Enable webcam control. Webcam - ample opportunities for your communication

Nowadays, almost every laptop comes with a built-in camera. It is convenient to use for communication using special programs, such as Skype or online chats. But what should you do if, when you launch Skype, it reports that you do not have a camera, although you see it on the top cover of your laptop computer. From this article you will learn how to turn on the camera on a laptop.

Step-by-step instructions on how to enable a webcam on a laptop with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10

So, let's look at several options for what to do when there is a built-in webcam, but it doesn’t work.

1. Pay attention to the keyboard. Some laptop models have a key combination on the keyboard to turn on/off the built-in webcam. For example:
   Or
   

Checking the built-in camera drivers on a Windows laptop

2. Go to – “My Computer” – “Right Click” – “Properties” – “Device Manager”. As shown in the figure, a working webcam is displayed.
   If there is no similar entry, but there is an inscription with a yellow triangle - “Unknown device” or similar - you do not have the drivers installed for the built-in webcam. Download the latest driver from the laptop manufacturer’s website for your operating system and install it. If the device is detected, but there is a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark next to the icon, the system has determined what kind of device it is, but was unable to install the drivers. Proceed as described above. If the device is displayed, but there is a down arrow symbol next to it, the device is not activated. You or someone has temporarily disabled it. Right-click on the device and select Engage.

If the camera on your Windows laptop does not work

3. Have you done all the steps mentioned above, but the built-in web camera still doesn’t work? Perhaps this is a hardware problem or defect. When the computer is new, it is necessary to use warranty repair or exchange. If the warranty period has expired, you can contact a service center or buy an external webcam.

All modern laptops and tablets are equipped with cameras. But it is not always possible to use the built-in webcam right away. It must first be enabled and configured. Many users encounter problems due to the fact that they have not used such equipment before. Let's figure out how to turn on the camera on a laptop with the Windows operating system.

How to turn on the camera on a laptop with Windows 7

The seventh version of Windows does not have built-in capabilities to check the functionality of the camera. This makes working with it more difficult, but you can always download the necessary utility, or check the camera online through any site that supports video communication. Among the applications you need to choose what you need:

• Skype;
• WebcamMax Free;
• ManyCam.

If you want to communicate with relatives, then you need to install a program that provides video communication, for example, Skype), if you want to record video using your laptop, then the utility must have a “Save” button. Most of these programs will automatically activate your camera; if this does not happen, then you should use other ways to turn on the camera on a Windows 7 laptop. To do this, you can use:

1. On older laptop models, you could activate the camera using a special button on the keyboard, above it, or on the side of the case. Manufacturers now use hotkeys:
   • A cer – Fn+F6;
   • A sus – Fn+V;
   • Hp – Fn+F2.

Each model has its own keyboard shortcut; it can be viewed on the official website. Also look at the icons on the keyboard, they will also tell you what you need to press to activate - usually there is an icon depicting a camera on the desired button, and in addition you need to press the Fn button that switches the mode. After you activate the equipment, you can use it in any application, including through online services.

1. There is another way to make the webcam of a Windows 7 laptop start working - activate it through the “Device Manager”. To do this, go to the “Control Panel” through the “Start” menu. Open the “Device Manager” section, in it you will need to scroll to the “Imaging devices” line. There you will see the name of the built-in webcam. If there is a yellow exclamation mark next to it, then you will need preliminary settings - we will talk about this later. If there are no icons, then just right-click on the camera name and click the “Engage” option.
2. Applications that use it can automatically activate the camera. For example, Skype finds the equipment without any help when you turn it on for the first time. To install the program, you need to go to the official Skype website and download the installer for Windows. Download it and run it, then the program will be copied to your PC automatically. After registering and turning on for the first time, the program will require you to configure settings. You'll choose a theme and color scheme, check the microphone (it's also built into the laptop), and then see yourself through the built-in camera.

If you have a Windows 7 laptop, the camera will notify you of its functionality using an indication. This is provided in most models.

Setting up the camera in Windows 7

Since this version of the operating system does not have its own application for working with the camera, configuration is carried out using third-party utilities. One of the simplest options that works well with a system of any power is the AMCap application. It is designed for photography and video recording. It has many options that help solve the problem of how to set up a camera on a Windows 7 laptop. Most of them are concentrated in the Options tab. In it, you can make the picture on video and photo acceptable by dragging the sliders in the lines:

• white balance;
• brightness;
• shade;
• contrast;
• definition;
• gamma;
• saturation.

You will also find additional options such as shooting against the light and gain. You can find similar functionality in the Skype menu. This will help you use your camera for calls, while still showing the most normal picture possible.

