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Camera or webcam not working or cannot turn on in Windows 10 or 11 - ideapad, ThinkPad

Steps and solutions for Lenovo camera or webcam not working or cannot turn on in Windows 10 or 11 on ideapad and ThinkPad devices.

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Steps and solutions for Lenovo camera or webcam not working or cannot turn on in Windows 10 or 11 on ideapad and ThinkPad devices.

Symptom

Webcam is not detected or cannot be turned on. Try different apps to identify whether there is a hardware problem. Different apps include Skype, Line, Facebook messenger, etc.

Note:

  • If there are intermittent issues with the camera (video hangs), then check for compatibility issues with the security, anti-virus, or firewall programs.
  • If the video has a grainy appearance, then try increasing the amount of light in the room.
  • Try rebooting (power off and power back on the machine).
  • If the camera indicator light is on, check to see if another application is using the camera (and close the other application). An error message such as, Close all apps, may indicate another application is using the camera (see the solution for details).

Applicable Brands

  • ideapad
  • ThinkPad

Operating Systems

  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11

Solution

Troubleshooting Camera Settings

Confirm the PC has a built-in camera

This device is often installed on top of the LCD panel, if there is a built-in camera.

LCD panelCamera location

Check the User Guide to see if the system has a camera.

  1. Go to the support site (https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/).
  2. Provide a serial number or product model.
  3. Select User Guide.
    User Guide
  4. Search for camera in the User Guide.

Make sure camera slider is open

Camera slider locationSlider

Camera cover

For more information about ThinkShutter, see What is the ThinkShutter?

Check for a protective seal

If the image is blurry, the protective sticker may still be covering the camera.

Press function key to turn on camera

Try looking for this icon Camera icon on the keyboard. F8 may not be the one shown on the keyboard. Try pressing Fn+ the corresponding function key or function key only, to check if the camera is back to normal. To see if the system has camera keys, search for function keys or camera in the user guide, How to find and view manuals for Lenovo products - ThinkPad, ThinkCentre, ideapad, ideacentre.

Try testing the camera in Windows 10 or 11, see Open the Camera in Windows 10, 11.

Confirm Privacy Settings (Allow Access)

Use the following steps to confirm the privacy settings:

Note: An error about, Camera not accessible, may indicate permission issues.

In Windows 11

  1. Go to Start > Settings.
    Start Menu
    Start
  2. Select Privacy & Security, scroll down and select Camera under App permissions.
    Privacy-camera
  3. Slide on the webcam or configure to Let apps access your webcam.
    camera access

In Windows 10

  1. Open Settings.
    Settings
  2. Select Privacy.
    Privacy
  3. Select Camera. Slide on the webcam or configure to Let these apps use my webcam.
    Privacy settings

Privacy settings can also be checked in Lenovo Vantage (if installed).

  1. From the Vantage dashboard, navigate to the menu at the top of the page. Go to the Device section and select My Device Settings.
  2. On the My Device Settings page, navigate to the Display & Camera section.
  3. Scroll down to the Camera settings section. There should be a toggle for Camera Privacy Mode.
  4. If the toggle is green in color and displays on, click to toggle off. The color should be gray and display off when the setting is disabled.
  5. If this works, an image should show in the Camera space, indicating that the webcam is no longer under Privacy Mode.

Check if another application is using the camera

If the camera indicator light is on, check to see if another application is using the camera (and close the other application). An error message such as, Close all apps, may indicate another application is using the camera.

Use the following steps to find which applications have recently accessed the camera.

  1. Open Settings.
    Settings
  2. Select Privacy.
  3. Select Camera and scroll down on the right.
    Check apps
  4. Close the other application.

In Windows 11 this information is under: Privacy & security, Camera, Recent activity.

Check for conflicts with other applications

Close extra applications. If multiple applications that use a camera are open, try closing them. Test the camera with the Camera app. If that works, try opening only one of the applications that use the camera.

For steps to use the camera app, see How to use your camera app in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Check if the camera is recognized correctly in Device Manager

  1. Open Device Manager.
    Device Manager
  2. Navigate to Cameras, Imaging devices, or Sound, video and game controllers and find the camera.
    Cameras
  3. If there is no camera or imaging device, then no camera is configured or there may be a camera hardware failure. In that case, try selecting the Action menu, then select Scan for hardware changes.
  4. A yellow exclamation mark indicates the camera driver is not installed properly or is out of date. Right-click and select Uninstall. Then right-click Cameras, Imaging devices, or Sound, video and game controllers and select Scan for hardware changes.
  5. If the yellow exclamation mark still exists, go to https://support.lenovo.com to search the product name and find the corresponding camera driver to install and update. For certain models, there is no separate camera driver. Instead install the Windows inbox driver.
  6. Search your product name, for example ThinkPad T480s, and open the corresponding product page. Navigate to the Driver & Software tab and filter by Operating System/Component, or search for camera. Then download and install the right camera driver.

Note:

  • Lenovo Vantage can also be used to update drivers, see Lenovo Vantage: Using your PC just got easier.
  • If the camera is not a built-in camera, check that the camera is properly connected. Some external cameras have a power button or require additional steps to turn on.

Check if camera is disabled in Device Manager

  • Open Device Manager.
    Device Manager
  • Under Imaging devices or Camera, the camera will show up. If a down arrow is shown, this indicates the camera device is disabled. Right-click the camera to select Enable.

    Camera not working in Windows 8.1
    Note: Some cameras are displayed under Cameras and Integrated Camera.
    Camera list

Check application settings if the background of the camera video is blurry

If the Lenovo Smart Appearance Application is installed, turn off the Background option. This app can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store - https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/lenovo-smart-appearance/9NRLFDZ54PZB?hl=en-us&gl=US. For Google Meet, check these settings - Change background and apply visual effects in Google Meet.

Lenovo Smart Appearance

Blurry webcam issues

If the camera image is blurry, try How to improve or resolve issues with a blurry Webcam.

Slow internet issues or not enough light in the room may also cause blurry issues with the camera. Try closing unnecessary applications or browser tabs when using the camera.

Check antivirus settings

Check the antivirus software and see if there are any settings that block access to the camera.

Additional troubleshooting steps

For additional troubleshooting steps, see Camera doesn't work in Windows. For Chrome related issues, see Chromebook.

Hardware failure is possible. Click Contact Us. Lenovo service technicians will provide further diagnosis.


Document ID:HT118432
Original Publish Date:06/06/2016
Last Modified Date:12/02/2024