Built In Webcam Not working

[ambera97]

My camera has stopped working. When I turn it on, the light blinks on and off. When I go into the device manager, it comes and goes like it detects it and it doesn't. I do not have a place where I can or can't run the webcam and I need to get this back up and working as I do a lot of calls for Zoom and other things. Help!

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @ambera97,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you are facing an issue with your webcam blinking and disappearing/reappearing in Device Manager suggests a hardware or driver problem. Here are steps to troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

1. Verify Camera Toggle Key

• Ensure the webcam is enabled via the function keys. Most HP laptops have a camera toggle on the F6, F10, or a similar key. Look for a key with a camera icon and press it while holding F

2. Update the Webcam Driver

1. Open Device Manager:
   • Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Locate Camera:
   • Look for your webcam under Imaging devices or Cameras.
   • If it disappears, try refreshing Device Manager (Action > Scan for hardware changes).
3. Update Driver:
   • Right-click the camera > Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
4. Reinstall Driver:
   • If the update fails, uninstall the camera driver by right-clicking and selecting Uninstall device, then restart your laptop.

3. Check for Hardware Changes

• If the camera reappears intermittently, go to Device Manager, select Action > Scan for hardware changes, and see if it stabilizes.

4. Check Windows Camera Privacy Settings

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
2. Go to Privacy & security > Camera.
3. Ensure the toggle for Camera access and Let apps access your camera is turned on.
4. Scroll down to ensure Desktop apps have permission to access the camera.

5. Check for Windows Updates

• Go to Settings > Windows Update and check for updates.
• Install any pending updates, as they may include bug fixes for the camera.

6. Run the Camera Troubleshooter

1. Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
2. Find Camera and click Run.

7. Update BIOS and Firmware

• Visit the HP Support website and enter your laptop's serial number.
• Check for any BIOS updates or firmware updates for the webcam.
• Follow the instructions to install updates carefully.

8. Test Webcam in a Different App

• Open the Camera app (search for it in the Start menu) to test if the issue is app-specific.
• If it works in the Camera app but not in Zoom, reset Zoom settings:
  • Open Zoom > Settings > Video and ensure the correct camera is selected.
  • Try disabling hardware acceleration in Zoom.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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