One of the most popular and demanded programs all over the world is Skype. An application that allows you to carry out high-quality voice and reliable video communication over the Internet, it is trusted by millions of users. However, any program has its weaknesses. The most common problem with skype - the application does not see the camera.
Common causes
A modern laptop has a built-in camera, which is sufficient for video transmission.
There are many reasons why Skype does not find this equipment, here are the main ones:
- driver problems;
- the camera is busy with another program;
- not updated application;
- malfunction of the device itself.
Let's try to figure it out in detail with the solution of the most common of them.
Webcam driver
The first thing to do when you find such an obstacle is to check if the drivers are installed on the camera. If so, is it done correctly? To do this, open the device manager.
There are several ways to perform this action:
- for Windows 7. "Start" - two clicks with the right mouse button on the position "My Computer" - select the line "Properties";
- for Windows 7, 8, you can simultaneously press the Win + R keys and type devmgmt.msc, then Enter;
- in Windows XP, just click “My Computer” and launch the camera.
Having opened the task manager, you should find the item "Imaging Devices". Here is information about the webcam.
We open the properties of this element and see if there is an exclamation mark or a red cross. If everything is in order, then in the state of the equipment there should be an inscription "The device is working normally" So the reason is not in the drivers.
Diagnostics
If everything is in order with the drivers, then it is necessary to check the operability of the camera. It should be turned on. There is a key with a camera icon on the laptop keyboard, or you can use the instructions for your equipment. If the user sees himself in the image, then the technique is all right. It is working, but Skype gives an error "... did not find a webcam ...". What to do? We act as follows.
Video: Camera does not work
Settings
To set up a video, you need to start Skype on your laptop. To do this, you need to log in to the application by entering your username and password.
After starting the program, you should adhere to the instructions below:
If all actions are performed correctly, then the user's image will appear on the right. If there is no picture, then you should check all the settings again. In the same position, you can configure parameters such as "Show my video", "Auto screen display"... Sometimes completely incomprehensible errors arise. It seems that the camera is configured correctly, and the drivers are all right.
It seems that the developers of the application themselves do not know the reasons for this problem. It can appear at any moment and can suddenly disappear. Users found a way out of this situation on their own: it is enough to install another, in most cases the previous version of the program. How to do this is below.
Removing problematic Skype
If it becomes necessary to completely remove the program from the laptop, you should follow the instructions below: first, close the application. To do this, open the program, click on the "Skype" icon and select "exit" from the list presented. Next, we act depending on the operating system installed on the laptop:
You cannot completely delete your account in the application. If you stop using it, then three days after the last access to the network, it is in automatic mode will be erased from user searches. Subsequently, as soon as the user logs back into the network, he will automatically update.
Download new
It is very easy to download and install on your laptop the program for making voice communications, video calls, exchanging messages and files. The app is in free access on the Internet on specialized resources.
The download does not require any registration or money transfer. This application is free. Just click on the download link and follow the instructions.
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Installing a web camera
If the application does not find the camera after all attempts, then nothing remains but to replace it. You can buy a new external camera with microphone and connect it to your laptop via USB port... After all the steps have been completed, you should start the application. The application should automatically find a new camera. If this did not happen, then you should go to the program settings and select the "camera - debug" item.
Disable program updates
The device was functioning correctly but stopped working unexpectedly after a scheduled upgrade. Such situations are encountered at every turn. The problem may arise due to driver incompatibility. What to do if the application does not see the camera on the laptop after the update.
You need to disable them:
Skype does not see the webcam on the laptop
Other common problems that interfere with the correct operation of the application include:
All problems are solvable. The main thing is the right approach and a little patience.
Checking the camera for use by another program
In some cases, at startup, the user may receive a message with the following content: unable to start video broadcasting. Close all other programs that might be using the video device.
It's important to remember. The camera can only transfer the image to one program at a time. If not follow this rulethen either there will be no image or the above message will appear.
The solution to this problem is that before starting, you must close all applications that intercept the video stream. If the user does not understand which program is interfering with the correct operation of the application, then you can simply restart the laptop.
Is this camera in the settings
To select a video device, you need to go to the program settings:
Only one driver is needed to operate the connected device. If multiple drivers are installed, a conflict may occur.
In this case, the user needs to remove all incompatible drivers:
Almost all modern laptops are equipped with built-in webcams that allow you to communicate with loved ones via video calls, take instant pictures and even replace a mirror. Usually, these devices are turned on by default, but the webcam may stop working for various reasons.
How to check if the camera is working?
Many users check if the camera works in the programs installed on the laptop. For example, they call friends and family on Skype. However, this method is not 100% reliable. The fact is that the webcam can be disabled in the settings of an application while in working order.
