You open a video call and your face never appears. The preview is black, or the app says it cannot find a camera. With Windows 11 camera not working, the cause is usually a simple switch, not broken hardware. Work through the fixes below in order, because Microsoft’s own troubleshooting page puts the quick checks first and the driver steps last.
Last checked against Microsoft’s support pages: October 10, 2026.
Windows 11 Camera Not Working: Start With the Quick Checks
First, rule out the physical causes. Many laptops have an Fn-key combination, a dedicated camera key in the top row, a slide switch on the side, or a small shutter over the lens. Make sure the switch is in the on position and the shutter is open. If you use an external webcam, unplug it, plug it into a different USB port, and try it on another computer to see whether the camera itself is the problem.
Next, restart the PC. A full restart is different from waking the device from sleep, and it clears many temporary glitches that keep an app from reaching the camera.
Windows 11 Camera Not Working? Check the Privacy Settings
Windows blocks camera access by default in several places, so this is the most common cause of a Windows 11 camera not working. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera and check three switches:
- Turn on Camera access. If it is greyed out, an administrator on the PC has to change it.
- Turn on Let apps access your camera. Below it, the list shows Microsoft Store apps, and you can switch each one on or off.
- Turn on Let desktop apps access your camera. Browsers and apps like Teams count as desktop apps, so this switch matters for most video calls. You cannot set it for each desktop app separately.
Microsoft explains each switch on its page about managing camera permissions.
Test the Camera App to Narrow Down the Problem
Open Start > Camera. If the camera works there, the hardware is fine and the problem sits in the other app. In that case, check that app’s own settings, close it, and reopen it. If your Windows 11 camera is still not working in the Camera app too, keep going with the steps below.
Fix Windows 11 Camera Not Working With Updates and the Troubleshooter
Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Then open Advanced options > Optional updates and install any camera driver update. Restart when it finishes.
After that, run the built-in fix. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and click Run next to Camera. Microsoft also points to the camera troubleshooter in the Get Help app as the first thing to try.
Check Your Antivirus and Firewall
Some security software blocks camera access, and it can make a Windows 11 camera not working even when every switch is on. Pause it for a few minutes, then test the camera again. If the camera works, look in the security app’s settings for a camera or webcam protection option and allow the app you need. Turn the protection back on afterward.
Windows 11 Camera Not Working: Fix the Driver in Device Manager
If nothing above helps, the driver may be damaged or out of date. Open Start, search for Device Manager, and look under Cameras, Imaging devices or Sound, video and game controllers.
- Use Action > Scan for hardware changes and test again.
- If the problem started after an update, open the camera’s Properties, go to the Driver tab, and select Roll Back Driver if the button is available.
- If that does not work, select Uninstall Device and check the box to remove the driver if it appears. Then run Action > Scan for hardware changes, restart, and test.
If the camera still fails, visit the manufacturer’s website for a newer driver. Microsoft details these steps on its camera troubleshooting page.
Windows 11 Camera Not Working With an Error Code
If the Camera app shows a code, this table points you to the likely fix.
| Error code | What it means | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| 0xA00F4244 | Camera not detected | Check the connection. In Device Manager, right-click the camera and choose Enable device if you see it. |
| 0xA00F4243, 0xA00F4289, 0x80070005 | Camera in use or access denied | Close other apps using the camera, then check privacy settings and security software. |
| 0xA00F4292 | Restricted by policy | On a work device, ask your IT admin. Also check privacy settings. |
| 0x800705AA | Not enough resources | Close unused apps and restart. Update the driver in Device Manager. |
| 0xA00F4246 | Locked by security software | Pause your antivirus or firewall, then update it. |
How we verify this guide
We checked every step and error code in this article against Microsoft’s official support pages on the date shown at the top, and we link the exact pages below. Menu names can change with updates, so if something on your screen no longer matches, trust Microsoft’s page and let us know so we can fix it. You can read more about how we work on our About page.
Sources: Camera doesn’t work in Windows and Manage app permissions for a camera in Windows.
