Webcam Test

Webcam not working on Windows 10


Unlike older operating systems, Windows 10 provides built-in privacy settings to manage access to the device’s camera. Therefore, it often happens that the webcam, which used to work correctly, suddenly stopped working on this OS. If your camera does not work on Windows 10 or some application warns you that another process is using the camera most likely, you should change your privacy settings.


Windows 10 provides three options for blocking other applications to use your camera. To fix your problem, you need to make sure that none of them is turned on. All these options are available at Start → Settings → Privacy → Camera.

 

  1. First of all, be sure to enable the “Allow access to the camera on this device” option. For this, click “Change” and switch the slider to the “On” position.

    Allow access to the camera on this device
    Allow access to the camera on this device

     
  2. Next, make sure to “Allow apps to access your camera” by switching the corresponding slider to the “On” position.

    Allow apps to access your camera
    Allow apps to access your camera

     
  3. Finally, “Choose which apps can access your camera”. More exactly, you need to make sure that the desired application is allowed to use the webcam.

    Choose which apps can access your camera
    Choose which apps can access your camera

 

As a rule, all changes will take effect immediately. However, after making all the necessary changes, restart the application and check if it is working properly.


199 comments about the page “Webcam not working on Windows 10”

  1. DIMM_V2,
    it has helped , but you forgot to put " win32webviewhost" , add the screen shot to your article >>>http://dimm.me/upl/?h=rfhx
    1. admin,
      I blocked Win32WebViewHost, but Edge and Chrome can start and use my camera without any problems. So, why do you claim that this process must have access to the camera?
      1. bilal,
        EXCELLENT CAMERA
        1. shyam jhankrimagar,
          camera nai chaldaina kina hola yeso jankari puna?
      2. prabin bhandari,
        video call is not working on facebook
        1. lucy,
          my video it is not working on website
          1. magan,
            its not working for me either and im mad beacuse all i want to do is join my zoom call and see if my video is working
        2. zxczc,
          buy a new camera :)
          1. Max,
            This is built in camera dill hole!
      3. Tahamina.Begum,
        Camera is use on another alication
        1. vishal,
          web camera not working and camera is use on another application
      4. ajay kumar,
        web camera is not woreking
    2. liza jornales,
      camera is not working
      1. ganesh,
        no preview
      2. Rakshanda,
        camera is not working
        1. pubalan,
          camera not working
          1. nkosinathi,
            it is not working
        2. chanula,
          camera not work on zoom
          1. Vaqif Huseynli,
            My camera not open in zoom.It give me a raport.This is imortant for my lessons.I hope you are solve this problem.
          2. Connie Yanicka,
            My camera suddenly stopped working a few days ago, when I wanted to use it for a Zoom meeting. The camera is connected to my computer, and the red light is on, but the microphone and the camera are both not working. When I try to "start video" in Zoom, I am told that the computer cannot detect the camera. I have Premium Support from Dell, so I called Dell. The Dell technician tried working on this, to find out why the computer was not able to detect the camera. He read this article about the "privacy settings" for the camera. I have a Windows 10 OS. The Dell technician was not able to fix the problem. He advised me to buy a new webcam. I just purchased this webcam in 2020, and have only used it about 15 times.
          3. Connie Yanicka,
            My webcam is not working. When I am in a Zoom meeting, and click on "start video", I am told that the computer cannot detect the camera. Likewise, the microphone in the webcam is not working. The camera is connected to my computer, and the red light on the webcam is on. I have Dell Premium Support, so I called Dell. The Dell technician was not able to determine why the webcam is not working. I sent him this information about the "privacy settings" for the camera. I have a Windows 10 OS. The Dell technician advised me to purchase a new webcam. I purchased this webcam in 2020, and have used it only about 20 times. There are many reports here by webcam customers that their webcams are not working. Apparently, there is more going on here than some error in the "privacy settings" for the webcam.
      3. nahid,
        camera nor working
        1. Connie Yanicka,
