Laptop webcam image quality and settings gone

[Unkryp]

After my first windows clean install  my webcam was never the same. The Camera settings are gone and the image quality is awful.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Unkryp 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like your webcam image quality significantly deteriorated after you did a clean install of Windows, and now you’re unable to access the camera settings. This issue can arise from missing or outdated drivers, incorrect settings, or software conflicts after a fresh installation. Here's a detailed guide to help you troubleshoot and hopefully restore your webcam to its proper working state.

1. Check if Webcam Drivers Are Installed

A clean installation of Windows can sometimes result in missing or outdated drivers for your webcam, which can directly affect both functionality and image quality. Let’s start by checking if your webcam drivers are installed and up to date.

How to check and update your webcam drivers:

Open Device Manager:

• Right-click on the Start Menu and select Device Manager.
• Scroll down and look for Imaging Devices.
• If your webcam is installed, you should see it listed here (e.g., Integrated Camera or HD Camera).

Update or reinstall drivers:

• Update Driver: Right-click on your webcam and select Update Driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will search for the latest driver and install it.
• Reinstall Driver: If the camera driver is listed but still has issues, you can try reinstalling it. Right-click on the webcam, select Uninstall device, and then restart your laptop. Windows should automatically reinstall the correct driver after reboot.

Manually download drivers:

• If Windows is unable to find the correct driver or the webcam is not listed, you can go to your laptop manufacturer’s website (HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.) and download the latest webcam driver from their support page. Be sure to select the correct model and operating system version (e.g., Windows 10 or Windows 11).

2. Check Privacy SettingsAfter a clean install, the privacy settings may have reset, and Windows may be blocking apps from accessing the camera.

How to check privacy settings:

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Camera.
2. Make sure the toggle for Allow apps to access your camera is turned On.
3. Scroll down and ensure the specific apps (like Zoom, Skype, or Teams) that you want to use the camera with are enabled in the list.

3. Check Camera Settings in the Camera App

Sometimes the Camera app itself may have its own settings that could affect image quality.

1. Open the Camera app: Type Camera into the Start Menu and open the app.
2. Check the settings inside the app. Look for any options that affect resolution, video quality, or filters.
   • If your webcam is using the default settings, try adjusting the resolution or brightness/contrast to see if that improves image quality.
   • Some webcams have advanced settings like low-light correction, which could impact the image quality.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support