out. Any suggestions would be greatfully received.
No, it does not show any errors in my device manager and Yes, it is a built-in webcam.
I don’t know how to re-install the driver software but I have been using the webcam on the tv thru the HDMI cable before and nothing’s went wrong. No idea what to do