          My webcam is not working in Zoom. I purchased it in 2020, and have used it only about 20 times. Suddenly, a few days ago, it stopped working. The webcam is connected to the computer, and the red light on the webcam is on. When I am in a Zoom meeting, and click on "start video", I am told that the camera cannot be detected by my computer. Likewise, the microphone in the webcam is not working. I have Dell Premium Support, so I called Dell. The Dell technician was not able to determine why the webcam is not working. I have a Windows 10 OS. I sent the Dell technician this article about the "privacy settings" for the camera. He checked that out. There is nothing wrong with the "privacy settings" for the camera. There are a lot of complaints here about webcams not working. Apparently, there is more going on here than an issue with the "privacy settings" for the camera and the Windows 10 OS.
      4. Subhash,
        my camera is not wark in my pc
        1. savan,
          CAMERA CHAL NE LAge ga
      5. sunil,
        camara not working
      6. charansai . b ,
        my camera is not working plss tell any information
        1. Connie Yanicka,
          My webcam suddenly stopped working a few days ago. I purchased this webcam in 2020, and have only used it about 20 times. I have a Windows 10 OS. I have Dell Premium Support, so I called Dell. The Dell technician was not able to determine why the camera, and the microphone in the webcam, are not working. He checked out the "privacy settings" for the camera. He advised me to buy a new webcam. There are complaints from numerous customers here about their webcams not working. Apparently, this is not just an issue with the "privacy settings" for the camera, and the Windows OS.
      7. shivani ladage,
        camera is not woring
        1. Connie Yanicka,
          I urchased my webcam in 2020. A few days ago, it suddenly stopped working. I am told the camera cannot be detected by the computer. Everything is fine with the "privacy settings" for the camera. I had a Dell technician from Dell Premium Support try to determine why the webcam is not working. He advised me to buy a new webcam. There are numerous complaints here from other customers, saying their webcams suddenly stopped working. Obviously, this is not just an issue of the "privacy settings" for the camera.
          1. savan,
            is problem solved
      8. Connie Yanicka,
        My webcam stopped working a few days ago, when I wanted to use it to join a Zoom meeting. The camera is connected to the computer, and the red light is on on the camera. but it is not working. When I join a Zoom meeting, and then click on "start video", I am told the camera is not detected by my computer. Likewise, the microphone in the camera does not work. I purchased this webcam in 2020, and I have only used it a total of about 20 times. I have Dell Premium Support, so I called Dell. The Dell technician was not able to determine why the camera is not detected. I had him read the article about "privacy settings" for the camera, and he checked on all that. I have a Windows 10 OS. The Dell technician advised me to buy a new webcam. It seems there are lot of indications by different customers that their webcams are not working. Apparently, there is more going on here than an error in the "privacy settings" for the camera.
    3. sarfraj rain,
      webcam not working
    4. alok raj,
      my cam is use by another app.and it is on binking.
    5. Vaibhav,
      Can you please guide how?
      1. Chantell,
        I turned off my internet security and webcam now works, so see if that helps.
    6. bhawna fancy,
      not working
    7. Shivashankar,
      Super live video
  2. Eve Hunt,
    Valuable information. Fortunate me I discovered your website by chance, and I’m shocked why this twist of fate did not took place earlier! I bookmarked it. Regards: Eve Hunt
  3. moz,
    this page was fantastic
    1. li,
      cute and excellent
  4. Jacob N,
    I am getting the "your webcam is being used or blocked by another application." error, and my permissions are all as loose as I can make them. I am using the PS3 Eye Camera on Windows 10 on 32-bit firefox. It recognizes the camera as an input but doesn't allow me to test it. There are no other programs I can possibly have running that will affect this.
    1. Rahman M.,
      I am facing similar problem. How did you fix it?
      1. santha,
        power off your computer
    2. Roeland,
      You can install the driver for B4.09.24.1, wich might work for other apps, like Citrix Worspace (recent edition)
  5. Lary P.,
    Can your service detect which application is blocking/using my camera?
    1. admin,
      Unfortunately that's not possible on a web page. By the way, I'm planning to write some articles about this issue. So please stay tuned.
      1. Jaya,
