How to fix 'Laptop camera not detected' issue in Windows?
Jul 09, 2025 am 12:53 AMWhen the camera is not recognized by the Windows system, you can check the permission settings, update the driver, use the system troubleshooting tools, confirm the hardware switch status, and eliminate third-party software conflicts in turn. First, open "Settings" → "Privacy and Security" → "Camera" to ensure that both global and application permissions are enabled; secondly, update or uninstall the reinstallation camera driver through "Device Manager", and download the latest version from the official website if necessary; then run the camera detection tool in "Troubleshooting" to automatically repair the configuration problems; at the same time, confirm whether the camera physical switch, shortcut key or BIOS settings are enabled, and clear lens occlusion; finally close the security software or virtual camera program that may conflict, and test whether the switching of different applications will return to normal. If the above steps are invalid, it may be hardware damage and you need to contact after-sales service.
It is really a headache to suddenly not recognize the computer camera by the system. This issue is particularly urgent when using video conferencing, online courses or remote communication. The "Laptop camera not detected" problem under Windows system may be caused by a variety of reasons, but it can be fixed in most cases.

Below we have compiled several common troubleshooting and solutions, which are suitable for ordinary users and do not require too deep technical background.
1. Check the camera permission settings
To protect privacy, Windows may not have camera access enabled by default. If you have manually turned it off before, or if the system has been updated and reset the permissions, the camera will not be used.

Operation steps:
- Open Settings → "Privacy and Security" → "Camera"
- Make sure "Allow apps to access the camera" is on
- Scroll down to check whether the software you use (such as Zoom, Teams, Chrome) is also allowed to access the camera
Tip: Sometimes, even if the overall permission is enabled, some applications still do not have permissions and need to be confirmed separately.
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2. Update or reinstall the camera driver
Driver errors are one of the common reasons why cameras are not detected. Sometimes Windows does not automatically update the driver, which requires manual intervention.
Operation suggestions:
- Press
Win X
and select "Device Manager" - Expand the Camera or Image Device options
- Right-click on your camera device → select "Update Driver"
- If the update is invalid, you can try right-clicking to uninstall the device, and then restart the computer and let the system reinstall
Common situations: Some brands of laptops (such as Dell and Lenovo) come with dedicated camera drivers, and the latest version download on the official website may be more effective.
3. Use the system troubleshooting tool
Windows comes with a simple but practical troubleshooting tool that can sometimes automatically detect and fix camera problems.
How to use:
- Open "Settings" → "System" → "Troubleshooting"
- Click "Other Troubleshooting"
- Find the "Camera" entry and click "Run"
This tool will automatically scan for some basic configuration errors, service status and other problems and try to fix them.
4. Check hardware switches or physical occlusions
Although it sounds a bit basic, many people ignore that their laptops have physical camera switches or keyboard shortcuts to control the camera's enabled status.
Common ways include:
- Function key combination (such as Fn a certain F key)
- Sliding camera cover
- Camera disabled in BIOS (less)
Also, make sure the camera lens is not blocked by stickers, dust or protective cases.
5. Check whether there are third-party software conflicts
Some security software, privacy tools, or virtual camera programs (such as ManyCam, OBS) may occupy or block the default camera device.
You can try:
- Close the running related software
- Check if any background processes occupy the camera in Task Manager
- Switch to another camera application to test (such as switching from WeChat video to camera application to view)
Basically these common ways of dealing with it. In most cases, the problem can be solved by following the above method step by step. If you have tried it all, it may be due to hardware damage. It is recommended to contact after-sales service for further inspection.
The above is the detailed content of How to fix 'Laptop camera not detected' issue in Windows?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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