HP 15Z Poor Webcam Solution

[JenCC]

Hello,

I just received my HP 15 laptop, purchased with the intent of teaching online courses via zoom. I chose this computer because it got good reviews, was affordable, and came with a webcam. That said, when i tried out the webcam today I was deeply disappointed in the clarity, I am new to Zoom and thought maybe that was just how it looked, but after seeing a crystal clear picture on my phone, it is obvious that it is the computer. I tried going into settings to adjust, but it looks like the best resolution I can get is by clicking on the 480p option which is still extremely poor quality.

I realize this is a budget friendly computer, but am still surprised at just how behind the curve this particular aspect is. So my question is, is there anything I can do to improve the quality of this webcam? And if not, do I need to purchase a separate webcam to attach to the computer (from what I am reading, it seems like a 1080p option is best, but I am not well-versed enough to know exactly what to look for... can I choose any webcam and assume it'll be compatible with this computer?)

I start teaching tomorrow and was not anticipating an additional hurdle and cost, so any quick recommendations would be very much appreciated! I know it is not an issue with upgrading as the computer just arrived today.

Thank you!

[praveen196]

@JenCC Welcome to HP Community!

I understand that you are unhappy with the Camera Resolution.

Don't worry I'll look into it.

Let's try updating the Camera Driver from the Device Manager.

- In Windows, search for and open Device Manager.
- In the list of devices, look for Imaging Device and expand the list
- Right-click the driver and select Update Driver Software.
- Click Search automatically for updated driver software.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the updated driver.
- Restart your computer to complete the installation of the updates.

Also, update the BIOS from Here

Keep us posted,

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Give us a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon below, followed by clicking on the "Accept as solution" on this post, 

Have a great day!

[JenCC]

Thank you for your help. I did update the driver and it already had the latest version installed (the computer is brand new). I think the camera is just much lower quality than I realized so I was forced to purchase a separate one. The screen is extremely grainy and not equipped for teaching from a few feet away from the computer. Disappointing, as I have enjoyed HP products in the past. Hoping the separate webcam will solve my problem. 

[praveen196]

@JenCC

I understand your concerns. 

I would suggest you contact our phone support and check for the support option. They will help you.

Here is how you can get in touch with phone support.
 

1)Click on this link - www.hp.com/contacthp/

2)Select the product type.

3)Enter the serial number of your device or select let HP detect your product option.

4)Select the country from the drop-down.

5)You should see the HP phone support number or Chat option listed.
 

We are experiencing longer than expected wait times to reach an agent due to the CoViD-19 impact and there might have been issues in you getting the expected resolution on the issue. 

Have a nice day!!