        I am getting the "your webcam is being used or blocked by another application." error too. i can't use my camera even with obs. The camera is there but there's no access to it.
        1. Ernst Ghermann,
          I have the same problem. Bought another webcam, still not working.
          1. gailbogart,
            camera not working on here
        2. Roy,
          I have the same problem, all appears to be 'well', but still camera does not work on for example Skype
  6. Charlie,
    This didn't work for me. Has anybody explored other possible solutions?
    1. sk,
      didn't work for me either
  7. markmiddleton,
    I stell can,t use my camra
    1. gailbogart,
      still trying fix web camera
  8. Gohikan,
    I noticed that you need to do same things for the microphone permissions if it needs.
    1. Alejo Mazz,
      Muchisimas gracias por tu comentario, era ese mi problema!! Saludos desde Argentina!!
  9. marco,
    i need une programa to ran The can
    1. jdowg,
      good comment! thanks. best, jdwog
  10. tags,
    I am having the same issue with my webcam and "I am getting the "your webcam is being used or blocked by another application." error too. I reset computer have tried anything to resolve my cam problems. :(
    1. gfhjncvbhfjcm,
      me too! :(
      1. hi,
        same here
    2. mahaz khan,
      me too i a also getting that error
    3. be,
      exactly:((
    4. T. Eli Ahrens,
      This may not apply to your situation but just in case it does, I've copied and pasted my reply to another here. I have a solution to this problem, well, for some people anyway as it is what seems to be a culprit for many, including myself until just now. Problem started after an update, like many others which was I think I remember being last year and from then on webcam would still work with other browsers but no longer Chrome. Digging around once again today for solutions I noticed something in my computer unfamiliar to me but sounded like worth trying to see what it did as nothing else has ever worked. I'm on Windows 10 and I clicked the start/windows button, typed the phrase "webcam privacy settings", clicked the top result which is worded the same as I typed. On this screen I scrolled down to "Which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera" and under that is a list of things with a on/off slider by each. I saw something called "Desktop App Web Viewer" that was turned off. It sounded like something that could be related so I tried switching it on and that fixed the problem, FINALLY. If you try that and it still doesn't work, try turning off or pausing whichever internet security suite/antivirus program you use (like Kaspersky, BitDefender, etc.). I didn't have to but mine is already configured to not interfere with Chrome using my webcam. In all this time I have been searching for an answer and read so many post this problem, not once have I seen this solution mentioned so maybe this is the magic bullet for most in this issue. It was nothing I ever even noticed before, much less changed so an update to something must have changed it in the background.
      1. T. Eli Ahrens,
        I forgot to mention that Cortona and Windows Barcode Preview were in the off position and I turned them on but only for a brief moment. I wanted to narrow down which of the three things allowed my camera to work so I turned off these two and it still worked so I assumed it was Desktop App Web Viewer (pictured at the top of this page) needing to be switched to on was the culprit but who knows, maybe just turning one of those other two I mention on and testing the camera before turning them back off did something. So keep that in mind also.
      2. Korinne,
        Thank you. Simply, thank you.
      3. Dawn Chorus,
        You Legend! I've reinstalled drivers 4x, downloaded the system viewer tool, run the test on this page so many times I lost count and tried every microsoft and Asus solution I could research and was just considering a full system restore before trying this last ditch 'oh well why not' solution. Thank you so very much. Any readers out there give this one a go. It worked for me. Promote this post please admin.
  11. Ferdinand,
    Use Microsoft edge for the windows people
  12. Leelavathi Gopavarm,
    How can I know that which application has blocked my webcam
    1. Keith,
      same issue for me
    2. Wanda,
      What is blocking my webcam
    3. lucy,
      same for me
  13. prakash,
    please set my webcam immediately
  14. jane,
    I dont have windows10 i have windows8.1 and i cant find out how to see what app is blocking my camera
  15. C.H,
    For those getting the "your webcam is being used or blocked by another application.", make sure Apps access to microphone permissions is turned on. Thanks Gohikan!
    1. T.C,
      You are a godsend! been struggling with this for days!!!!!