Enabling and setting up the camera on a Windows 10 laptop

Now let's move on to the question of how to enable the camera on a Windows 10 laptop. Activating the camera on XP, 8 or 10 laptops is much easier - the creators of the operating systems have provided easy access to them. In XP, the camera can be found through the “My Computer” menu, and in versions 8 and 10 of the OS there is a special “Camera” application that can be used for photos and video recording. This opportunity in modern operating systems has appeared due to the fact that they are installed not only on laptops and desktop PCs, but also on tablets. You only need to do the following:

1. Open the Start menu. Go to the "All Applications" directory
2. In the list that opens, go to the letter “K”.
3. Select the Camera app and double-click to turn it on.

Now let's move on to how to set up the camera on a Windows 10 laptop. To do this, the application has a gear icon in which you can set the image parameters:

• release delay for photos;
• flicker reduction;
• video quality;
• Displays the framing grid.

But there are also additional settings that will help you limit the access of certain applications to the recording equipment, as well as forcefully enable or disable it. To do this, select the Settings tab from the Start menu and go to the Privacy section. Here you can block all or individual applications from using the camera. Just select the control item on the right side of the menu.

What to do if the image on Skype is upside down?

Most often, the problem of how to configure the camera on a Windows laptop to eliminate the problem of an inverted image arises among owners of machines from the manufacturer Asus. The reason for the incorrect display of images in applications lies in the drivers - they must only be original for everything to function normally. You need to solve the problem using the following algorithm:

1. Determine your laptop model. Information about it may be located at the bottom of it or in documents.
2. Go to the manufacturer's official website and find your model in the list.
3. A window will open in front of you, listing all the drivers and utilities suitable for your laptop.
4. Select a webcam driver from among them (usually it has the word Camera in its name). Download it and install it.
5. Reboot your operating system.

After this, the webcam will start working correctly - the image will no longer be upside down. Interestingly, the camera on a Windows 10 laptop usually already receives the necessary drivers without user intervention. Users of the seventh version of the OS most often encounter problems with the image.

The camera does not work - how to fix the problem?

The easiest way to check the camera on a Windows laptop is to launch any application that uses it. But what to do if instead of a picture you get a black screen and an error message. There are several ways to fix this:

1. Turn on the camera from the keyboard. Some versions of laptops without activating the camera using a key combination will not turn it on. To get started, you need to press the Fn button and the one with the camera icon on it.
2. Install the application to configure and operate the camera. Some manufacturers have a camera activation option built into it. You need to download one of the proprietary utilities:
   • EasyCapture for Lenovo;
   • Life Frame Utility for ASUS;
   • HP Camera for HP.

You can download them from the official website of the manufacturer.

1. If the laptop camera does not work, then it can be disabled in the “Privacy” tab. In order to activate it, go through the “Start” menu to the “Settings” directory and select the “Privacy” section. The right side of the window will list the modules for which you can change settings. Find “Camera” among them. Usually it is third on the list. Select the module and pay attention to the right side of the window. In it, the top switch should be in the “Enable” application. If you've been limiting your ability to use the camera for one or more apps and have now changed your mind, turn it on. For example, previously you could disable the camera for Skype, but now you decide to use it - just move the switch to the “Allow” position.
2. In all versions of Windows, the webcam can be disabled using Device Manager. You can access it through the “Control Panel” or by right-clicking on the “Start” icon. In the manager list, find the camera and right-click on its name. Check the status of the device. If it is disabled, the word “Enable” will appear in the top line of the context menu. This is usually enough to activate the camera.
3. Another reason why the camera does not work on a Windows laptop is the lack of necessary drivers or their outdated version. You can install the missing components in several ways: using special utilities, manually, or from the disk that comes with the laptop. If you do not have a disk with components from your laptop, then it is best to manually download the drivers from the official website, having previously found out the laptop model. In this case, you will definitely receive their licensed and current version.

In most cases, after these steps the webcam will work again. If this does not happen, then you need to go to a repair shop - most likely the problem is hardware. The cable or the camera module itself may be damaged.

Now you know how to set up and turn on the camera on your laptop. This is not very difficult even for a novice user - you just need to have the program installed or download the necessary utilities and drivers. Share the information you receive with your friends, tell us about your problems with cameras in the comments, and ask questions. Feedback is welcome.

When buying a new laptop, we simply do not pay attention to some details. Which? For example, we know very well that every modern laptop is equipped with a camera - even the cheapest one. It is clear that more expensive devices use a better camera. But the first laptop models didn’t have any cameras; back then they didn’t even know that in the near future everything would change so much...

The webcam is most often used when communicating. For example, many users use it when communicating via video or any other similar program. At the same time, with the help of the camera you can take pictures or even shoot video - it all depends on your desire. And considering that social networks, in particular, are enjoying enormous success, the presence of this device is simply necessary...

