Block Apps From Using Webcam in Windows 10

Apps having access to your webcam is often a requirement – Skype, Zoom, and many other programs all need webcam access to work properly. That does not necessarily mean that you always want them to have access though. In this article, we are going to talk about Block Apps From Using Webcam in Windows 10. Let’s begin!

If you want to revoke the access an app has to your webcam, you can do so through the Settings app. Press your Windows key, type in Privacy Settings, and press Enter. You will see many Settings options.

Scroll down on the left until you find the Camera setting and click on it. You will then have several options. You can either restrict a single app from accessing your camera. Or you can revoke access for all of them. The only thing you can’t block is Windows Hello – if you have that setup. Then it will still work even if you revoke webcam permissions.

When you have changed permissions as you want, close the window, and use your computer as normal. Certain apps may ask for permission to use your camera again when you relaunch them. Of course, you can give them permission again (and take it away later whenever you want to).

Tip | Block Apps From Using Webcam

Some apps won’t work properly without access to certain functions.

Windows 10 makes it really easy to see which Apps have access to the Webcam on your computer and also to enable or disable access to the webcam for All or Specific Apps on your computer. However, traditional desktop programs can access the webcam in multiple ways and do not necessarily appear in the list of Apps applications having access to the webcam.

Prevent All Apps from Accessing Webcam in Windows 10 | Block Apps From Using Webcam

Follow the steps below to prevent all the Apps on your computer from accessing the webcam.

• Open Settings > click on Privacy.
• On the next screen, click on Camera in the left pane. In the right-pane, toggle OFF the option for Allow apps to access your camera.

This will prevent all the Applications from accessing the webcam on your computer.

Prevent Specific Apps from Accessing Webcam in Windows 10 | Block Apps From Using Webcam

Follow the steps below to prevent specific apps from accessing webcam in Windows 10.

• Open Settings on your computer and tap on the Privacy tab.
• On the Privacy screen, scroll down and tap on Camera in the left pane. In the right-pane, take a look at the list of Apps under section “Choose which apps can access your camera”.

The Apps that have the toggle next to them set to ON position have access to the built-in camera on your computer.

You can prevent any App from accessing the Camera on your computer by moving the toggle next to the Apps to the OFF position.

Prevent Desktop Programs from Accessing Webcam in Windows 10 | Block Apps From Using Webcam

The only way to prevent unknown Desktop Programs and Remote Access Tools (RATs) from accessing the webcam is to disable the webcam on your computer.

• Right-click on the Start button and click on Device Manager.
• On the Device Manager screen, expand the entry for Cameras (or Imaging Devices) > right-click on Integrated Webcam and click on Disable option.
• On the confirmation pop-up, click on Yes to confirm.
• Then restart your computer to implement this change.

This will disable the integrated Webcam on your Windows 10 Computer.

Hardware Solution to Disable Webcam in Windows 10 | Block Apps From Using Webcam

If you want to play it safe, then you can simply cover the webcam with a sticker or use Webcam Covers as available on Amazon.

In the case of a Desktop computer, you can simply unplug the attached webcam to totally prevent the possibility of the webcam being used by Remote Access tools (RATs).

Conclusion

Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you like this Block Apps From Using Webcam article and find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.

Have a Great Day!

Also See: How to Switch User in Windows 10 – Tutorial