To find out if the camera is really turned on, special online services allow. One of the simplest and most convenient is WebcamMic Test. To check the video camera, the user needs to:
- Go to webcammictest.com.
- Click on the "Check webcam" button.
- When using the service for the first time, the browser may ask for consent to turn on the device. You need to confirm the action by choosing the "Allow" option.
If the camera is turned on and working properly, the user will see his image on the laptop or PC screen. Otherwise, the following message appears.
In addition, you can find out if the webcam is turned on on the laptop, and without access to the Internet. Windows 10 computers have a standard application that allows you to this check... You need to open the "Start" menu and find a program named "Camera" in it.
The webcam will automatically turn on at startup, and an image from it will appear on the screen. A corresponding notification will indicate a malfunction.
How do I turn on the camera on my laptop?
Let's consider the available methods.
Checking the status of the webcam in the system
To check the operation of a webcam in Windows, the Device Manager is used. You need to do the following:
- Open "Control Panel".
- Go to the "Device Manager" section.
- Having found the name of your webcam, right-click on it and select "Properties".
The window that opens will display the status of the camera. The inscription "The device is working normally" indicates its serviceability. Other messages in the status bar will indicate various errors, which are discussed below.
Turning on the webcam
If your laptop has an integrated webcam, it should be enabled by default. However, the device can be deactivated manually or by a third-party application. To enable the webcam, the PC user needs to:
- Open device manager... Right-click on the "My Computer" icon, select "Properties" and go to "Device Manager".
- Find your webcam in one of the subgroups and enable it.The required element can be located in the "Cameras", "Sound, game and video devices", "Image processing devices" tabs. Right-click on the webcam name and select the "Enable device" option in the list of options.
The most common causes of webcam malfunction are:
- manual shutdown;
- lack of drivers after a recent update;
- webcam blocking by antivirus;
- blocking access to the camera in the privacy settings.
The simplest case is manual shutdown. The user could accidentally type a combination on the keyboard, which led to the termination of the video camera. Most laptop computers provide hotkeys for this and other operations (to quickly, turn up the speaker volume, take a screenshot, etc.).
They are different on different models, but, as a rule, a webcam icon is applied to the desired button. For the device to work, you must press again Fn + Webcam button... On some laptops for this function combinations answer Fn +V, Fn + F5,Fn +Esc.
Device Manager can help you determine the reason for the camera shutdown. In the Properties tab, when manually disabled, the following message appears in the status bar.
You can turn on the camera by pressing the button of the same name.
Installing drivers
Codes 18, 28, 32, and others on the device's status bar (Properties, General tab) indicate a problem with the webcam driver. This problem is fixed in a few steps. The user should:
- Check drivers are up to date:
- Open "Properties" of the webcam in the device manager.
- Go to the "Driver" tab and click the "Details" button.
- Find file name containing part stream.sys... If it is present, it means that the webcam was produced before the release of Windows 7 and is incompatible with modern versions of the operating system. If the name stream.sys missing, you can proceed to rollback the driver.
- Roll back driver:
- Enter the "Properties" of the webcam in the manager.
- In the "Driver" tab, select the "Rollback" option (some drivers do not support this function).
- Restart your laptop.
If rollback is not available or does not solve the problem, you need to uninstall the driver and update the device configuration.
- In the "Properties" of the webcam (device manager), in the "Driver" tab, click on the "Update driver" button.
The system will offer 2 options:
- Automatic Search - Windows will search your hard drive and the Internet for the files it needs.
- Manual installation - the user will independently indicate the location of the folder on the computer.
Advice:if you rarely check that the drivers you use are up to date, chances are you should also use other commonly used programs and plugins.
Eliminating errors
When checking the status of the webcam in the system through the device manager, you can see more than 50 error options. Most of them can be solved by reinstalling or updating drivers, but there are a few more cases that are worth considering separately.
Privacy options... After updating the operating system, applications by default may be blocked from accessing the webcam. To allow programs to use the webcam, you need:
- Open the "Start" menu and go to the "Settings" section.
- Open the subsection "Privacy", select the "Camera" tab.
- Enable the Allow apps to access the camera option.
- Below, the system will also offer to choose which programs can use the device.
Webcam blocking by antivirus... Some antivirus software has the ability to block access to the built-in camera third-party applications... You need to disable this feature in your antivirus settings.
Lack of webcam in the computer device manager (for connected cameras)... In this case, you should try connecting it to a different port. If the PC still cannot find the camera, you should:
- Enter "Device Manager".
- Open the "Action" tab and click "Update hardware configuration".
- Wait while the system finds and installs new drivers.
- To restart a computer.
Webcam software
Let's consider the most popular options.
