Camera not found on HP Spectre x360 or HP ENVY (0xA00F4244<NoCamerasAreAttached> or Black Screen)

[EddyK]

Symptoms (Case A)

• When opening up the Windows 10 Camera application, the message "We can't find your camera" with error code 0xA00F4244<NoCamerasAreAttached> appears

• The webcam does not function in Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype or other webcam-accessing applications
• The camera does not appear in Device Manager under Cameras or Imaging Devices 

Symptoms (Case B)

• Upon opening a webcam-accessing application, only a black screen appears
• The camera appears in Device Manager and is detected by the device

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Diagnosis

This issue can affect users with newer HP Spectre x360 13 models, HP Spectre x360 15 models, HP ENVY, and HP ENVY x360 models.

This includes, but is not limited to, the models listed in the table below.

HP Spectre x360 - 13-ap0xxx	HP Spectre x360 - 13t-ap000
HP Spectre x360 - 13-aw0xxx	HP Spectre x360 - 13t-aw000
HP Spectre x360 - 15-df0xxx	HP Spectre x360 - 15t-df000
HP Spectre x360 - 15-df1xxx	HP Spectre x360 - 15t-df000
HP Spectre x360 - 15-eb0xxx	HP Spectre x360 - 15t-eb000
HP ENVY 13-aq0xxx	HP ENVY 13t-aq000
HP ENVY 13-aq1xxx	HP ENVY 13t-aq100
HP ENVY 13-ba0xxx	HP ENVY 13t-ba000
HP ENVY x360 - 13-ar0xxx	HP ENVY x360 - 13m-ar0xxx
HP ENVY x360 - 15-ds0xxx	HP ENVY x360 - 15z-ds000
HP ENVY x360 - 15-dr0xxx	HP ENVY x360 - 15m-dr0xxx
HP ENVY x360 - 15-dr1xxx	HP ENVY x360 - 15m-dr1xxx
HP ENVY x360 - 15-ed0xxx	HP ENVY x360 - 15m-ed0xxx
HP ENVY - 15-ep0xxx	HP ENVY - 15t-ep000
HP ENVY - 17-ce0xxx	HP ENVY - 17t-ce000
HP ENVY - 17-ce1xxx	HP ENVY - 17t-ce100
HP ENVY - 17-cg0xxx	HP ENVY - 17m-cg0xxx

*This table will be updated as frequently as possible

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Solution

The above listed HP notebook PCs are equipped with either a privacy camera kill switch or a webcam shutter key, the former which can cut off power to the front-facing webcam causing the error in Case A, and the latter which physically covers the camera, causing the issue described in Case B. Both of these protect the user from any potential hackers. Therefore, the error message / black screen you are seeing is proof of the functionality of a privacy-related feature and is not due to an actual hardware or software issue.

To use your webcam, simply slide the privacy camera switch on the right side of your HP notebook PC or press the webcam shutter key which is in the position of F13, at the top row of the keyboard.

Privacy Camera Kill Switch currently in "ON" Position

Webcam Shutter Key positioned at the top row of the keyboard

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Further Support

If your webcam kill switch or webcam shutter key is malfunctioning, the camera does not appear in Device Manager, and there appears to be a hardware issue, please contact HP Support.

Contact HP Worldwide here.

Phone HP Worldwide here.

Check warranty status here.

Find an HP Authorized Service Center near you here.

If you are experiencing the same issue but your HP Notebook PC does not have a camera kill switch or webcam shutter key, please create a new post in the HP Support Community for better exposure.