How to Update a Webcam Driver in Windows

Updating a webcam driver can fix a camera that Windows no longer detects, an image that freezes, or a device that stopped working after a system update. Many USB webcams use the generic driver built into Windows, so an update is not always available or needed. The steps below start with the least invasive option and include a way back if the new driver causes problems.

Before you start

The driver update runs locally in Windows. However, if you search automatically or use Windows Update, Windows downloads the driver from Microsoft's update service. A manufacturer's installer comes from that manufacturer. Either way, you need an internet connection to get a newer driver, and you need administrator rights to install one.

• Sign in with an administrator account or have the administrator password ready.
• Close video call apps, recording software and any other program that may be using the camera.
• For an external webcam, connect it directly to the computer rather than through an unpowered hub.
• Note the exact webcam or laptop model. You will need it if you install a manufacturer driver.
• Write down the current driver version so you can tell whether anything changed. The steps for finding it are below.

Step-by-step instructions

Option 1: Update the driver in Device Manager

• 1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
• 2. Expand Cameras. Depending on the device and Windows version, the webcam may instead appear under Imaging devices or Sound, video and game controllers.
• 3. Right-click your webcam and select Properties, then open the Driver tab. Note the Driver Provider, Driver Date and Driver Version.
• 4. Close the Properties window, right-click the webcam again and select Update driver.
• 5. Select Search automatically for drivers and follow the prompts.
• 6. Restart the computer if Windows asks you to.

The message that the best drivers are already installed only means Windows found nothing newer in the sources it checked. It does not prove that no newer driver exists. If the Driver Provider is Microsoft and the device is named USB Video Device, the webcam uses the standard Windows class driver. In that case a separate driver update usually comes through Windows Update rather than from the camera maker.

Option 2: Check optional driver updates in Windows Update

• Windows 11: open Settings, select Windows Update, then Advanced options, then Optional updates, and expand Driver updates.
• Windows 10: open Settings, select Update & Security, then Windows Update, then View optional updates, and expand Driver updates.
• Select only the entry that matches your camera or laptop model, install it and restart.

Option 3: Install the manufacturer's driver package

Laptop makers and some webcam brands publish drivers on their own support pages. Look up your exact model there, download the package for your Windows version, and run the installer. Use a driver from the device or laptop manufacturer rather than a third-party driver updater. Unknown sources can install the wrong driver or bundle unwanted software.

Option 4: Reinstall the driver

Use this option when the driver appears to be damaged, for example when Device Manager shows a warning icon on the camera.

• 1. In Device Manager, right-click the webcam and select Uninstall device.
• 2. Leave the option to remove the driver unchecked if you only want Windows to reinstall the same driver. On Windows 11 this option is labeled Attempt to remove the driver for this device. On Windows 10 it is labeled Delete the driver software for this device.
• 3. Restart the computer, or select Action and then Scan for hardware changes. Windows will detect the camera and install a driver again.

Check the output

• Open the camera's Properties in Device Manager again and compare the driver date and version with the values you noted.
• Confirm that the device status reports the device is working properly and that no warning icon appears next to it.
• Open the Windows Camera app and check that a live picture appears.
• In your call or recording app, open its video settings and make sure the selected camera is the webcam you updated, not a virtual camera or another device.
• If the app offers resolution and frame rate options, check that the modes you rely on are still listed.

A driver update can restore function or expose settings the camera supports, but it cannot raise the sensor's maximum resolution. The modes you actually get also depend on the app, the USB connection and the available bandwidth. Grainy or dark video is more often caused by lighting than by the driver, so test in even light before blaming the update.

Common problems and next steps

The camera stopped working after the webcam driver update: open the camera's Properties in Device Manager, go to the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver. If that button is greyed out, Windows has no earlier driver stored. In that case, reinstall the manufacturer's package for your model or use the reinstall steps above.

The webcam does not appear in Device Manager: select View and then Show hidden devices, then use Scan for hardware changes. For an external webcam, try another USB port or cable. On a laptop, check for a physical privacy shutter or a keyboard key that disables the camera. If the device still does not appear, the problem is detection rather than the driver, and updating the driver will not help.

The camera works in the Camera app but not in another program: check camera permission in Windows. On Windows 11, go to Settings, then Privacy & security, then Camera. On Windows 10, go to Settings, then Privacy, then Camera. Make sure camera access is on and allowed for the app, including the separate setting for desktop apps. Then confirm the selected camera inside that program.

A warning icon or error code remains after every option: note the error code shown in the device status. Then contact the laptop or webcam manufacturer's support with that code and the driver version, because the device may need a model-specific driver or a hardware check.