"Camera" (standard application)
A standard program from Microsoft - for those who do not need complex functionality. "Camera" allows you to check if the webcam is on, take a picture and take a video. The main advantage of the application is its intuitive control. Of additional functions there are:
- the ability to set a timer for a snapshot;
- manual brightness adjustment;
- multishooting;
- framing grid;
- suppression of flicker.
ManyCam
ManyCam captures video from one or several cameras, has an online image editing function - the interlocutor in Skype will immediately see the superimposed effects. Program features:
- setting resolution, number of frames per second;
- adding titles;
- combination of filters;
- replacement of an audio track;
- integration with all popular messengers.
CyberLink YouCam
Cyberlink YouCam offers users advanced features to get the most out of their webcam. The program makes it possible to create clips, presentations, add dynamic effects, filters, colorful frames. Application advantages:
- screen capture function;
- use of special effects in real time;
- a large number of animated templates;
- built-in privacy protections;
- painting tools.
The program is perfectly optimized with Windows 8 and 10. In addition, it has the function of remembering the user's face.
WebcamXP
WebcamXP - very convenient application for video surveillance, which is different ample opportunities transmission of broadcasts from webcam to the Internet. The program is able to interact with TV tuners, and also allows you to access the webcam via a smartphone. To do this, you need to download WebcamXP to your phone.
Key features of the program:
- video recording over a local network;
- manual selection of broadcast sources, setting the speed and other parameters;
- sending notifications when motion is detected in the frame;
- configuring the tracking sensor.
Movavi Video Suite
Movavi Video Suite offers a complete set of tools for working with media files. The program allows you not only to record video from a webcam, but also to process it, edit it, change the quality. Other app features:
- scaling individual areas of the video;
- color correction;
- frame-by-frame processing;
- applying filters;
- cutting video into separate fragments with the ability to save in different formats.
Important: on the portal you can also download an application for working with images, which is not inferior in functionality.
Summing up
There are several ways to check if the webcam works on a laptop. The simplest and most reliable is to use special online services or standard application for Windows. The camera can be manually turned on and off via the device manager. It also displays the status of the webcam, updates the drivers. To expand the capabilities of the camera, numerous specialized programs are available - they allow you to apply effects to the image, improve and supplement it in every way.
A built-in webcam on a laptop usually does not require additional customization... But sometimes users are faced with the fact that the camera, which yesterday allowed active communication in Skype, does not turn on today. What could be the cause of the problem and how to fix it yourself?
Turn on the camera
Try restarting your laptop first - this is the standard recommendation for any problem. If it doesn't help, then make sure that the required module is enabled at all. Perhaps the camera on your laptop is not working because you accidentally turned it off. Older models have separate physical buttons on the case, which allow you to control the operation of the webcam.
If there are no such buttons, examine the laptop keyboard. On ASUS and Acer devices, the "V" key in combination with Fn is responsible for turning on the camera.
If you have lenovo laptop, pay attention to the ESC key. You see a camera on it - press Esc in combination with Fn to start the module.
The keys on different laptop models may differ, so it is better to take the instruction manual and carefully read the section that talks about the operation of the webcam.
Working with the camera app
Some laptops have special applications to control the camera, in which shooting parameters and other settings are set. Lenovo laptops have EasyCapture, HP has HP Camera, ASUS has Life Frame Utility, etc. In such programs, there may also be an option to turn on / off the camera.
If the camera does not work in specific program then you should check the settings of this application. Let's see how to check a webcam in Skype:
If the camera does not work, then you should see if the module is enabled in the device manager and if the required software.
Driver check
When you upgrade your G7 or G8 to Windows 10, the hardware drivers are installed automatically. However, the system often installs the wrong drivers, which leads to the fact that the webcam does not turn on. You can fix the problem through the device manager by installing the appropriate software.
If instead of “Disable” it says “Enable”, click the button to start the camera. On Windows 7 and other OS versions, the operation is similar.
If you saw near the camera in the device manager exclamation mark, you need to reinstall the drivers to fix the problem. It is recommended to download suitable software from the official website of the laptop manufacturer. Let's see the order using the example of an HP laptop:
If there is no camera software for Windows 10, download the drivers for Windows 8 or 7. Run the downloaded file to install the drivers, and then restart the laptop.
Hardware faults
Unfortunately, the camera may not work just because of a software glitch. Sometimes the problem is caused by a physical problem, for example, damage to the loop or the camera module itself. 
It is difficult to fix such problems on your own. If the problem is with the cable, then you will have to disassemble the laptop, which requires some skill. So if software methods the bug fixes do not help and the webcam is not working, contact service center.
