How to turn on a webcam on a laptop. How to turn on the camera on a Windows laptop
Almost every laptop now comes with a built-in camera. It is convenient to use it to communicate with the help of special programs, for example, such as Skype or in online chats. But what to do if, when you start Skype, it says that you do not have a camera, although you can see it on the top cover of your laptop. This article will show you how to turn on the camera on your laptop.
Step-by-step instructions on how to turn on a webcam on a laptop with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10
So, let's take a look at several options for what to do when the built-in webcam is there, but it does not work.
- Pay attention to the keyboard. Some laptop models have a key combination on the keyboard to turn on / off the built-in webcam. For example:
Or 
- Go to - "My Computer" - "Right Click" - "Properties" - "Device Manager". As shown in the figure, a working webcam is displayed.
If there is no similar record, but there is an inscription with a yellow triangle - "Unknown device" or similar - you do not have the drivers installed for the built-in webcam. Download the latest driver from the laptop manufacturer's website for your operating system and install it. If a device is detected, but there is a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark next to the icon, the system has determined what the device is, but could not install the drivers. Proceed as described above. If the device is displayed, but there is a symbol with a down arrow next to it, the device is not active. You or someone has temporarily disabled it. Right click on the device and select Engage. - You have done all the operations mentioned above, but the built-in webcam still does not work? Perhaps this is a hardware problem or a defect. When the computer is new - you need to use warranty repair or exchange. In the event that the warranty period has ended, you can contact service center or buy an external webcam.
Checking the drivers for the built-in camera on a Windows laptop
If the camera on a laptop in your Windows does not work
How to turn on a webcam on a laptop is a very frequent and popular question in recent times... The fact is that modern laptops and netbooks are equipped with built-in cameras so that the user can talk via video over the Internet from anywhere in the world. And today we will just talk about such cameras that are built into laptops, how to turn them on correctly, what to do if they do not work. This information will be relevant for computer users. In this article I will tell you about several methods of activation, as well as describe some possible malfunctions that make the camera work incorrectly. Let's go!
The first step is to contact the owners of external webcams, who are not satisfied with the quality of the built-in one. As a rule, such devices are connected via a USB cable, so if it does not turn on or is not detected for you, check the connection, try to insert it into another USB connector. Did not help? Or do you still have a built-in webcam? Maybe you forgot to install the drivers? Read on!
Webcam drivers
Drivers are special service utilities that “tell” the computer about a new connected device so that the system “understands” it and works correctly. You probably have drivers installed on your laptop for a printer, scanner or some other thing? Well, the webcam is no exception. She also needs her own drivers, and if you have not installed them, then be sure to download them from the Internet and install.
I want to note that now very often you can find webcams that do not require special drivers from the manufacturer. It is enough to insert the camera into the desired connector, after which the system will install the drivers for the webcam, which were already preinstalled in the system. This is especially true for users who have installed systems: Windows 7 and Windows 8.
If you need to find a driver for a webcam, then don't worry, it won't be difficult to find them, you need to know the model of the camera, or the laptop, if the camera is built-in. In order to determine the model, pay attention to the packaging (when you bought) the webcam or on the webcam itself or on the wire, there may be a sticker in which the model is written, see the image below.
How to install drivers on a webcam
For example, I decided to take a non-embedded webcam into a laptop so that you know how to turn on a webcam on a computer. So, if you know the model, now you can start searching. We hammer into Google something like this: "(model) driver" and you will be happy! In order not to be unfounded, let's look at a live example. I have an old webcam, for which we will now find the driver we need.
I recognized the model of the camera by the sticker. I go to Google and enter "ilook 300 drivers", after which I look at the links so that they lead to the manufacturer's website, and not some sharashkin office.
I opened two links, one in Russian and the other in English. Let's figure out how to download a driver for a webcam using the example of a Russian-language site. I go to the site, but there is no link for downloading the drivers, so I press "Specifications".
This is where the drivers are located. I choose the one I want and download it.
After downloading, we simply install them, agreeing with all the requirements and agreements in the installation wizard software... You can then restart your computer, although this is usually not required.
Skype to help you
What if the drivers didn't help? How to turn on the webcam on a laptop then? First, there is no need to delete them, let them be. And secondly, we should check the Skype settings and see if there is a signal at all or not. To do this, turn on the program, select "Tools" - "Settings" in the top menu. Next, in the "General" tab, click on the item: "Video settings".
