HP Envy Webcam Not Working

[Apple8986]

where is this privacy switch?

[TTotally]

How do I backup my laptop data before resetting it?  

[beta_test]

[83Nicole]

Dfittro! Thank you!!! Did not realize the computer had a kill switch. I've been all over the web trying to figure out why my camera wasn't being recognized! That should definitely be the FIRST question HP asks the customer about. I appreciate your help.

[kristi2424]

You absolutely ROCK!!! I have literally tried everything and was in the same boat with you!  I swear I wish I had known about this switch when all of this started!!!! I am so excited to have my camera back during this virtual world we are living in now.  THANK YOU for sharing!!! 

[beta_test]

... to be honest i was only a few seconds before reinstalling windows on the laptop ... and then i found .... 😉

[LostVal]

OMG, I just solved this problem on my HP Envy! I spent HOURS looking for help online, trying this and that, nothing worked. FINALLY I found the problem, and it was SOOO silly and easy. I hope your webcam problem can be fixed the same way. 

First of all, I found the solution from Virtual Agent on support.hp.com.  This is what it was: 

"Some HP Notebooks have a privacy switch or a camera shutter key that can be used to turn off your webcam and prevent it from being used.

Camera Privacy Switch

The camera privacy switch turns the camera off and on. By default, the camera is turned on. To turn off your camera, slide the switch toward the icon next to the switch. To turn the camera back on, slide the switch away from the icon."

I guess I switched it off by accident at some point and this is all it was!  My switch was on the right side of the laptop, and it looks like a camera with a a line across.  I hope it helps you too.  Just in case, below is the link to the hp support website. 

https://support.hp.com/us-en

[SweetiePie57]

I have the same problem but with my HP Envy AllInOne PC.  I have not been able to use the Hello signon feature of Win10 for some time now and I cannot figure out what the problem is.  Both my cameras appear in the Device Manager and I do not have any updates in the HP Manager.  My Windows 10 is up to date.  I cannot find any privacy switch on this PC.  Has anyone else had this problem and know how to fix it?

[bbwhais80]

Thank you so much for posting that about the tiny switch on the side of the laptop keyboard. Sadly, I did a complete Windows reset before seeing your post about the switch. I so wish I'd seen your post first. I wish HP would create some kind of feature where we could mark your post as "most helpful," so that others coming here for advice about the same issue would see yours at the top of the list. 

[beta_test]

Hi, just to make sure that it is a similar problem: is your camera not working at all or is it just a problem with the signon feature?