Fix Lenovo Laptop Webcam Not Working
Step-by-step checks to find why the camera is not working on a Lenovo IdeaPad or Yoga and get video working again in Windows.
Quick answer
On most Lenovo IdeaPad and Yoga laptops, a webcam that is not working is caused by one of three things: the camera is switched off with a physical privacy shutter or keyboard shortcut, an app does not have permission to use the camera, or the camera is disabled in Windows device settings. Start with the privacy shutter and the camera function key, because those are the fastest, most common causes on Lenovo laptops.
How to narrow down the cause
The checks below move from physical controls to Windows settings to device detection. Test the camera after each step in the app where you first noticed the problem, such as the Camera app, a video call app or a browser.
Check the physical camera cover or privacy shutter
Many Lenovo IdeaPad and Yoga models have a small sliding shutter over the lens. If the shutter is closed, the screen will show a black or blank image even though the camera is working. Slide the shutter fully open and test again. If your model has a camera cover sticker or lens cap, remove or open it.
Use the camera function key
Some Lenovo laptops let you disable the camera with a keyboard shortcut. Look for a camera icon on the function key row, often F8 or F10 on IdeaPad and Yoga models. Press that key, or press it together with the Fn key if your keyboard requires it. If the camera was disabled this way, pressing the key again can restore it.
Check Windows camera privacy settings
Windows can block camera access for all apps or for specific desktop apps. Open Settings, then Privacy and security, then Camera. Make sure Camera access is on. Under Let apps access your camera, turn on the option. Then check the list under Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera and enable the app you are using. If you are testing in a browser or a desktop program, also make sure Let desktop apps access your camera is on.
Confirm the camera is enabled in Device Manager
Open Device Manager and expand Cameras, or Imaging devices if Cameras is not shown. Look for an entry such as Integrated Camera. If the entry has a down arrow, right-click it and select Enable device. If it is not listed at all, expand Other devices for an unknown device, or check the Action menu for Scan for hardware changes. A missing camera here can mean the camera is switched off in firmware, the driver is not installed, or the camera hardware is not being detected by Windows.
Close other apps that may be using the camera
Windows normally allows only one app to use the camera at a time. If a video call, screen recorder or another camera app is still running in the background, close it and then retest the app you want to use.
What to change and how to know it worked
If the camera works in the Windows Camera app but not in another app
This points to app permissions or a problem in that specific app. Go back to the Windows camera privacy settings and confirm the app is allowed to use the camera. If the issue is in a browser, check the browser's site permission for camera access and allow the site. Then close and reopen the app or browser tab and test again.
If the camera shows a black screen everywhere
Open the privacy shutter and use the camera function key if your model has one. Restart the computer afterward, because some Lenovo models only enable the camera after a restart when it was switched off through the keyboard.
If the camera is missing or disabled in Device Manager
Right-click the camera entry and select Enable device if it is disabled. If it is missing, select Scan for hardware changes. You can also right-click the camera and choose Uninstall device, then restart Windows; Windows will reinstall the default driver on startup. Check Lenovo support for your exact model before installing a different driver, because using an incompatible driver can stop the camera from working.
If none of the checks find a cause
The remaining possibilities include a BIOS or UEFI setting that disables the camera, a faulty camera cable inside the laptop, or a failed camera module. In the BIOS or UEFI setup, look for a camera or webcam option and make sure it is enabled. If the camera still does not work after all reversible software checks, contact Lenovo support or a repair service, because internal hardware cannot be diagnosed from Windows alone.
Known limitation of these checks
A working camera in the Windows Camera app confirms that the camera hardware and driver are functioning, but it does not guarantee that every app is allowed to use the camera. A black screen in one app can still be an app permission issue rather than a hardware failure. If the camera is missing from Device Manager, software checks cannot prove whether the cause is firmware, a loose internal connection or a dead camera.