    2. Prathamesh,
      Thanks man that worked for me. I searched everywhere for the solution of this problem. Finally I got the solution. Thank you very much
      1. Raj,
        How it worked for you? Please help.
      2. sanju,
        what is the solution
    3. padma,
      same for me too
    4. Anonymous,
      Thank you so much Man!! My online exams are on head and this really helped me
    5. Rick,
      Tks. Worked for me too.
    6. Avi,
      thanks man!!
    7. Anonymous,
      Thank you so much!! Helped a lot. I was worried I wouldn't be able to take up online exam
    8. Shawn B,
      Excellent advise! My cam FINALLY worked only 'after' I allowed 'apps access to microphone'. Go figure! Thanks!
    9. Ken,
      How about in windows 8.1? There's no option in settings.
    10. rik,
      thanks man this worked finally,
    11. ZA85,
      Worked for me too! Thanks
    12. Mridul Bagri,
      Thanks brother you are great I was struggling to fix this issue for so many days. I have my exams just after 2 days and it requires a webcam you saved me from buying an external one.Thanks a ton.
    13. Dan,
      Bingo! Thanks for the suggestion...!
    14. x4X,
      Seriously man you are bless of god.
    15. hypergeneric,
      this also worked for me
    16. William,
      This was the solution. Microphone access was blocked from windows privacy settings and that also blocked webcam access. Thank you!
  16. mauricio,
    hi, w10 x64 here on an hp laptop, i use a debloated iso of win10 and also i use a lot of apps to enhance privacy, delete services, delete bloatware etc. after using those apps this website could not enable the camera, so i followed the instructions, for camera and mic, you have to restart windows, not only restart the browser. i almost had to format my pc but it worked
  17. Brian,
    webcam up side down windows 10
    1. SOORYA SENTHIL,
      ITS NICE BEST GOOD BETTER
  18. azeezB,
    I have a Windows 10 on my DELL. Computer. I tried all the possibility to use my integrated Webcam on my Zoom application but no Success. Is there any special app I acn get to detect the working condition of my camera or i should pick an external Web CAM.
  19. grace,
    I already tested my cam and to find out that there is another app that blocks my cam, but i cannot trace it, so sad. I don't know how to fix my cam.
    1. EVM,
      same with mine, not working still blocks
  20. Liam,
    Says some app is blocking webcam despite no apps using webcam.
  21. Mohit Singla,
    Thanks for sharing this information.
  22. jala,
    my webcam was blocked, I followed the given instruction but no sense
  23. DerekColley,
    having trouble accessing webcam only show Black Screen when turned on
  24. mm,
    Didn't work
  25. Henry,
    I can't access it and i don't know why
  26. hari sanker,
    how to take a video background
  27. omar faruk,
    all setting is ok but not werking
    1. EVM,
      same with me
  28. EVM,
    not working on ine, though all application settings are off
  29. batbur,
    my camera still not show on web. only can see camera opened with system device.
  30. Jace ST,
    I've followed every steps and still the camera is not working. The camera indicator light is on but the screen is blank . Help please! I need to do online meetings :(
    1. Caio,
      Did you find the solution? I've tried everything and I have the same problem.
  31. Nige,
    The test worked perfectly after ensuring that I had turned on access permissions for both the camera and the microphone. Thanks
  32. Sandy,
    This is now the 3rd webcam I have ordered thinking something has been wrong with each one. I used your suggestions making sure everything is on (or off) as you noted. Still doesn't work for me. Doesn't even show "blue light" for power though computer did find the device when I originally plugged it in. Ugh! So frustrating!!!!
  33. Nigel,
    I have had a similar problem - my webcam cannot be activated by the person with whom I am camming. It appears as though some application has hijacked it as stated in the webcam test but I just cannot figure out what application that might be. And my microphone has access permissions turned on in Windows 10, same as the camera. Any answers to this problem would be much appreciated.
    1. rainiel,
      Hi i think you need to select you cam in the webpage settings manually
  34. Ken,
    I also have the same problem, unlike for windows 10 users that has an option to allow apps to turn on and off the mic/camera...Windows 8.1 doesn't have. Any help?
  35. Devendra,
    My webcam is not working properly. Camera app shows error as "We cannot find your Camera". WebCam Test show message as "Apparently, your webcam is being used or blocked by another application. To start your webcam, you must temporarily close that application. For more information" Not sure what is the issue. Kindly help.
