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
regeditin 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
HFLIPfrom 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 theVFLIPentry 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
EnableFrameServerModeas 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.
Hi, I ran into this website looking for solutions for my laptop’s webcam. I use an acer emachines e525, the webcam used to work properly until my uncle upgraded my os from vista home and student to vista ultimate, now the webcam only works on applications, e.g. skype, etc. But I can’t find it on the laptop itself, however it does show that it works when I check my device manager. Can you help me solve this problem? Thanks
My daughter as a built in webcam on her ACER laptop. She only got it at christmas. Just the other day she accidently dented the plastic covering over the webcam, and it has severley affected the webcam quality, causing it to blur, stretch and lighten the images…
Any idea of how to fix this???
I bought a werbcam off ebay and it was working fine now that i was twisting the moveable lens, when i plugged it in today it won’t work, can anybody help me? PLEASE HELP ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi there, when im using the cam with a friend of mine. He would tell me that my cam would pause for a second or two. and that they cant hear me………..i have a lenovo laptop 4gmemory 320gb hard drive. and a fast comcast internet connection. thanks.
I looked under the device manager and no camera is there but it is saying in other place it was installed
Yesterday I fell asleep and my logitech cam was on and fell over.The ball fell off. The webcam broadcaster with the eyespyfx site said video was stopped. I exchanged the camera,reinstalled,all of it and it still says video was stopped…how can i resolve this?
@Andrew White – From the past the problem you describe was often caused by compatibility issues with webcam programs that used video for windows instead of the WDM, but I am not sure that is still the cause in Windows 7. Try Yahoo messenger and see if that works (did not have that problem in those scenarios).
Sometimes a conflict with a driver of a TV Tuner card can also cause such issues. If you have one installed, check if the drivers are up to date and see if that has any permanent software running.
Last thing to try as a workaround is to use SplitCam.
I have a Creative hd webcam with Live Central 3 on my win7 ultimate pc. All I am getting is this when I try and turn on the webcam. “Your webcam may be used by another application, Close the application to start video streaming.” I am unable to view my webcam on Live Central 3, MSN or Skype. I tried looking for an application which may be using the webcam with no sucess. Well stuck here. Any help appreciated.
@mark – Not sure what person.com is using, but just check that you have the right browser plugin installed (most video streaming uses the Flash player, but it could also be QuickTime or Silverlight). And check the firewall to make sure that the incoming video stream is not blocked.
@RAE – From both your comments it seems to be a network related problem indeed. Best thing to do is to ask your Internet Service Provider about this (the one that gave you the connection over the satellite dish). It might not be a bandwidth issue, but a latency issue (they will know).
@Momo – See if the webcam works in another program. Also check that the webcam installer did not install a permanent webcam program that might lock your webcam. If so, just terminate that and try again. If that works, remove the program from automatic startup.
Last option is to use a program like SplitCam to share the access to your webcam between multiple applications.
@Caspar – There are quite a few webcam manufacturers that make 3rd party webcams and do not provide end user products (nor support). Chicony is one such manufacturer.
You can safely try webcam drivers from other manufacturers, but finding them will be a bit hard as you need to match them on the hardware id of the webcam device. Using a driver finder program will make that easy though.
Hi,
I have a built in chicony usb webcam. I’ve called them and asked them about drivers and they told me to contact they do not make drivers fro their built in webcams but live it to the computer manufacturer. In my case that means acer but some toshiba computers also seem to use chicony cams. When contacting Acer customer support they tell me to install AcerCrystalEye. Thing is it is not a driver, it’s just some useless program which is installed on the computer which lets you change some setting, whether or not I have acer crystal eye installed or not does not affect my camera quality. The driver which I do have already installed is a generic driver produced by microsoft in 2006, 6.1.7601.17514. My question is, in the case that there are NO drivers produced for my webcam is there some camera driver which will work better with my webcam? I’ve downloaded the lastest camera drivers from Microsoft, which I find by searching they’re driver database for chicony and get a list of ten drivers, three of which are for windows 7 (my os) but when I try to update my computer tells me all my drivers are up to date and will not update. Needless to say, in the future I’m going to check if the laptops I’m planning on buying have a chicony webcam and if so I’ll avoid them like the plague. Thanks for any advice and/or help. Great page btw.
C
My webcam want work for oovoo , Its sayin tht its in use ! but idk were its being in use ! I jus bought the webcam today !!
IN YAHOOO………….. I TRY TO CAM AND IT KEEPS SAYING ON THERE COMPUTER AND MINE INTERNECT CONECTION TO SLOW I HAVE DISH SATELITE CAN I SPEED ANYTHING UP
WHEN I TRY TO USE MY WEB CAM IN CHAT ON BE NAUGHTY OR IN FLIRT IT GIVES ME A MESSAGE… ERROR NO CONECTION TO SERVER… I CAN SEE THEM FINE BUT MY CAM WONT WORK
i just bought a laptop and my webcam wrks but i cnt view others on person.com
my cam wrks fine i just bought a laptop bit i cnt view other webcams on person.com but thy cn all see me
@nic – What is “it”? So which program is saying camera not found? Have you tried various applications? And especially try a program like SplitCam, in most cases that will recognize and support the webcam. This assumes of course that the webcam drivers are installed, but that can be seen from the Device Manager.
@Khaled – Upside down webcam images are generally fixed by reinstalling the webcam driver. Have you tried that?
Also check if the webcam shows upside down in the standard webcam program, it could be a compatibility with Skype.
Hi, im having a prob , when i want to take a snapshot on Skype with my web cam it shows it upside down , how can i fix this. thnx
it is saying camera not found and i dont know how to open it
@eden – I cannot open the link you sent, but one thing you can try is installing SplitCam. That is assuming the webcam works in other applications.
Maybe you can type the error message here?
@rayms – I don’t know about the redfox wizpad, but if you can let me know the hardware ID of the unknown device, I can check which driver should be used.
@Allen – First check if the webcam still works in other applications. If it does, it could be that a Skype update is the cause. In that case, try a previous version of Skype to see if the webcam works in that.
If the webcam does not work in any application, I’d try reinstalling the webcam drivers first.
My webcam was working last week and all of a sudden it does not come up anymore! i have tried everything but when i plug it in the audio works fine but on skype i go to check to see if its working and it cannot find my webcam sais i dont have one plugged in! which it clearly is any help would be great Thanks.
im using a redfox wizpad 1030w, webcam is showing as unknown device, techsupport had sent a driver, but still the same, tried to uninstall and restart pc, then install driver thru net, the same result. can anybody help?
my friend left me her laptop but i don’t know how to use the cam on yahoo messenger. when i open the cam it says “http://ph.docs.yahoo.com/info/messenger/error/webcam-error.html?fmt=2.0&intl=ph&os=win&ver=10.0.0.1270?=en-PH ” please tell me what should i do with this.
@Natasha – Have you tried using SplitCam?
@tony – If the webcam worked just recently, something obviously changed. If you know what, it is best to reverse that change. If not, you can check the Device Manager to see if the webcam device has any errors. If not, try reinstalling the webcam driver or software to see if that helps.
For more help, please include the Windows version and webcam or notebook model in your comment.
webcam does not seem to working on skype yahoo etc what should i do to check the settings etc. Had worked just the other day
my webcam is ok in skype but when i wanna show it in yahoo messenger it is full black window ……. i can see others cam clear …what i should do plz help me…..