All the devices of a Windows system are displayed in the Device Manager. Webcam is also a device that shows up in the Device Manager under the imaging devices category. Most PCs these days come with a shutter button that turns the camera on or off with a shutter. But even when the camera is turned off, it should show up as a device in the Device Manager window. Some Windows users have recently reported that they can’t see their PC’s camera in the Device Manager window.
Even when the camera is turned on, and the camera shutter is not protecting the lens, the system can’t detect the webcam. This can be not very pleasant for people, especially in the current times when we are doing more and more video calls for professional as well as personal use. Mostly this issue shows up when webcam drivers are missing in a Windows system. But there were problems with systems that have the drivers too. If you are one of the windows users who are having trouble detecting the webcam in the Device Manager, this article will help you out. So without any further ado, let’s get into it.
How to fix the Camera not showing in Device Manager?
This issue is common if the webcam drivers are outdated or missing from the computer. But there are several other causes for the camera not showing in the Device Manager too. So we will take a look at all the possible solutions to fix the issue. Just try one solution after the other from the list mentioned below, and surely one of them will solve the problem for you.
Use the hardware troubleshooter:
There is a utility feature called troubleshoot built into the Windows operating system. Windows is aware that its users might face some issue while using the system, so they have included this specific feature that scans the system for any possible problems and then tries to fix them. Even with the camera not showing up, one can use the troubleshoot to try and fix it.
- Press Windows Key + X and choose “Settings” from the list of options that shows up.
- Click on “Update & Security.”
- Then in the Update & Security settings Window, click on the Troubleshoot tab in the left pane.
- In the right pane, you will find the “Hardware and Sound” option. Click on it and then click on “Run the troubleshooter.”
- Now let Windows scan the entire system for any possible issue behind this. If it detects an issue, it will show up on the screen, and the troubleshoot will try to fix it. If it can’t find the fix, it will at least show the issue behind the problem, and then you can fix it on your own.
- When the solution is provided, click on the “Apply this fix” option, and the troubleshooter will take care of the rest.
- Restart the computer.
If the troubleshooter did not find any problems, or the fix did not solve your camera issue, try the next solution mentioned below.
Turn on the Webcam:
You have the option of disabling the camera on a Windows computer by limiting access to it. Maybe you have the camera access setting turned off, and your system cannot use your camera.
- Press Windows Key + X and choose “Settings” from the list of options that shows up.
- Click on “Privacy.”
- Then in the Privacy settings Window, click on the Camera tab in the left pane.
- Under the camera access option, there is a Change button. Click on it. If it is set to off, set the toggle to On.
- Now under the “Allow apps to access your camera” setting, make sure the toggle is set to On. Keeping this toggle On allows apps access to the camera.
If you cannot detect your camera in the device Manager even after this, try the next solution mentioned below.
Install the latest drivers for the webcam:
Having outdated drivers for a webcam can also be the cause behind the camera not showing in the Device Manager. When Windows pushes out an update, sometimes it renders some of the installed drivers outdated. So it would be best if you kept checking your drivers for regular updates.
To download the latest drivers, you can go to your webcam manufacturer’s website. There, you will find the setup file for the latest drivers for a Windows system. You can even visit your computer’s manufacturer’s website as they keep the latest driver files setup on the website.
Additionally, there is also the option of using a third-party driver utility program. Many programs can scan the computer for any missing or outdated driver files, and then, by the click of a button, it can even install it. These programs charge some amount of money for this service, but with such a program, you don’t need to worry about having outdated driver files ever again for any of the components in your Windows system.
If updating the driver files did not do you any good, try the next potential solution mentioned below.
Manually add the webcam in the Device Manager:
There is a way to add the webcam to the Device Manager Window using the legacy hardware setup process. You can try that to solve your camera not showing in the Device Manager issue.
Press Windows Key + R, and it will open up the Run dialog box.
Enter “devmgmt.msc” in the Run dialog box and click on Ok.
In the Device Manager window, click on the Action option at the top and choose “Add legacy hardware” from the list of options that show up.
Now the Add Hardware window will open up. Click on Next here.
Now choose the “Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)” option and click on Next again.
Choose “Imaging devices” from the list of options that show up in the next window and click Next.
Then select the webcam that is missing from your Device Manager and click on Next. It is usually the first option on the list.
Windows will now begin installing this new device. After the device is successfully added to your system, restart your computer.
If you are still not able to see your camera in the Device Manager, go for the next solution mentioned below.
Reset the camera application:
It would be best if you tried resetting your camera application too. That has helped many users get rid of any camera-related issue on their Windows computer.
- Press Windows Key + X and choose “Settings” from the list of options that shows up.
- Click on “Apps.”
- Then in the Apps settings Window, click on the Apps & Features tab in the left pane.
- In the list of applications that show up in the right-pane, look for the Camera App. Once you find it, click on it and then choose “Advanced Options.”
- In the Advanced Options window, under the Reset section, you will see the Reset button. Click on it.
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Reset Windows 10:
If none of the solutions mentioned above worked for you, simply resetting Windows to default might solve your problem. Now and then, the Windows system might face some irregularities, and these irregularities may be the cause behind your camera not showing in the Device Manager too. However, Windows settings related to irregularities can be fixed by simply resetting the Windows. It would be best if you gave that a try too.
Press Windows Key + X and choose “Settings” from the list of options that shows up.
Click on “Update & Security.”
Then in the Update & Security settings Window, click on the Recovery tab in the left pane.
Under the “Reset this PC” section, click on the “Get started” button.
In the window that opens up now, click on the “Keep my files” option and click on Next.
Finally, click on the Reset option and then wait for Windows to complete the reset process.
Once the reset is complete, restart your computer.
Now you should see the webcam in your Device Manager window. If you still can’t see it, then it is possibly a hardware issue. In that case, you need to get it replaced by taking it to your nearest service centre. If you don’t want to get into the hassle of fixing the webcam, you can even opt for an external webcam to connect to your computer via a USB cable. You can connect or disconnect the webcam from your system at your convenience. This will provide additional security to the user as the webcam will stay disconnected when not in use.
This is all about fixing the camera not showing in the Device Manager issue on Windows PC. If you have any questions or queries about this article, then comment down below, and we will get back to you. Also, be sure to check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more useful information.