  36. tired,
    I tried every thing, on and off, restart and shutdown, start back... sometime its ok, sometime I cant use the camera... i guess this is purely loophole in Windows OS.
  37. Ann,
    I tried everything including ensuring the privacy settings were correct. Webcam test states Apparently, your webcam is being used or blocked by another application. To start your webcam, you must temporarily close that application.
    1. ZA85,
      Go to settings, privacy, and then microphone and change to allow apps access. This worked for me, I believe it is because the webcam devices have built in microphones and both must be allowed to operate in order for an app to utilize it.
  38. Ann,
    Same problem. Apparently, your webcam is being used or blocked by another application. To start your webcam, you must temporarily close that application.
    1. DSKJEFH,
      MEE TOOO SAME PROBLEM
  39. MEHEDI,
    IN ZOOM MEETING MY CAMERA RESOULATION IS SHOWED 00 SO MY PICTURE IS NOT SEEN HOW CAN I BE SEEN ON CAMERS?
  40. cheska,
    Same problem. Apparently, your webcam is being used or blocked by another application. To start your webcam, you must temporarily close that application.
  41. T. Eli Ahrens,
    I found this page while looking once again for a solution and now I've solved it (for me anyway), I'm copying/pasting the answer here for anyone else that it may help: I have a solution to this problem, well, for some people anyway as it is what seems to be a culprit for many, including myself until just now. Problem started after an update, like many others which was I think I remember being last year and from then on webcam would still work with other browsers but no longer Chrome. Digging around once again today for solutions I noticed something in my computer unfamiliar to me but sounded like worth trying to see what it did as nothing else has ever worked. I'm on Windows 10 and I clicked the start/windows button, typed the phrase "webcam privacy settings", clicked the top result which is worded the same as I typed. On this screen I scrolled down to "Which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera" and under that is a list of things with a on/off slider by each. I saw something called "Desktop App Web Viewer" that was turned off. It sounded like something that could be related so I tried switching it on and that fixed the problem, FINALLY. If you try that and it still doesn't work, try turning off or pausing whichever internet security suite/antivirus program you use (like Kaspersky, BitDefender, etc.). I didn't have to but mine is already configured to not interfere with Chrome using my webcam. In all this time I have been searching for an answer and read so many post this problem, not once have I seen this solution mentioned so maybe this is the magic bullet for most in this issue. It was nothing I ever even noticed before, much less changed so an update to something must have changed it in the background.
    1. T. Eli Ahrens,
      I forgot to mention that Cortana and Windows Barcode Preview were in the off position and I turned them on but only for a brief moment. I wanted to narrow down which of the three things allowed my camera to work so I turned off these two and it still worked so I assumed it was Desktop App Web Viewer (pictured at the top of this page) needing to be switched to on was the culprit but who knows, maybe just turning one of those other two I mention on and testing the camera before turning them back off did something. So keep that in mind also.
      1. Administrator,
        Hello my dear friend! Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm pretty sure that webcam should work even if "Desktop App Web Viewer" is turned off, but I'm very happy that this trick helped you and I hope it will also help others. So I'm very grateful to you. By the way, we are currently testing various solutions for this issue. All known working solutions are published here: Your webcam is used by another application on Windows.
    2. L Puente,
      Thank you! Worth giving it a try. Nobody seems to know what they are doing and this is definitely worth trying... I think I need to reboot before it takes effect. So far, nothing!
  42. Niruta Shrestha,
    Same Problem
  43. Keyon Brown,
    Alright guys, if nothing anyone has said worked try doing this and afterwards tell me if it worked for you. First Press the Windows + R keys together to open the Run box. Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter. This will bring you to the device manager. Click on camera/imagining devices. In the sub-group disable the intergrated/built-in camera that you have. Go back to the webcam test website to see if it worked. Keep in mind you are using a seperate webcam during all of this and not the built-in version. If that didn't work then, I'm not sure what to say. Hopefully this helped you, now its time for me to take my test in respondus :( hopefully I pass