If you have a video broadcast in the window that opens on the right, then the camera is configured correctly. By the way, in this window you can also adjust the camera, for example, make the picture lighter or darker, if you play around with these settings a little, you can improve your image.
And in the case when no video broadcasting appeared, and instead of it you saw the inscription: "Skype did not find a video camera", then you have a problem either with Skype, or with wires or connectors, which, by the way, is more likely.
Reinstall Skype, and if this does not help, deal with the technical side of the issue, and not with the software, since you are fine with it. But I will remind you once again that the correct driver is the key to the successful operation of the device. If you install the wrong driver or for your version of the system, then you will not see any image. Therefore, I advise you to install the correct driver for your webcam.
Additional options for turning on the webcam
You can also check the correctness of the webcam using standard Windows tools. To do this, go to the "Start" menu - "Control Panel" - "Hardware and Sound".
In the "Devices and Printers" section, select the "Device Manager" subsection. In the window that opens, look for "Image Processing Devices". If you don't have anything there, then the problem is really from the technical side.
You can try to enable and then disable your webcam. To do this, right-click on it and select "Disable".
We reboot the computer. Then go back to the device manager, and select "Enable" by clicking on the webcam with the right mouse button.
The following information will be relevant for users who use the built-in web camera. Thus, I will show you how to turn on the webcam on a laptop. As a way of inclusion, you can suggest next option... Among the F1 ... F12 keys, we are looking for the one on which a blue icon with a camera is drawn. After that, we hold down the combination of buttons Fn + the desired key. This activates and deactivates the webcam.
So, you have figured out how to turn on the camera on a laptop and on a computer. Now let's check it not via Skype.
There are special programs that are designed to work with web cameras, but to check the performance of a web camera, Skype programs are usually used, or in other similar clients where there is the possibility of video conversations, for example, Mail Agent.
As for online services, here we can cite as an example or a global project "". Both sites offer their users to chat online with a randomly selected interlocutor from among those who are now also on the site. It doesn't really matter, we're here to check the webcam.
I'll go over an example of the first service. Move the mouse pointer to the lower left screen and click "Allow access to devices".
A window will appear, select "Allow" and click "Close".
Basically everything, after which you will be able to see yourself on the screen, which is what we needed.
Webcam software
I didn't want to talk about the programs, but after finishing the article to the end, I decided to supplement the article. I think this add-on will be important for some users.
The most popular, as I know, is the WebcamMax program. This program is paid, but for those who have studied my video course and more experienced users, I think they understand how and where to get it.
The program is simple, after opening, click on the picture of the "little man", a menu will appear on the right. Here you can select your webcam if it doesn't want to show.
Also, the program has all sorts of effects to apply to you. How to do it? Click on the hat.
Effects that you can use will appear on the right.
To apply multiple effects, select 3 hats from the top menu, then navigate through the categories on the left, where you will find different overlays. The funny thing is, when you move your head, these overlays move with you. I experimented a little and this is what happened:
That's all I wanted to tell you on this topic. I hope that now the question of how to turn on the webcam on a laptop will not arise anymore. If it did not work to turn on the webcam, then you can try to connect it to another computer and check for operability. And don't forget to install drivers.
We often need a camera to communicate on Skype or other messenger, but, as luck would have it, it won't turn on. It might not be configured or even turned on. We offer you several effective methods connection checks and settings, which should help out at such an important moment.
Checking the connection
If you are using a USB camera, it is worth checking all the connectors and cables initially. Sometimes you need to additionally press the power button on the gadget itself. The built-in camera in a laptop requires certain programs.
Most easy way- checking the camera online. You just need to go to the site providing such a service, click "Allow" in the drop-down window, and you will be on the screen.
Refer to Device Manager
You can check the operation of the camera using the "Device Manager".
A question mark or exclamation mark next to the name indicates the need to install drivers. They are located on the operating system disk. If there is none, they can be found on the official website of the gadget manufacturer.
Select drivers exclusively for your laptop or USB camera model.
With the arrow drawn down opposite the name, you need to press the right mouse button and select the "Activate" item in the context menu.
Turn on the camera
You can turn on the camera using standard programs and special utilities.
Take advantage of special programs
You can turn on the camera with Windows programs Movie Maker (film studio) or Skype. If they are not on your laptop, install them.
Everything is clear with the film studio - you just need to open it to start the camera.
Skype is a little more complicated:
You can also turn on the device using any utility or special program for creating photos and videos on your computer. There are a lot of them on the Internet, just download wisely - do not add viruses. To do this, check the files through the checked ones.