Modern laptops are equipped with built-in webcams that allow video conferencing and video communication through social services, services and programs. Visual contact with the interlocutor is much more pleasant than correspondence or voice communication. But what if the laptop webcam stops working? How do I get my webcam working again? What are these problems associated with?
Laptop webcam software glitches
Software problems are the most common causes of laptop webcam not working. These failures and breakdowns are easily eliminated by the user with the right approach to solving the problem.
Webcam driver is not installed on laptop
Most common problem. Especially important after reinstallation of the operating room windows systems... In this case, in the task manager in the list of imaging tools, instead of the camera name, "unknown device" will be displayed. Also, the camera will not appear as a separate device in My Computer. To restore the operation of the laptop webcam, it is enough to install the camera driver. To do this, you need to download the appropriate driver from the laptop manufacturer's website. Study carefully the exact model name, as for one series and different models there may be different suppliers of components - the wrong driver will not solve the problem of the laptop camera not working.
Laptop camera driver installed but not working
In this case, you can uninstall the driver and reinstall it again (remember to restart your laptop after uninstalling and reinstalling). If the laptop camera still doesn't work, try installing a more recent driver.
I want to draw your attention to the fact that the drivers for the webcam, network card, video adapter and any other laptop components should be downloaded only from official sources from the hardware manufacturer or from reliable sites, since many sites on the Internet offer viruses and spyware under the guise of drivers.
Operating system crashes
Some older operating systems, such as Windows XP, show the camera in the My Computer window. Windows 7, 8, 10 do not have this, which can also prevent the laptop camera from working normally. In this case, you need to install an application that will allow you to check the camera, for example, Skype. You will be able to see the webcam in the control panel in the "Scanners and Cameras" section.
Installing an unknown device driver
If the previous methods of solving the problem of a non-working laptop webcam did not help, then installing a new device in the manager will come in handy windows devices... You need to go to the device manager and click on the update hardware configuration button. If an unknown device appears in the Imaging Devices section, you must manually install the appropriate driver with original disc or downloaded from the laptop manufacturer's website.
Installing original software from the manufacturer
If all the drivers are installed and the laptop's webcam does not work, you may need to install additional proprietary webcam control software that comes with the laptop. Asus, Dell and other manufacturers release proprietary utilities for working with built-in adapters, card readers, webcams.
Breakdowns at the equipment level
This type of malfunction is the most troublesome, as it is very difficult to identify the reason why the webcam on the laptop is not working. In addition, to restore the operation of the laptop web camera, you will need to contact a repair service center, where a specialist must identify the problem and carry out qualified repairs.
| How do you like it? - |
Now you become the owner laptop asus, msi, toshiba, hp or acer with built-in webcam. You want to take a photo or chat on Skype, but it doesn't work.
Why is the webcam in the laptop not working? There are several reasons, and many can be individual (rare).
In some models, it can be turned off accidentally (turned on by pressing the fn key + the button with a drawn camera - see if this is your case, why the built-in webcam stopped working).
For each webcam you need to have native drivers, otherwise it won't work in a laptop. They can be seen in the device manager opposite the line: "imaging device".
Just keep in mind that if Windows was installed on a laptop on its own (you didn't buy a pre-installed one), then the presence of a notification in the device manager that everything is working correctly does not mean anything.
In such cases, standard drivers are installed for the laptop's webcam and in most cases do not work (sometimes the image is obtained upside down) - although it is written that everything is ok. This is a common occurrence.
Go to the official website of msi, toshiba, asus, acer or hp (depending on the model of your laptop) and download the real ones (those written specifically for your webcam).
The webcam on the laptop does not work and has stopped - these are two different things. It can stop for two reasons: a loop failure (then for repair to a service center) and a conflict of components (programs).
With the first option, everything is clear.In such cases, you will not see your webcam in the device manager, there will be an empty space, which means that the system in the laptop does not see any camera.
If there is an application conflict, disable startup programs. In different operating systems this is slightly different - the easiest option is to use the free Russian-language program "CCleaner".
After installation, click "service" and click on the "autorun" option, and then connect everything that you do not constantly need.
Another option is to use, if, of course, the laptop is configured to create such points.
A program for turning on a webcam on a laptop
In addition to everything described above, the built-in web camera will not work on a laptop if there is no special program.
If windows 7, XP or Windows 8 was installed independently, it will never be, with the exception of some pirated copies.
This problem can be easily solved. Simple and run. Then, with the "correct" drivers, the webcam should work.
Viruses occupy a special place. They are capable of damaging the registry so much that an ordinary user cannot solve the problem on their own.
There is a way out to reinstall Windows completely. This is the last option to solve the problem with a non-working camera on a laptop. I hope this does not threaten you. Good luck.
Programs and games
