User question
Good day.
Tell me how to make the webcam work. It seems that the driver has already been downloaded, reinstalled it 10 times - but it still does not work (it only shows a black screen). What else could be the case?
Anyuta, Moscow.
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 down).
And so, below I will try to answer not only you, but also on the whole problem ... 👌
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Why the webcam might not work
The camera is just not active
By default, the webcam on the laptop is always included and power is supplied to it (it is simply not active in real time - after all, you do not always need a camera, but only during a conversation on the Internet, or when recording a video).
And in order for it to start taking an image, it is enough just to launch some application that uses it.
For example, in Windows 10 - such a program can be "Camera" ... It is in the START menu. 👇
Camera in Windows 10
If you have Windows 7/8, then there may be some problem, because they have no built-in basic webcam software. In this case, you can use Skype or Media Player Classic (which is present in every set of codecs).
👉 Supplement!
Where to download the normal Media Player Classic - see the note
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I'll show you with an example Media Player Classic 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 chapter "Capture" indicate in the box "Video" my camera, into an audio microphone, and in the country - "Russia" (it should turn out, approximately, as I have in the screenshot below 👇).
Media Player Classic - how to set up your webcam
Then save the settings and click "File / Open device" (see screenshot below 👇).
Open device
If everything is in order with the camera, an image should be displayed in the player window.
Webcam image sent
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Drivers 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 the 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 tab "Cameras" - the model of your device should be displayed, if there is no driver, then in "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 in the menu that appears, select "Update driver" .
Update driver
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👉 Help!
I also recommend using special utilities to automatically update all drivers in the system.
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It is turned off 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 👉 Device Manager. Pay attention to the icon: is there an arrow on it?
In any case, I recommend first turning off the camera and then turning it on again (see the screen below 👇).
Enable Device - Task Manager
If you have Windows 10, then open the START menu and go to the settings section.
Windows 10 settings
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.
Camera setup in Windows 10 (privacy setup)
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Disabled through spec. laptop control centers (antivirus unit)
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.
VAIO Control Center
By the way, some antiviruses can also block the transmission of images from the camera, fearing that an intruder'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.
Disable Avast antivirus for 1 hour
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Alternative not obvious reasons
1) Check if the camera is covered with tape or some kind of sticker. By the way, some laptops have special ones. "curtain" (and not everyone at once guess to open it ... 😉).
I have noticed such a "trick" with some laptop users more than once - 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 ...
Webcam sealed with tape
2) Is the webcam busy with another application?
It's just that if you run two applications at the same time, which "want" to use the camera, then perhaps nothing will be shown in one of them.
Try restarting your PC (previewing 👉 Windows startup and turning off all unnecessary), and use only one application to view the video from the camera.
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3) Between the time you start the program to display the video from the webcam, and the way 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, after running 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!).
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4) If all of the above does not help, your camera is probably just broken (hardware reason).
I would recommend that you buy an inexpensive external webcam (plugged into a USB port) from a Chinese store (for example). If you catch a stock (+ use cashback), you can spend mere trifles ... 👇
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👉 To help!
I have provided a selection of the most interesting Chinese online stores with the most "delicious" prices here.
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Additions on the topic are welcome ...
That's all for now ...
Good luck and quick fix!
👋
First published: 25.03.2018
Correction: 10/25/2020