The most difficult situations
In the most difficult cases, you can restart your laptop, rearrange the portable camera to a different connector, update or reinstall the official drivers.
When all else fails, you should contact the master or take the gadget (USB camera or the entire laptop) to a service center.
User question
Good afternoon.
Tell me how to make the webcam work. It seems that the driver has already downloaded, reinstalled it 10 times - but it still does not work (it only shows a black screen). What else could be the case?
Good day!
Yes, today's Internet, no one is surprised by streaming video, webcams, etc. In general, in general, there are not so many problems with webcams, and by following a simple series of steps, you can eliminate the cause of its inoperability (unless, of course, it is related to the hardware component - after all, your webcam could simply break).
Why the webcam might not work
1) The camera is simply not active ...
By default, the webcam in the laptop is always on and powered (it's just not active in real time - you don't always need a camera, but only when talking on the Internet, or when recording video).
And for it to start taking pictures, you just need to launch some application that uses it.
For example, in Windows 10 - such a program "Camera". It is in the START menu.
If you have Windows 7/8, then some problem may arise. they have no built-in webcam core software. In this case, you can use Skype or Media Player Classic(which is present in every set of codecs).
Addition! On where to download the normal Media Player Classic -
Using Media Player Classic as an example, I'll show you how to open a picture from a webcam in it (relevant for all versions of Windows).
After installing the program, go to its settings: "View / settings" ... In the "Capture" section, in the "Video" column, indicate your camera, in the audio - microphone, and in the country - "Russia" (it should look like mine on the screenshot below).
If everything is in order with the camera, an image should be displayed in the player window.
2) Drivers are not installed
If the picture from the webcam is not transmitted, then very often the reason for this is the driver (more precisely, their absence). To see if a driver is installed on the system, open device Manager (press the combination Win + Pause and in the menu on the left you will see a link to launch it).
In Device Manager, look at the tabs "Cameras" and "Other devices" .
If the driver is installed, then in the "Cameras" tab - the model of your device should be displayed, if there is no driver - then in the "Other devices" you will see a mark with a yellow exclamation mark on some "Integrated WebCam"(see the pictorial screenshot below).
Device Manager - check if there is a driver on the webcam
To update the driver, you can try using the Windows function: right-click on "Camera" and select from the menu that appears.
3) It is disabled in Device Manager or Windows Control Panel
It is also worth noting that in addition to the lack of a driver, the camera can simply be disabled in the device manager. Pay attention to the icon: is there an arrow on it?
If you have Windows 10, then open the START menu and go to the settings section.
In chapter "Confidentiality" open the tab "Camera" and allow applications to use the hardware.
By the way, note that at the bottom of the window you can set applications for each separately, which can use the camera, and which cannot.
4) Check the spec. laptop control centers, antivirus.
And there is one more thing that can affect the operation of the webcam ...
Some laptops have control centers (included with the drivers). They allow you to adjust the power supply of the laptop, adjust its monitor (brightness, contrast, etc.), fine-tune the keyboard and touchpad in detail.
Often in such centers there are also privacy (security) settings in which there may be restrictions on the use of a microphone and a camera. I recommend checking this point.
By the way, some antiviruses can also block the transmission of images from the camera, fearing that the attacker's application will be able to gain control over it (which means it will receive confidential information about you). Try disabling your antivirus for a while.
PS
Alternative not obvious reasons
1) Check is the camera sealed with tape or some kind of sticker. I have noticed such a "trick" with some laptop users - people are afraid that hackers (or tracking software) will be able to take pictures of their personal lives and just in case they glue the camera. Naturally, in this case, except for a black screen, the camera will not show anything ...
2) Is the webcam busy by another application? It's just that if you run two applications at the same time that "want" to use the camera, then perhaps nothing will be shown in one of them. Try restarting your PC (previewing and turning off all unnecessary), and use only one software to view video from the camera.
3) Meanwhile, when you start the program for displaying video from a webcam, and when you see the picture on the computer screen, it may take 10-15 seconds. ! Those. there is a definite pause. It's just that many users, having started the program and not seeing the image after 2-3 seconds. - believe that it does not work and are looking for the "cause" of the problem (which does not exist!).
4) If all of the above did not help, maybe your camera is just broken(hardware reason). I would recommend that you buy an inexpensive external webcam (connected to USB port) in some Chinese store (for example). If you catch a stock (+ use cashback), you can spend mere trifles ...
Additions on the topic are welcome ...
That's all for now.
