How to Reinstall a Built-In Webcam in Windows

Reinstalling a built-in webcam in Windows means removing the camera device, and optionally its driver, then letting Windows detect the hardware again. This can clear a corrupted driver or a device stuck in an error state. It cannot repair a camera that is physically disconnected, disabled in firmware or blocked by a privacy switch, so check those causes too.

Before you start

The whole process runs locally in Windows and does not need an online service. You need an account with administrator rights, because Device Manager will not uninstall devices from a standard account. An internet connection helps if Windows Update or your laptop manufacturer must provide the driver again.

• Close every app that might be using the camera, including video call apps, browser tabs and the Camera app.
• Write down the camera's exact name from Device Manager so you can find it again after the reinstall.
• If your laptop uses a manufacturer-specific camera driver, find that driver on the manufacturer's support page for your exact model before you remove anything.
• Create a system restore point if System Protection is turned on, so you can undo the change.

Rule out the simple causes first. Many laptops have a physical privacy shutter, a slider on the bezel, or a function key that turns the camera off. Some models also let you disable the camera in BIOS or UEFI settings. If the camera is switched off there, reinstalling the driver will not bring it back.

Step-by-step instructions

These steps apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11. Some labels differ slightly between versions, and those differences are noted below.

• Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
• Expand the Cameras category. On some systems the built-in webcam is under Imaging devices instead. If you see neither category, open the View menu and select Show hidden devices.
• Right-click the built-in camera, often called Integrated Camera or a similar name, and select Uninstall device.
• In the confirmation dialog, decide whether to remove the driver as well. Windows 11 calls this option Attempt to remove the driver for this device, and Windows 10 calls it Delete the driver software for this device. Leave it unticked for a simple reinstall of the same driver. Tick it only if you suspect the driver itself is damaged and you have a replacement available.
• Select Uninstall and wait for the camera to disappear from the list.
• Open the Action menu and select Scan for hardware changes. Windows should detect the camera and install a driver for it. Restarting the computer has the same effect and is a good fallback.

If Windows installs a generic driver and some features are missing, such as a manufacturer camera utility or face sign-in support, install the driver from your laptop manufacturer. You can also look in Windows Update: on Windows 11, open Settings, then Windows Update, then Advanced options, then Optional updates, and check for driver updates. On Windows 10, go to Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update, and look for View optional updates.

If the camera worked before a recent driver update, rolling back may be a better fix than a full reinstall. In Device Manager, open the camera's Properties, go to the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver. The button is only available when Windows has kept the previous driver.

Check the output

Go back to Device Manager and confirm the camera appears without a yellow warning icon. Open its Properties: the Device status on the General tab should say the device is working properly.

Open the Windows Camera app to see whether a live image appears. If the app finds no camera, or shows a different one, use its camera switch button to choose the built-in device. In Windows 11 you can also open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Cameras, to confirm the webcam is listed and enabled.

Reinstalling a driver does not change the sensor's capabilities. The available resolution and frame rate depend on the camera hardware and the driver in use, so a generic driver may offer fewer options than the manufacturer's driver. Picture quality in dim rooms depends mainly on lighting, not on the driver. In video call apps, open the app's video settings and make sure the selected camera is the built-in webcam, because apps can keep pointing to a device that is no longer present.

Common problems and next steps

The camera works in the Camera app but not in other apps: check camera permission. On Windows 11, open Settings, then Privacy & security, then Camera. On Windows 10, open Settings, then Privacy, then Camera. Make sure camera access is on, apps are allowed to use it, and the specific app is enabled. Desktop apps have a separate toggle on the same page. Some security software has its own webcam protection feature that can block access, so check its settings if the Windows permissions look correct.

The camera does not reappear after scanning for hardware changes: show hidden devices, then restart the computer. If it is still missing, check the privacy shutter, the camera function key and the BIOS or UEFI camera setting again. A camera that does not appear in Device Manager at all, even with hidden devices shown, usually has a hardware, firmware or connection problem that a driver reinstall cannot fix. In that case, contact the manufacturer's support.

The camera shows a yellow warning icon after the reinstall: open its Properties and read the error on the General tab. Install the manufacturer's driver for your exact model, or roll back to the previous driver if that option is available. Also install pending Windows updates, since some camera fixes come as system or firmware updates.

Another app is using the camera: Windows usually allows only one app to use the built-in camera at a time. Close other video apps and browser tabs, or restart, then try again.