  44. amar ghare,
    it just showing black screen
  45. ismail,
    good job thanks
  46. Perry,
    Thanks for the help in my case it was the privacy settings to turn On.
  47. jen,
    hi guys. same problem with my laptop. I checked the anti virus that I am using and it so happened that Avast is blocking the use of my webcam so I just turned it off.. and viola.. webcam worked again :)
    1. junjun,
      how you do that?
  48. Ada,
    Helped alot thanks))
  49. Pawara Homa ,
    Webcam camera work not is
  50. Kritika Baheti,
    My camera is not working from a week and I hv tried all details that u give but it's not working
  51. REN,
    I found that changing the browser worked. I switched from chrome to firefox, this resolved the issue of my cam pausing or not being found.
  52. Ariyan deka,
    Excellent and nice
    1. sandra,
      agreed so sweet
  53. Sanhita Bishal,
    Webcam is not supporting.Please help
  54. hemalatha,
    webcam is not supporting
  55. tvp sai abhishek,
    web cam is not getting switch on
  56. NARAD MUNI,
    WEB CAMERA NOT SWITCHING ON
  57. Kiran Sunkara,
    Web Camera was not switching on and it was showing that, Webcam was using the another application.
  58. sudhir shelke,
    camera not working proparly
  59. xx,
    super bad
  60. subhash giri INCHARGE GOVT HOSPITAL,
    bad bad and not working on win 10 web camera fingers 1080 res
  61. sonusha ,
    my camera is not working what could be the reason...?
  62. Steve,
    I am having with the camera in Zoom. I can see Zoom in settings is "allowed" but it still doesn't work.
  63. Jose Oliver,
    when i open my windows camera it closes automatically. Help me how to fix this my class is coming up on September 6
  64. joeymonton,
    camera not working proparly reply
  65. K.J,
    ummm i have no webcam friver software maybe deleted and i doownloaded youcam and it had a error download
  66. ruchitha,
    nothing to comment
  67. keerthi,
    cant open can you please help me
  68. Divya,
    Thank You. It was helpful. i figured out my problem :)
  69. parham,
    thank you for your site.
  70. Hari Varna,
    Kindly process
  71. Rahul,
    blocked by another appilcation
  72. ABHIRAM,
    i want USB2.0 UVC HQ WebCAm DRIVER
  73. Umar Wasif,
    TYSM I HAD THIS PROBLEM SO MUCH AND NOW U FIXED IT I LOVE YOU If it doesnt work then prob u dont have one OOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH
  74. Zach,
    Still doesn't work, I've tried everything...This might of helped a bit but no, my web came still doesn't work.
  75. Prabhakar,
    good work for student
  76. shaik mohammed kaif,
    i want to ask u something,if we off the desktop app web viewer in settings.then what will happen?it will block web cam in chrome or from any type of online examination that^s going through chrome.? plz kindly rply it if u know any answer
  77. Akash shrivastava,
    Good work
  78. budala sravan teja,
    webcam not working
  79. Yaseen,
    I tried but it dosen't worked and still show a black camera screen
  80. LARAS ,
    MY CAMERA WEB CANT OPEN
  81. priyanka,
    web cam test
  82. Bhuvana,
    hi, my system camera is not working, so am using my phones camera as webcam how do i proceed?
    1. PHANISHA,
      Hi My webcam and Microphone is not working
  83. ritika,
    camera not working.
  84. DR BAIDYANATH,
    My integrated camera is not working
  85. anish pant,
    web camera is block by usb boot
  86. MaDeuce,
    My webcam will mot work on zoom
  87. jopjo,
    camera still won't work after chasing all sorts of stuff. HP can kiss off
  88. RAJ SONKAR,
    GOOD A NETWORK
  89. jfiuerjf,
    nxehhfyur
  90. KARTHIK G SHET,
    CAMERA is not working plz
  91. VIRDICHAND,
    CAMERA IS NOT WORKING PLZ HELP
  92. shailendra kumar bhartiya,
    open the camera for the leptop
  93. makwena,
    failed to use camera web
  94. esah,
    MY CAMERA DOES NOT WORK IN ANYTHING ITS NOT SHOWING UO ANYWHERE
  95. minako,
    my camera does not work
  96. cam cam,
    i hate dis
  97. patrick quigley,
    webcam not working
  98. hhhl@1234567890.com,
    hPhrhioln@t1f2X34567890.com
  99. hhhl@1234567890.com,
    hPhrhioln@t1f2X34567890.com
  100. pankaj poptani,
    excellent comera i like
  101. pankaj poptani,
    excellt comera i likr
  102. safikul,
    bed not working windows 10
  103. ritik kumar giri,
    i use this webcam it work properly
  104. Kunsue,
    Oh I saw some text next to the camara hole (above my screen) it says "Digital Livecam"
  105. issa rashidi,
    the only way
  106. bhawna fancy,
    not working
  107. Abdul rauf,
    its not working

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