Very often, users complain that the webcam does not work. Or rather, it just works, but for some reason it doesn’t want to turn on. And indeed, very often the initial configuration of the laptop does not contain any program for the operation of that same camera, which is why it does not start. Today I will talk about how to enable it.

I want to say in advance that the instructions apply to any of the modern laptops, including companies such as: Asus, Lenovo, Acer, Sony, HP, MSI, Samsung, Dell, Packrad Bell, etc.

Software

You can check the camera’s operation quite simply - to do this, launch any client that supports its operation. The most famous client is the same Skype. Launch the program, click on the test image and if it appears, it means the camera is functioning, it just turns on exactly at the moment when it is needed.

If you want to use a webcam to record videos or take photos, I recommend that you use special programs that allow you to do this. As a rule, they are produced by third-party manufacturers and are often distributed free of charge. For example, LiveWebCam or WebCam Companion.

Additional keys

Very often the camera can actually be turned off and it turns on with the help of additional manipulations. So, on some few older models a separate button is used for this.

The solution, I must say, is ingenious and extremely convenient. However, for some reason it did not catch on (most likely due to savings) and the manufacturers decided to go a different route. As you know, laptops have a special Fn key that is used to perform additional operations. For example, you can use it to change the sound level of your device, its brightness, go into sleep mode, etc. So, very often it is with the Fn button that the webcam is turned on and off.

Look at your keyboard. At the top of it you can see the keys F1, F2, F3, etc. Immediately below them are blue icons that indicate additional options. Find the camera icon among them (I have it on the F5 key), then press the Fn button and, while holding it, press F5. This will turn on the camera. You can disable it in exactly the same way.

Using the task manager

If nothing works out, let's try a different route. You need to open Device Manager. This can be done, for example, in this simple way: move the mouse cursor over the “Computer” icon on your desktop and click on the right button, thereby bringing up the menu. In it, select “Properties”. Then you will see a window with basic information about your computer. On the right side there is a menu with a “Device Manager” item. That's exactly what we need.

Once you open the task manager, you will see a list of devices. Find “Image processing device” in it, left-click on this item - this way you will see the installed camera.

Then hover over the device itself, click on the right button and go to “Properties”. If the camera is disabled, then turn it on. Alternatively, you can try reinstalling the drivers for the device, which can be downloaded from the laptop manufacturer's website. In some cases, it is advised to remove the camera from the task manager and then try to find it again. They say that sometimes it helps, but I haven’t tried this method myself.

Well, in conclusion, I will say that many users confuse the concepts of working and disabled. Most often, it actually works, it’s just in a non-working state, since it’s not required. It turns on on demand or when you turn on the same client for video communication.

The first thing you need to do is make sure that your webcam included And installed necessary drivers. In the case of a laptop, we will talk about integrated; with a computer, we will talk about connected via an external USB port.

Opening Dispatcher right click on the icon Computer – Properties, then .

Pay attention to the section Processing devices images.

As you can see, in this case the integrated webcam disabled. For inclusion you need to right-click on the camera icon and select “ Engage».

If you have installed Windows 10– the next thing you need to do is check whether the camera is turned on privacy settings.

Start / Options / Confidentiality

Chapter Camera- just move it slider to the right, if the camera was turned off there before.

If we are talking about drivers, then usually for a built-in camera they are installed along with the system installation, but if this is not the case, then you will need download them from the official website and install.

Using a webcam on a computer

Using the cord that usually comes with the kit, connect device to a free USB port on your computer.

The system can pick up the device automatically(by installing drivers from your database) in this case, in the lower right corner you will see a notification about successful installation.

Or you will see a notification in the center of the screen that it is ready to use.

Otherwise, you will need install drivers cameras. They should also be included in the kit (on CD), if not - download from the official website and install. Installation, in both cases, should not raise any questions - everything is extremely simple.

For example, for modern Logitech webcams, the software installation wizard looks like this.

User agrees with a license agreement, selects a place to install drivers. Then, after waiting for the installation process to complete successfully, they may ask reboot Your computer. After a reboot, all changes will take effect.

If you couldn’t find drivers for your model on the network, you can search by ID(identification number) of the device, this often gives a positive result.

To find out, you need to go to dispatcher– right-click on the icon of an unidentified device – Properties.

On the tab Intelligence select from the dropdown list Equipment ID.

Below in the value field you will see the PID, try using it in the search find required drivers.

As in the case of the built-in laptop, the manager should also check whether the device is turned on. When disabled – engage.

