Do you want to find a Webcam in the Device Manager? Almost all webcams are plug & play. In some situations, like., if you’re trying to use a high-end Logitech webcam, you might want to install or download a special, proprietary app to use all its amazing features but it will still work.
For internal webcams i.e., those that are built into a PC, you don’t really want to install or download anything. They’re automatically detected and work even if you have a fresh Windows 10 installation.
An integrated webcam is simple or easy to use. Also, it’s all set up whenever you boot to your desktop PC. Any app that you install or download can detect it and stream from it. In some situations, you probably need to grant the app permission like whenever Chrome tries to access your camera, it will ask for permission. That’s all you need to do in some situations to start using the camera however, it doesn’t always work. Certainly, the webcam does not show in the device manager. Let’s move and try to fix the issue:
Also See: Block Apps From Using Webcam in Windows 10
Can’t Find Webcam In The Device Manager?
If you’ve already connected a webcam to your Windows 10 PC but it can’t work or it doesn’t display under Device Manager. Then there are a few things you should try to fix it.
A webcam can display up under various device groups in Device Manager. Just check the following groups to ensure that it is not there.
- Cameras
- Imaging devices
- USB devices/USB device hub
After checking the above device groups in Device Manager, and you still can’t found your webcam, you can try the following fixes to find the webcam in the device manager:
Also See: Fix an Undetected Webcam in Screencastify
How Can I Find Webcam In The Device Manager?
Here are different ways to find a webcam in the device manager:
Turn On Webcam In Settings
Head over to the Settings app and then move to the Privacy group of settings. Then choose the Camera tab. Your camera should view a message ‘Camera access for this device is on’. If you don’t view it then your camera is off. Tap the Change button and then enable it. Restart your computer.
Windows Troubleshooter
Windows 10 offers a general troubleshooter for some hardware or software components. For a webcam, you should try to execute the Hardware and Device troubleshooter. Follow the steps to find a webcam in the device manager:
- Click the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
- From the run box, input the following and then click Ener
msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
You can then allow the troubleshooter to run and detect issues with hardware. Then accept and apply any changes it suggests and restart your computer for good measure.
Check Driver Updates
If you can’t view the webcam in Device Manager. Then check for driver updates that might create issues but you can always check for updates through Windows updates.
- Head over to the Settings app and then move to the Update & Security group of settings
- Move to the Windows Updates tab and then tap the Check for updates button
If you’ve already installed Windows 10 fresh, it’s might be the best idea to wait for a few hours. Some installed drivers are generic or the earliest model that Windows 10 is able to find. Also, they will update on their own. Certainly, it happens with audio drivers but might be the reason with the webcam as well.
Look online for a driver update and manually install it. Head over to the website for your laptop or desktop manufacturer and install or download the recommended drivers for the webcam.
Scan Devices
There might be a possibility that Windows 10 hasn’t been able to check the webcam after a driver update. Head over to the Device Manager and then tap the ‘Scan for hardware changes’ button. If your view your webcam then Windows 10 will likely install drivers. Restart your computer.
Also See: Complete Review On The Best Free Webcam Recorders
Add Webcam Manually
You can also manually add a webcam to Device Manager. Head over to the device manager and follow the steps to find a webcam in the device manager:
- From the Device Manager, move to Actions > Add legacy hardware
- When the window opens, tap Next.
- Choose the tab ‘Install hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)‘
- From the given list of device types, choose ‘Cameras‘ and tap Next.
- If you already have a driver for the webcam, you can then tap the ‘Have disk‘ tab and choose it. If not, move to the other step.
- You will then view a list of devices that you can install. If you don’t view a device, return back to the 4th step, and rather than of ‘Cameras‘ choose the tab ‘Imaging devices‘.
- Choose the device from the list and then tap Next.
- When you successfully installed the driver you can then restart your computer.
Install Developers Proprietary Webcam app
This issue is common in Dell systems and Dell offers a webcam app available to download. You don’t need to use the webcam but installing it might get the webcam to show up. Still, face the same issue? Dive down below to find a webcam in the device manager:
Head over to the Dell drivers page, input your service tag or system model and then look for the app. Make sure you restart your computer after installing it.
Well, we’ve already mentioned Dell here specifically, lots of other developers have similar apps. Search for the app on the support page for your PC and then install it.
Check BIOS
Some integrated webcams can be turned off from the BIOS. In case, if you recently updated BIOS, then there might be a possibility that the webcam has been turned off. You can just access the BIOS on your PC and view examine anything regarding hardware or hardware configuration.
If your webcam is mentioned there, make sure it is turned on and/or functioning. Your BIOS should provide you some sort of highlights regarding this. If you don’t view the webcam in BIOS either, try the last method below.
Check hardware
If you recently dropped or repaired your PC, it is possible that your webcam has been disabled physically. If you have skilled with hardware, you can then open your PC up yourself and make sure everything is still connected.
Conclusion
Did any of these methods work? I hope you’ve successfully found your webcam in the device manager then let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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