If something goes wrong and the device is not detected by the computer, the first thing to do is check condition of the wire, during operation it may become worn out and produce a poor-quality connection. Check it on other USB devices. If there is still no connection, you should change the wire.

If everything is fine with the wire and the latest drivers are installed, but the camera is not active, check in the manager to see if there is an exclamation mark next to the webcam icon - if so, then you should try restart device and reinstall the drivers.

Webcam settings

If there is sound, but no picture, help here settings applications that use the camera.

Often with driver installation is installed a special program in which you can configure device options. You can find it in the button Start – Programs or using a shortcut on the desktop.

Adjust some parameters can be done using the standard Camera application, integrated into the latest versions of Windows.

To run it, simply enter search word " Camera».

In the upper right corner of the application working window you will find a button with settings, by clicking which you will be able to adjust them. Unfortunately, there are not as many options as we would like. For more options, third-party software is used.

The most popular third-party webcam application is Skype. Here in the main select video settings. Then go to settings webcams.

There is an opportunity to increase contrast, hue, saturation, brightness, clarity, and gain.

There are many more special programs for working with the camera, with a wide range of functionality. For example, Webcam Plus Lite, WebcamXP (free), WebcamMax (paid for professionals).

We recommend a small free program with a simple interface, LiveWebCam. With its help you can take pictures, shoot and, of course, customize it to your requirements.

To go to options click the button Settings programs. Next, select Image.

Then settings Cameras.

Here you can change many different camera options, customizing it for yourself.

Good afternoon.

Every modern laptop is equipped with a webcam (after all, Internet calls are becoming more and more popular every day), but not every laptop has it…

In fact, the webcam on a laptop is always connected to power (regardless of whether you are using it or not). Another thing is that in most cases the camera is not active - that is, it does not take pictures. And this is partly correct, why should the camera work if you are not talking to the interlocutor and did not give permission to do so?

In this short article I want to show how easy it is to enable the built-in webcam on almost any modern laptop. So…

Popular programs for checking and configuring webcams

Most often, to turn on the webcam, you just need to launch some application that uses it. Very often, such an application turns out to be Skype (the program is famous for allowing you to make calls over the Internet, and with a webcam you can even use video calls) or QIP (initially the program allowed you to exchange text messages, but now you can talk with video and even send files...).

QIP

Official website: http://welcome.qip.ru/im

To use the webcam in the program, just open the settings and go to the “Video and Sound” tab (see Fig. 1). The video from the webcam should appear at the bottom right (and the LED on the camera itself usually lights up).

If the image from the camera does not appear, try Skype first (if there is no image from the webcam, there is a high probability of a problem with the drivers or the hardware of the camera itself).

Rice. 1. Checking and setting up the webcam in QIP

Skype

Website: http://www.skype.com/ru/

Setting up and checking the Skype camera is identical: first open the settings and go to the “Video settings” section (see Fig. 2). If everything is in order with the drivers and the camera itself, a picture should appear (which, by the way, can be adjusted to the desired brightness, clarity, etc.).

Rice. 2. Skype video settings

By the way, one important point! Some laptop models allow you to use the camera by pressing just a couple of keys. Most often, these are the keys: Fn+Esc and Fn+V (when this function is supported, there is usually a webcam icon on the key).

What to do if there is no image from the webcam

It also happens that not a single program shows anything from the webcam. Most often this is due to a lack of drivers (less often due to a breakdown of the webcam itself).

Opposite it there should not be any exclamation marks or crosses (example in Fig. 5);

Click the enable button (or enable, see Fig. 4). The fact is that the camera can be turned off in the device manager! After this procedure, you can try to use the camera again in popular applications (see above).

If in device manager An exclamation mark is lit next to your webcam - this means there is no driver for it in the system (or it is not working correctly). Typically, Windows 7, 8, 10 automatically find and install drivers for 99% of webcams (and everything works fine).

How to find your “native” driver:

Programs for automatic driver updates:

Rice. 5. No driver...

Privacy settings in Windows 10

Many users have already switched to the new Windows 10 system. The system is not bad, except for the problems with some drivers and privacy (for those who care about it).

Windows 10 has settings that change the privacy mode (which may block the webcam). If you use this OS and the image from the camera is not displayed, I recommend checking this option...

First open the START menu, then the “Settings” tab (see Fig. 6).

Next you need to open the section “ Confidentiality". Then open the camera section and check if applications have permission to use it. If there is no such permission, it is not surprising that Windows 10 will try to block everything “unnecessary” that wants to access the webcam...

Rice. 7. Privacy options

By the way, to check the webcam - you can also use the built-in application in Windows 8, 10. It is called similarly - “Camera“, see fig. 8.

Rice. 8. Camera app in Windows 10

That's all for me, successful setup and operation :)